Crozet, VA 11/8/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Old Trail

As was the case yesterday, with bright sun and warm temperatures, the trails here were loaded with people, making birding a challenge. I did end up with 26 avian species today, and at least one of the Tennessee Warblers remains along the trail path above the wetlands. The normal late date for this species in the Virginia Piedmont is October 15, with an extreme late date of November 20, so I am curious to see how long it will stay. Unfortunately, I could only get severely backlit photos of it.

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Great Blue Heron and Canada Geese

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Hermit Thrush

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White-crowned Sparrow

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Savannah Sparrow

I saw a Swamp Sparrow where I usually find them in the wetlands near the lodge.

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Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrows, along with Song, Field, White-throated, and White-crowned Sparrows, are also in the wetlands around the soccer field. I saw two Swamp sparrows there this morning, and the second one looked a bit unusual.

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First Swamp Sparrow near soccer field

The second Swamp Sparrow looked to have an almost all white breast with very little rufous in the flanks. Its outer tail feathers looked white, with middle tail feathers brown, and central tail feathers gray. I tried to get a frontal photo to see its breast more clearly, but it flew into hiding. It's body posture looked to me more like that of a Song Sparrow than the more bulky posture of a Swamp Sparrow. And its bill looked rather long.

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Second Swamp Sparrow near soccer field

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Second Swamp Sparrow near soccer field

Today's ist:

Red-shouldered Hawk
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Blue Jay
White-crowned Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Tennessee Warbler
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pileated Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Cedar Waxwing


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