[va-bird] Dismal Swamp walk Tuesday 5 March

["Robert Ake" <rake@xxxxxxx>]

    I roared back from North Carolina last night after two days visiting 
granddaughters, nieces, grandnephews.  To help me stay awake during the night 
drive, I listened to the NCAA championship game.  Congrats to UNC.
    But, come Tuesday morning, I was at Railroad Ditch in the swamp at 7:00 
a.m. ready for some more migrants.  I was joined by Don Jeffries, Renee 
Hudgins, Bob & Kathy Loomis, Elisa Enders, and David Hughes, who imitated 
retirement by taking the early morning off work prior to a dentist appointment. 
 The temperature was a cool 45F with no wind and very good listening conditions.
    The stars of the show were the very Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird who 
have arrived in big numbers.  Ovenbird was also a new migrant for me for the 
swamp for this year.  Other new birds were Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, and 
Parula Warblers, some of the total of 9 warbler species recorded during the 
walk.  A feeding flock of over a hundred Rusty Blackbirds moving through the 
understory of the swamp offered careful studies of the birds in breeding 
plumage.
    The complete list included: Ovenbird (21), Pine Warbler (10), Brown 
Thrasher (1), Pileated Woodpecker (4), Red-bellied Woodpecker (8), Fish Crow 
(1), Common Yellowthroat (38), Carolina Wren (9), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (7), 
Northern Cardinal (5), White-throated Sparrow (7), Brown-headed Cowbird (6), 
Northern Flicker (1), Downy Woodpecker (6), Yellow-throated Warbler (3), Wood 
Duck (4), Carolina Chickadee (4), Eastern Towhee (6), Blue Jay (1), Blue-headed 
Vireo (1), Barred Owl (2), Turkey Vulture (6), Great Blue Heron (4), Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher (9), Tufted Titmouse (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (18), American 
Robin (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (2), Louisiana Waterthrush (4), White-breasted 
Nuthatch (7), Common Grackle (60), Prothonotary Warbler (6), Belted Kingfisher 
(2), Parula Warbler (1), White-eyed Vireo (1), Laughing Gull (1), Hermit Thrush 
(1), Black-and-white Warbler (2), Dark-eyed Junco (4), Rusty Blackbird (100), 
Gray Catbird (4), Swamp Sparrow (1).
    Amphibians included Spring Peepers, Carpenter Frogs, Leopard Frogs, and 
Bullfrogs.  The butterfly numbers jumped considerably.  Species and numbers are 
as follows: Black Swallowtail (1), Falcate Orangetip (7), Question Mark (1), 
Zebra Swallowtail (26), Henry's Elfin (2), Spring Azure (11), Mourning Cloak 
(3), American Lady (3), Pearl Crescent (1), Eastern Comma (4), 
Juvenal's/Horace's Duskywing (3), E. Tiger Swallowtail (2), Sleepy Orange (1).  
On our return trip to the cars it was clear that bird song had dropped 
considerably, making an early morning start essential on a sunny day.  However, 
the b'fly bonanza made up for it.
    Along the way we met Don Schwab, Refuge Biologist, who told us he had seen 
one and heard another SWAINSON'S WARBLER along Jericho and Lynn Ditches south 
of five-points yesterday.  So, if you've been waiting for the starting gun to 
be fired, I think you've heard it.  In honor of those sightings my walk next 
Tuesday will step off from the Jericho Ditch Lane parking lot at 7:00 am.  No 
advanced arrangements are necessary; just show up.  Please join me.
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
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[va-bird] Dismal Swamp walk Tuesday 5 March