Rockfish Valley Trail 7/5/11

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


It was hot and muggy this morning, but I knew that the grass on the trail would be tall and wet after yesterday's rain, and I wanted to try out my new "waterproof" boots. This is my 6th pair in the past four years; all of the previous ones (3 brands/models) leaked - some from the gitgo, and the others within 6 months. Will have to see how these new ones work, but for the first hike with them, my feet stayed dry.

I arrived at bit late at 8:50, and stayed on the trail until 10:30 - there was a lot of avian activity, especially on the southern end of the Glenthorne Loop. I logged 30 species, including one mystery bird.


Red-eyed Vireo


Red-eyed Vireo


Yellow-breasted Chat


Yellow-breasted Chat


Yellow-breasted Chat

I did not get a good look at the mystery bird, and my photos are a bit blurry - I tried to correct them as much as possible during post-processing. In the field I thought it might be a Black & White Warbler, but it has brown feathers on the back half of its body. I heard its song - a series of low-pitched buz-buz-buz-buz-buz-buz. I don't have a clue what it is. Any help would be appreciated. [update: everyone seems to agree with my impression in the field - a Black & White Warbler undergoing molt.]


Mystery Bird


Mystery Bird


Mystery Bird


Mystery Bird


Mystery Bird

Here's my list from this morning:
Eastern Bluebird
Indigo Bunting
American Crow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Eastern Kingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
Catbird
Common Yellowthroat
Carolina Chickadee
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-shouldered(?) Hawk
Yellow-breasted Chat
Cowbird
Rock Pigeon
Mystery Bird



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