Today was a spring day with the temperature running between 50F and 58F. I
was joined by Renee Hudgins, Don Jeffries, Bill Pratt, and two visitors from
Canada, who found about the walk from the internet, Anne and Ray Tesluk. We
left the parking lot at 7:00 am and returned about noon, covering about six
miles along Washington Ditch.
We recorded some new spring migrants, including 8 Louisiana Waterthrushes,
the bird of the day. Several were seen well by the group. A Black-and-white
Warbler was heard as well as a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Five warbler species
were listed. The complete list follows: American Robin (3), Brown-headed
Cowbird (2), Eastern Towhee (1), Carolina Chickadee (6), Turkey Vulture (7),
Hairy Woodpecker (4), Winter Wren (2), Carolina Wren (17), Pileated Woodpecker
(3), White-breasted Nuthatch (5), Wood Duck (13), Yellow-rumped Warbler (18),
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1), Red-shouldered Hawk
(4), Brown Creeper (1), Downy Woodpecker (7), Northern Flicker (3), Red-bellied
Woodpecker (4), Louisiana Waterthrush (8), Blue Jay (2), American Goldfinch
(5), Great Blue Heron (1), Dark-eyed Junco (10), White-throated Sparrow (10),
Black Vulture (11), Song Sparrow (2), Northern Cardinal (2), Rusty Blackbird
(6), Black-and-white Warbler (1), Blue-headed Vireo (2), Brown Thrasher (1),
Common Grackle (3), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), Common Yellowthroat (2),
White-eyed Vireo (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Pine Warbler (1).
Butterflies finally put in an appearance after 10 am. They included:
Questionmark (4), Mourning Cloak (1), Zebra Swallowtail (5), Spring Azure (1),
Juvenal's Duskywing (2). The only tracks seen were raccoon and deer. Lots of
Spring Peepers were heard plus a couple of Southern Leopard Frogs and a single
Brimley's Chorus Frog (does a single frog make a chorus?).
My next walk will be along Railroad Ditch starting at 7am on Tuesday, April
5. No reservation necessary; just show up. Hope to see you.
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
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