Old Trail; Crozet, VA, 9/21-22/18

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

September 21

It was still hot and muggy this afternoon, and all the rain has left the ground wet and muddy in places. I hiked here in Old Trail, not expecting to see many species, but ended up with 20. Most of the birds were common woodland species. I started the hike with a yearling deer taking a long look at me, trying to figure out what I was.

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Deer

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Indigo Bunting

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Tufted Titmouse

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Carolina Chickadee

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Wren

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

I saw a young Northern Mockingbird perched in a tree. It had both of its eyes closed the entire time I was watching it. I don't know if it was sleeping, too young to open its eyes, or had some eye disease.

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Northern Mockingbird

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Northern Mockingbird

Near the end of my hike, there was a lot of avian activity close to my house, and where I have seen migrating Magnolia Warblers in previous years. Sure enough, there was a pair of them, along with Titmice, Chickadees, Indigo Buntings, Carolina Wrens, and Noerthern Cardinals.

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Magnolia Warblers

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Magnolia Warblers

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

All of a sudden, the avian activity became still. One of our resident Red-shouldered Hawks landed in a nearby tree.

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Red-shouldered Hawk

I continued down the trail, and got my second warbler species of the hike - a Common Yellowthroat. This species sometimes spends the summer in that area of the trail, but I hadn't seen one there this year, so I suspect it was a migrating bird.

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Common Yellowthroat

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Common Yellowthroat

September 22

I was eager to see if the Magnolia Warblers were still there, or if any new warblers had arrived. I had time for a short hike, so I walked the stretch of the trail where I had seen migrating warblers in previous years. I didn't see the Magnolias, but got a quick look at a female American Redstart.

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American Redstart

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Red-eyed Vireo

September 23

Raining today, with rain forecasted for every day in the coming week. Bummers!


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