While working on our bell tower this afternoon I saw 2 Bald Eagles as well as
an Osprey and several Hawks. There were also a few migrating passerines,
notably a Baltimore Oriole being chased by a Hummingbird. I cannot be
absolutely certain but I think I heard a Flicker call, down the mountain from
the Abbey. I only heard it once so we'll never know.
It was amusing to watch again this year the Ravens hunting in the hayfield. We
have just begun cutting the hay again and the Turkey Vultures and Ravens have
been flying in close, coursing like a Harrier very low over the ground and then
pouncing on field mice. The Vultures tend to walk around more, hunting for
mice, while the Ravens act more like Harriers. I saw one of the Ravens catch a
very large field mouse, wack it on the ground a few times, and then fly to a
far corner of the field and bury it under a couple of inches of dirt and grass.
Father John
Blue Ridge Parkway
Franklin County
43 species
Black Vulture 11
Turkey Vulture 19
Osprey
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel
Wild Turkey 12
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-thr. Hummingbird 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Pewee 7
Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 14
Raven 5
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee 5
Titmouse 4
White-br. Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 2
Cedar Waxwing 52
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-thr. Blue Warbler
Black&White Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Scarlet Tanager 3
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 2
Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting
Baltimore Oriole
Goldfinch 20
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