Nazarenne Wetlands, VA, 7/6/16
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
I had previously seen Soras several times in Florida and South Carolina, but had only heard this secretive species in Virginia, and had tried to see them a few times in previous years at the Nazarenne Wetlands west of Bridgewater when they had been reported. A few days ago, a Sora with three chicks (fledglings) were reported there, and Walt Childs and I went to see if we could find them. I really wanted to get photos of the fledgling. We made a quick stop west of Bridgewater when we saw a Green Heron fly up from along the side of the highway.
Green Heron
| | |
We saw several species of birds at the Nazarenne Wetlands, but not the Soras. We decided to wait a bit longer before leaving.
Wood Ducks
Belted Kingfisher
And then we got lucky. Two other birders showed up, including Ron, who had first reported the Soras. At first, we only had a few views of the adult Sora and one fledgling, and had to pick them out from behind vegetation.
Soras
Soras
Soras
Soras
A few minutes later, the fledgling, and then the adult Sora, ventured out in a little more open area on the other side of the fence line. We only saw the one Sora fledgling, and hope that the others have survived.
Sora
Sora
Sora
Sora
Sora
Sora
Sora
We made a quick stop at Silver Lake in Dayton, where there was little to see, and then headed up to Skyline Drive. Kentucky Warblers had been reported at the Hightop Mountain parking area. I had already taken some good photos of this warbler species last May on the Blue Ridge Parkway (and in previous years at several locations), but Walt hadn't seen Kentucky Warblers yet this year. As soon as we arrived, we heard and got fleeting views of two Kentucky Warblers and at least one Cerulean Warbler. I hiked a short way onto the trail, and must have flushed one of the Kentucky Warblers back to the parking area where Walt got some good, but short, close-up views of it. I wasn't able to get identifiable photos of either warbler species. We decided to try Pocosin Cabin, and then stop again at Hightop Mountain on the way home to try again.
Pocosin Cabin was fairly quiet. We saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler and two American Redstarts. Walt got a quick view of a flying Hooded Warbler, and I heard a distant Veery.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
American Redstart
There were a few Gray Catbirds near the cabin, and I flushed a gray, Catbird-sized bird from the brush. I was only able to get a quick photo. I assumed that it was one of the Catbirds, but the undertail pattern shows alternating gray and black bars, so I don't know what it was.
Unidentified bird
We stopped a second time at the Hightop Mountain parking area. This time, we heard and saw Kentucky Warblers on both sides of the road, but once again, only fleeting views. The only bird I could get a photo of there was an American Redstart.
American Redstart
We ended the day trip with about 35 avian species. Both Walt and I accomplished our targets for the outing, and quoting a birding friend of mine from Florida, "It only takes one good photo to make it a great birding day!"
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |