[Bristol-Birds] Blue-headed Vireo

My husband, Ed, and I birded the Breaks Interstate Park this morning and found 
a Blue-headed Vireo, our first one of the spring. It was singing in some trees 
at the same location where we found two singing Pine Warblers last weekend. We 
again spotted a Pine Warbler this morning and heard two others singing nearby. 
   
  While we admired the Vireo's plumage and vocal illustrations, we heard a 
Barred Owl hooting several hundred yards away. It's always a treat to hear an 
owl, especially at 9:40 a.m., so imagine our astonishment and delight as we 
drove down the nature trail and saw the owl sitting in a tree beside the road. 
We stopped, of course, and he flew a short distance into the woods but remained 
visible. A Cooper's Hawk called twice from the opposite side of the road as we 
watched the owl. Suddenly, the Cooper's Hawk burst from the woods and flew 
straight at the owl. It seemed as if the hawk struck the owl, but we weren't 
sure. They both disappeared in a frenzied flight of feathers. There are some 
moments while birding when Ed and I just look at each other, grateful witnesses 
too surprised and thrilled for words. This was definitely one of those moments.
   
  The trip also afforded us great looks at two Northern Flickers, a 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Brown Creeper in close proximity to each other. 
Other species included a singing Chipping Sparrow, a Pied-billed Grebe, Wood 
Ducks, numerous Turkey Vultures, and many other common birds. In a stream on 
the Garden Hole Trail, Ed found several cool salamanders, which can be viewed, 
along with other pictures from this morning's hike, at the following link. 
http://www.pbase.com/aquilaet/breaks3
   
  Michelle Talbott

                        
---------------------------------
 Yahoo! Mail
 Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.

Other related posts: