Hooded Mergansers
It was cold, windy, and mostly cloudy today. Walt Childs and I did some mid- to late afternoon birding in Crozet, and ended up with 35 to 40 species, most of which were seen in or around the lake at Lickinghole Creek. In addition to lots of Canada Geese, we saw 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 8 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Gadwalls, 2 Wood Ducks, and 17 Green-winged Teals there, and then 4 Mallards at the King Family Vineyards.
Hooded Mergansers
Gadwalls
Gadwalls
Canada Goose and Wood Ducks
Green-winged Teals
Green-winged Teal
Green-winged Teals
Green-winged Teals
While I was hiking on the path past the marshy area at the northwest end of the lake, I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk munching on what looked to me like the last bit of a frog. The hawk was so busy eating that it didn't see me at first, but only looked up after hearing my camera clicks.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Many of the large trees in the marshy area at the south end of the lake had been chomped down by beavers, and I saw a good number of smaller birds there. One was a Swamp Sparrow that had more orange facial coloring than I have ever seen on this species.
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow