FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Re: GREAT EGRET at Pocahontas

[<pbedell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wendy,

Your encounter with the cicada and predator could have been either a
cicada killer, (Specius sp.), or perhaps a European Hornet (Vespa
crabro) based on the size and color.  This hornet is yet another of
those introduced species that our native wildlife has to contend with.

Paul Bedell

> A pleasant hike around the Beaver Lake Trail at Pocahontas SP turned
up a  
> GREAT EGRET.  Not a lot of signs of migration; there were at least
half a  dozen 
> singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS (outnumbering the RED-EYEDS).
>  
> Full list follows:
>  
> Great Blue Heron
> Great Egret
> Wood Duck
> Red-shouldered Hawk
> Killdeer
>  
> Mourning Dove
> Yellow-billed Cuckoo
> Belted Kingfisher
> Red-Bellied Woodpecker
> Downy Woodpecker
>  
> Flicker
> Pileated Woodpecker
> Pewee
> Blue Jay
> American Crow
>  
> Carolina Chickadee
> Titmouse
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> Carolina Wren
> Wood Thrush (nice look)
>  
> Robin
> Yellow-throated Vireo
> Red-eyed Vireo
> Cardinal
> Goldfinch
>  
> Also I heard some buzzing and scuffling among the leaves at the side
of the  
> trail.  I saw something green and white struggling on the ground.  
Thinking 
> it might be a female hummingbird entangled in something, I went to 
investigate 
> and found what appeared to be a large hornet attacking a  cicada.  I

> carefully separated them with a large stick, and the cicada flew 
off, apparently 
> unharmed.  The hornet was pretty hefty ( about the size of  my thumb
to the joint) 
> and yellow and black - like a very fat  yellowjacket.
>  
> Wendy  Ealding
> 

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