FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Henricus/Dutch Gap RAS trip today

[Al Warfield <warfield101@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The turnout for the scheduled field trip (6/28/03) was 7, all Audubon members. 
Sorry, no converts today! Nevertheless, the weather cooperated - it was cool, 
and there were only 142 drops of rain - I counted them! The gate is now 
programmed to open at exactly 7:00 a.m. We followed most of the announced path 
except that we didn't take the side trip through the wooded trail due to wet 
conditions. We did go to the banding area. 
43 species were recorded. Here are some highlights: 
At the bird banding area (no banding was set up) we were watching a Brown 
Thrasher on a dead tree, and then it took off. Some of us followed it with 
binoculars, and saw a Ruby-troated Hummingbird chasing it.  There were lots of 
Field Sparrows, especially along the road by the flyash pond in the first mile. 
Blue Grosbeaks were visible on several occasions. Indigo Buntings were almost 
as numerous and obvious as the Common Grackles. Several Orchard and a few 
Baltimore Orioles were seen, including at least one juvenile Baltimore. Downy 
and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen.

Prothonotary, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow Warblers, and American Redstarts were 
also seen. There were several good looks at Common Yellowthroats, which were 
numerous in several areas. Noisy Yellow-breasted Chats were heard at the 
banding area, and we saw at least one.

Wrapping up the list were Cedar Waxwings, lots of American Goldfinches, a pair 
of Ospreys, Great Blue and Green Herons, a Wild Turkey, two looks at a 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, 
Red-eyed Vireos, Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and other common 
species. For 3 hours of late June birding, it was not bad at all!

Al & Linda Warfield


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