After an inauspicious start at Pr. William Forest NP, I decided to try
Leesylvania before calling it quits. I ran into the NVBC on their jaunt, and
there was moderate activity at the top of the hill at the ruins. Good looks at
Black-throated Green, Black-and-White, and Magnolia Warblers, and N. Parula,
during which the sun put in a brief appearance. I'll leave the ID of the Empids
to Paula Sullivan. The NVBC left the hill about 10:15. Perhaps a little to
soon.
About 10:30, I decided to take the long way down and slowly headed west on the
road that runs by the ruins. The hillside was crawling with Magnolia Warblers
with a smattering of Black-and-White Warblers. Just past the barn foundation
(maybe 10-15 ft), I ran into a group of about a half-dozen each of Titmice and
Ca. Chickadees at about 10:45. I've never had much luck pishing, so decided to
see if I could entice them to react. After pishing for a little while, the
Chickadees started scolding me. I pished back and we began to attract a crowd.
In a matter of minutes the hillside came alive with 30-50 birds, a mix of dozen
or so each of Titmice and Chickadees, a couple of Ca. Wrens, a Downy WP, a
dozen or so Magnolia W., a half dozen each Black-and-White W. and Am. Redstarts
(including breeding plumage males), and a N. Parula or two. In the midst of all
this activity, a clearly-marked 1st-Yr CONNECTICUT WARBLER (lifer for me)
arrived front and center in the underbrush. This was perhaps the most
cooperative and accommodating lifer sighting I've had. The bird was within 8
feet of me for about 2-3 minutes, in unobstructed view most of the time, moving
very little between branches from about eye-level to the ground, and giving me
views from all angles - top, front, left-side, right-side, a rear with tail
raised. It had a complete eye-ring, complete brownish hood, largish beak, and
"short-tail". In fact, as the crowd dissipated, it was the last to leave. What
a rush!
Now if I could just find an Orange-crowned and a Golden-winged Warbler.
Scott Priebe
Springfield, VA
Prince Wm. Forest NP - 15 spp. 6:30-9:00
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
Leesylvania SP - 34 spp. 9:20-11:00
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Bald Eagle
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empid sp.
Red-eyed Vireo
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch
