Walt Childs and I had already planned to go this morning to the Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chesterfield, Virginia, just south of Richmond, when we added a quick side trip to the journey. A few days ago I signed up on www.eBird.org to get rare bird alerts in Virginia, and read yesterday morning that a Rufous Hummingbird, nick-named "Little Sarge," had been coming to a bird feeder at a home just a few miles from Dutch Gap. After doing a bit of Internet research, I was able to get the name, address, and phone number of the home owner, Julie Kacmarcik, gave her a call, and got permission from her for Walt and me to go into her back yard and look for the hummingbird.
It was supposed to be sunny, but there was light overcast all day long. Our target birds at Dutch Gap were Bitterns, Rails, and small birds that might be along the shore line. We had seen an American Bittern there last December, although there had not been any recent reports of it.
We spent most of the first hour or so at and along the two platforms that overlook the large marsh just before the Dutch Gap parking lot. There were more Ring-necked Ducks than I had ever seen before, perhaps as many as 100 of them, in addition to lots of other waterfowl - American Wigeons, Gadwalls, Wood Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, American Coots, and Mallards.
We didn't see any Bitterns or Rails near the shore line, but saw six sparrow species, a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a secretive Winter Wren.
Ring-necked Duck
American Wigeons and Wood Ducks
Northern Pintails
Northern Pintail
Gadwalls
Gadwall
Northern Shovelers
Northern Shovelers
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Savannah Sparrow
Winter Wren
Winter Wren
Winter Wren
We decided to take a break and head over to Julie's house to look for the Rufous Hummingbird. Her house should be listed as a Virginia birding "hot spot," as we saw 18 species in about 45 minutes while we were standing in her back yard. In addition to a Brown Creeper and a Bald Eagle that did a flyover just as we were getting ready to leave, "Little Sarge" made three appearances to two different feeders while we were there, although I wasn't able to get as close to him as I wanted for some close-up photos. But I am not complaining - the Rufous Hummingbird was a new life bird for me.
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
After a quick lunch, Walt and I headed back to Dutch Gap, this time hiking along the trail, and stopping briefly again at the two marsh overlooks. We ended the day with 53 species that included a Red-shouldered Hawk we saw along the road just after we left Dutch Gap.
Great Blue Herons
Great Blue Herons
"Now where did I drop that seed?"
Ring-billed Gull
This guy sat on the overlook platform rail only two feet away from me as I took pictures
Double-crested Cormorants
Just doing some duck watching
Just doing some duck watching
"Look at all the ducks at this marsh"
Today's list (53 species):
American Coot Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Mallard Gadwall Northern Pintail Ring-necked Duck Black Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Bald Eagle American Kestrel Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Winter Wren White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet Rufous Hummingbird American Robin Hermit Thrush Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal Swamp Sparrow Song Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle American Goldfinch Purple Finch House Finch |