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