Rockfish Valley, VA, 5/7-8/16

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Stoney Creek (Wintergreen); 5/7/16

I took a short afternoon hike close to home, and walked down to the Allen Creek Nature Preserve. Along the way, I heard a few Pine Warblers high up in the pine trees at the end of my street. As I approached the nature preserve, I saw an opportunistic Tree Swallow. Pileated Woodpeckers had destroyed the wooden powerline poles there, and the local electric co-op had replaced the poles with metal ones. One of the bolts was missing, and a Tree Swallow was using the pole for a nest. Quite spacious, I presume.


Tree Swallow

It was fairly dark under the dense tree cover of the preserve, but I did see Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Blue Warblers (one each), and a White-eyed Vireo.


Yellow-rumped Warbler


Black-throated Blue Warbler


White-eyed Vireo


Gray Catbird

On my return hike, I saw a few more species. A lone Spotted Sandpiper was foraging along Lake Monocan, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was quite busy looking for a meal.


Spotted Sandpiper


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

When I got back to the end of my street, I saw a Cooper's Hawk finishing a meal - hopefully, not one of the Pine Warblers!


Cooper's Hawk


Cooper's Hawk

Rockfish Valley Trail; 5/8/16

I went for a morning hike on the trail. Although I logged 20 avian species and a Black Ratsnake, it wasn't a very interesting hike. Best birds I saw/heard were two Common Yellowthroats and three White-eyed Vireos. A small flock of Cedar Waxwings were along the river.


Cedar Waxwing


Common Yellowthroat


Carolina Chickadee


Eastern Wood-Pewee

Stoney Creek (Wintergreen); 5/8/16

Alice and I went for an afternoon hike. We saw an Osprey carrying a meal over Sawmill Creek pond #3, and a pair of Canada Geese with seven goslings on the the Monocan golf course pond #1.


Osprey


Canada Geese



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