I had some time in the afternoon to do a little birding, so I went to the Ivy Creek Natural Area and to Chris Greene Lake. I didn't see very many birds, but did see an interesting Field Sparrow at Ivy Creek, and a flock of 10 Buffleheads at Chris Greene Lake. The Field Sparrow looked a bit odd to me, but I suspect that it was just its winter plumage that appeared very gray to me.
Field Sparrow
Buffleheads
Walt Childs and I headed west and south to look for raptors and waterfowl. Our first stop was at Willow Lake in Raphine. The lake was filled with Canada Geese, a few Mallards, and lots of other water species. As soon as we got there, we saw a Red-tailed Hawk being chased by an American Crow. The aerial battle headed directly above me, and then turned away. Our last distant view was of the crow in hot pursuit of the hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk and American Crow
Red-tailed Hawk and American Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk and American Crow
Gadwalls and American Wigeon
Hooded Mergansers
Ring-necked and Ruddy Ducks
American Coots
Pied-billed Grebes
Double-crested Cormorant
We then headed west and south, and saw more avian species, including seven American Kestrels.
Belted Kingfisher
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows
Female American Kestrel
Male American Kestrel
We saw another Red-tailed Hawk that was a good distance away. It looked a bit strange to me for a Red-tailed, but I suspect it was because of its feathers being fluffed out.
Red-tailed(?) Hawk
Walt and I made a few stops in Augusta County on the way home, and added Killdeers for the day's 35th avian species.
Killdeers
Killdeers
Song Sparrow
Today's bird list:
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Kestrel
American Wigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Black Vulture
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Carolina Chickadee
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Meadowlark
European Starling
Gadwall
Hooded Merganser
Killdeer
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-necked Duck
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
Song Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler