Rockfish Valley Trail 11/11/13

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

It was a beautiful morning to be out birding on the trail: cool temperatures, a light breeze, and bright sunshine. I arrived at 9:00 and stayed for two hours. I spent the entire hike on the downstream trail and Glenthorne Loop to the bog area, and ended up with 30 species for the morning.

Highlights included a close flyover by a Red-shouldered Hawk as soon as I arrived, five woodpecker species including a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and sparrows everywhere. There were at least two Fox Sparrows near Yellow Bird Thicket, and I saw one near the downstream picnic table, although it might have been one of the two I saw near the thicket. There was a lot of avian activity the entire time I was there.


Looking southwest along the downstream trail


Red-shouldered Hawk


Red-shouldered Hawk


Red-shouldered Hawk


Fox Sparrow


Fox Sparrow


Fox Sparrow


Fox Sparrow


Fox Sparrow


Fox Sparrow and Field Sparrow


Field Sparrow


Song Sparrow


Song Sparrow


Savannah Sparrow


Savannah Sparrow


Savannah Sparrow


Chipping Sparrow


White-breasted Nuthatch




Eastern Meadowlark


Yellow-rumped Warbler




Blue Jay


Male Downy Woodpecker


Female Downy Woodpecker


Female Downy Woodpecker


Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker


Belted Kingfisher


Belted Kingfisher

Today's RV Trail list:

Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Meadowlark
American Goldfinch


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