Shenandoah Valley, VA 11/30/14

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

With mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s, I went over to the Shenandoah Valley to look for birds. Most of the snow from last Wednesday had melted. My first stop was on Strickley Road to look for Horned Larks, but no birds were there. Next stop was the the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. About a mile from the airport, I stopped to watch a male American Kestrel kiting above one of the fields.


American Kestrel

There wasn't much to see around the airport parking lot except for two Horned Larks - perhaps the same pair that I saw there on Friday.


Horned Lark


Horned Lark


Horned Lark


Horned Lark

As I exited the airport drive, I saw a few Eastern Meadowlarks flying over a small ridge to the west of the road. I got out and climbed to the top of the ridge and saw several Meadowlarks, Starlings, and a small number of Horned Larks.


Eastern Meadowlark


Eastern Meadowlark


Eastern Meadowlarks

Father down the road there were quite a few Mourning Doves, a few Savannah Sparrows, a female American Kestrel, and a boldly colored Red-tailed Hawk.


Savannah Sparrow


American Kestrel


American Kestrel


Red-tailed Hawk


Red-tailed Hawk


Red-tailed Hawk

Next stop was Leonard's Pond, but all I saw there was a pair of Mallards. I wasn't very far from Harrisonburg, so I went to Lake Shenandoah, but only heard a few crows, a Pileated Woodpecker, and a Belted Kingfisher. Nearby Lake Campbell wasn't very productive, either - some Canada Geese, a few Mallards, and a few Ring-billed Ducks.

I drove to Elkton, and then headed down the road between the river and the sod farm, but only saw a few starlings, and then headed home.



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