Walt Childs and I headed west over the Blue Ridge mountains to western Augusta county to try some birding in the Shenandoah Valley and eastern Allegheny Mountains. Our first stop was at Augusta Springs Wetlands. On the drive there we saw Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks.
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Male and female Northern Cardinals
Juvenile Cedar Waxwing
We were surprised to see a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker this early in the autumn.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
We saw a beautiful Blue-headed Vireo. All of the previous BH Vireos that I have seen had a light yellow-green wash on their flanks. This one had bold, olive-colored flanks.
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
I got quick glimpses of a female American Redstart and a Chestnut-sided Warbler, and was able to get photos of three other warbler species: Magnolia, Black-throated Green, and Nashville.
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Nashville Warbler
I saw a Black-throated Green Warbler having a wrestling match with a Crane(?) Fly. Eventually, the warbler either lost the tussle, or decided that the fly didn't taste very good.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
From Augusta Springs Wetlands, we headed up Hite Hollow Road to higher elevations. Although it was a bit hazy, the views were still very good, but the road surface wasn't!
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Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-capped Chickadee
Our last stop of the day was in the Swoope area of Augusta County, where we added another 15 species to the day's list, including our 8th and 9th warbler species for the day: Palm and Common Yellowthroat. We saw some interesting lake birds there as well.
Mallards
[Update: (Fred A., Oakton, VA): I think the mallards are green-winged teals.]
Adult and juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers
Killdeers
American Kestrel
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Snipe
Northern Shovelers
[Update: (Allen L., Augusta County): There is only one Shoveler in the photos. The rest are Blue-winged Teal.]
Northern Shovelers
[Update: (Allen L., Augusta County): There is only one Shoveler in the photos. The rest are Blue-winged Teal.]
Northern Shovelers
[Update: (Allen L., Augusta County): There is only one Shoveler in the photos. The rest are Blue-winged Teal.]
Northern Shovelers
[Update: (Allen L., Augusta County): There is only one Shoveler in the photos. The rest are Blue-winged Teal.]
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
A huge flock of Starlings
Honey Bee hive
Beaver? Turtle?
Today's bird list:
Mallard Northern Shoveler Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Killdeer Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Nashville Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Eastern Meadowlark American Goldfinch |