Crozet, VA 3/16-23/17
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
Non-birding events during the past week have kept me from birding anywhere except in my local area. One afternoon early last week, Alice and I were walking here in Old Trail, when we encountered a Red-shouldered Hawk that offered up one of the best views I have ever had of this species - just above eye level, about 15 feet away, and perfect sunlight. Unfortunately, it was one of the few times I have walked here without my camera, and I had to settle for an iPhone shot. For me, it was like expecting a large slice of double-fudge chocolate cake, and being handed a graham cracker :-(
Red-shouldered Hawk
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Spring birds are just starting to arrive, and the temperatures and wind here remain highly variable.
Eastern Bluebird
Killdeer
Killdeer
House Finch
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Starling
House Sparrow
I went over to the nearby Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir this morning (3/23), and saw close to 30 avian species there. The highlight was a flock of about 15 Rusty Blackbirds.
Mallards
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pied-billed Grebe (one of three there)
Carolina Wren
Northern Cardinal
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler (first one in a few weeks)
Rusty Blackbirds
Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird