Central Virginia, 12/5-6/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Rockfish Valley Trail; December 5th

I needed to do more walking and less driving, so I went over to the trail, and hiked for a couple of miles. I didn't expect to see many birds there, and my expectations were fulfilled. I saw only 17 species of common winter birds there, and a Fox Sparrow was the best bird of the hike.

Fox Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Female Eastern Towhee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Stoney Creek; December 5th

I did a little more birding close to home, but didn't see any new species for the day.

Song Sparrow

Shenandoah Valley; December 6th

I had some errands to run in Waynesboro, so I started off with some birding in nearby Stuart's Draft. I didn't see many birds there, but a female Northern Harrier put on a good show and I saw a distant Red-tailed Hawk along Guthrie Road. There were quite a few, easily spooked, White-crowned Sparrows near the water treatment plant, and a female American Kestrel was perched along Hall School Road.

Northen Harrier