House Sparrow
I did a short hike here in Old Trail, an ended up with about 20 avian species. A female House Sparrow was a very cooperative photo model, and I saw a Common Goldeneye in the golf course pond. This is the fourth Common Goldeneye I have seen in the local ara during the past week or so. They must be migrating through the area. I also saw at least 10 Chipping Sparrows - common in the summer months, but unsual here in the winter months.
House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Common Goldeneye
Walt Childs and I took one of our usual routes through northern Augusta County and southern Rockingham County. We started off on Strickley Road looking for Horned Larks and possible longspurs that might be with them. But we only saw a couple of Horned Larks and a few Killdeers.
Horned Lark
Killdeers
A little farther along the road, we saw an Eastern Meadowlark, and a Red-shouldered Hawk. We re-located the hawk a couple of minutes later as it soared to gain altitude.
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
We also saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks (two of six that we saw this day). When we turned north onto Rockfish Road, we saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks flying together, and assumed that it was the same two we had seen a few minutes earlier.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawks
We continued on back roads towards the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. We saw a single male American Kestrel, and then a female American Kestrel, a female Northern Harrier, and another Red-tailed Hawk. We saw four more American Kestrels on this outing. We also saw an Eastern Phoebe, another uncommon in winter species, and more Killdeers.
Male American Kestrel
Female American Kestrel
Female American Kestrel
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Phoebe
Killdeer
We stopped at Leonard's Pond where we saw eight Mallards and another small flock of Killdeers, and then headed up to Elkton, and back south on Route 340. We ended the outing with 29 avian species.
Mallards
Northern Flicker