Rockfish Valley Trail 6/12/13

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

This morning was just about a repeat of yesterday, although it was a few degrees warmer and the breeze was not as strong. Many of the birds that I saw yesterday were found again near to where I saw them yesterday. However, I did end up with 32 species that included 8 species (shown as the first 8 species in the list after the photos) that I did not see in yesterday's 30-species list. Therefore, I am estimating that there are 40 to 50 species on the trail this summer. Many of the birds were foraging in pairs, either male and female, or parent and juvenile.

A first spring male Blue Grosbeak was gathering nesting materials on the west side of Reids Creek near the first wooden bridge. Blue Grosbeaks have nested there along Reids Creek in previous summers.


First spring male Blue Grosbeak

A male and a female Blue Grosbeak were in the pine trees along route 627 of the Glenthorne Loop trail.


Female Blue Grosbeak


Male Blue Grosbeak


Male Blue Grosbeak


Male and female Blue Grosbeak

Indigo Buntings are sometimes confused with Blue Grosbeaks, but the latter species is a larger bird.


Male Indigo Bunting and female Blue Grosbeak

I saw male and female Orchard Orioles, and a Baltimore Oriole was in the trees near the picnic table on the downstream trail.


Female Orchard Oriole


Baltimore Oriole


Baltimore Oriole


Baltimore Oriole


Baltimore Oriole


Male and female Downy Woodpeckers


Male and female Red-bellied Woodpeckers


Belted Kingfishers


Eastern Kingbird


Eastern Bluebird


Juvenile Eastern Bluebird


Juvenile Eastern Bluebird


Male and female Eastern Bluebirds. Guess which one is talking and which one isn't listening.

Today's RV Trail list:

Canada Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Baltimore Oriole
Turkey Vulture
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Kingbird
American Crow
Tree Swallow
NRW Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Field Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
American Goldfinch
Rock Pigeon


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