Rockfish Valley Trail 9/20/12

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


Walt Childs and I led a guided bird walk for Penny Warren, president of the Augusta County Bird Club. Penny's target bird was the Olive-sided Flycatcher that has been on the trail for about a week, but we didn't see it today. We did see 45 species, and after Penny and Walt left I added two more species to bring the morning total to 47.

It was heavily overcast when we started the hike at 8:30, and we had only about 20 species in the first hour. But the sun came out after that and the birds got quite active. Highlights of the morning were a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker, a Baltimore Oriole, Blue and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a pair of American Kestrels, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, a possible Merlin, a probable Great Horned Owl (in flight), a Common Raven, and six species of warbler: Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black and White, Cape May, and a Common Yellowthroat.


Magnolia Warbler


Magnolia Warbler


Juvenile Cape May Warbler


Juvenile Cape May Warbler


Juvenile Cape May Warbler


Juvenile Cape May Warbler


Black and White Warbler


Black and White Warbler


Common Yellowthroat


American Kestrels


American Kestrel


Blue-headed Vireo


Baltimore Oriole


Scarlet Tanager


Blue Grosbeak


Chipping Sparrow



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