Rockfish Valley Trail 10/1/13

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

The western skies were clear blue when I arrived at 8:45, but low clouds to the east blocked the early morning sunshine, and the east side of Reids Creek was still in shadow. It wasn't until close to 9:30 when there was full sunshine, and some of the later morning birds were quite active. By the time I left the trail at 10:30, I only had logged 26 species, but I saw some old friends and a new autumn visitor.

I only saw two warblers: Palm and Common Yellowthroat. Both species were in the grasses on the east side of Reids Creek north of the first wooden bridge, and there were more Palm Warblers as far south of the bridge that I could go before stopping at the private property wire.


Common Yellowthroat


Common Yellowthroat


Palm Warbler


Palm Warbler

There were quite a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Field Sparrows on both sides of Reids Creek.


Rose-breasted Grosbeak


Field Sparrow


Downy Woodpecker


Northern Mockingbird

It was good to see a Brown Thrasher and a White-eyed Vireo, both common summer trail birds that I haven't seen there for at least a week.


Brown Thrasher


White-eyed Vireo


White-eyed Vireo

About half-way along the downstream trail, just east of the picnic table, I saw a Lincoln's Sparrow, my first one for this autumn, and I hope that this will be a good year to see them on the trail.


Lincoln's Sparrow


Lincoln's Sparrow

Today's RV Trail list:

Red-shouldered Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Field Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch



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