[va-bird] CHAS Dismal Swamp 03/25/06

Hello, Virginia Birders,

Ten members of the Cape Henry Audubon Society enjoyed a chilly, but pleasant 4 
hour walk in the Jericho Ditch area of the Great Dismal Swamp NWR. In quite a 
contrast to the temperatures in the mid-seventies of two weekends ago, 
yesterday's temps never got out of the forties in the swamp. A few sprinkles of 
rain fell on us, but not enough to disrupt the birding . The birdlife was 
pretty wintry as well. Avian signs of spring were almost non-existent, at least 
in the Jericho sector. Two of our party later went down to Washington Ditch and 
found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a White-eyed Vireo, and a Louisiana Waterthrush, 
but remember; that IS 6 miles farther south! They also found two Barred Owls at 
Washington, a bird we tried for unsuccessfully at Jericho.   

Up north at Jericho, we found the following birds: Great Blue Heron-3, Wood 
Duck-6, Black Vulture-5, Turkey Vulture-7, Red-shouldered Hawk-2, Laughing 
Gull-6, Ring-billed Gull-14, Mourning Dove-2, Belted Kingfisher-1, Red-bellied 
Woodpecker-3, Downy Woodpecker-5, Hairy Woodpecker-6, Northern Flicker-3, 
Pileated Woodpecker-7, Eastern Phoebe-2, Blue Jay-6, American Crow-4, Fish 
Crow-2, Carolina Chickadee-2, Tufted Titmouse-2, White-breasted Nuthatch-1, 
Brown-headed Nuthatch-1 (very unusual for Jericho parking area), Brown 
Creeper-2, Winter Wren-2 (not singing, this time), Golden-crowned Kinglet-6, 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-12 (lots of singing), Hermit Thrush-4, American 
Robin-200+, Gray Catbird-12, Brown Thrasher-2, White-eyed Vireo-1, Blue-headed 
Vireo-1, Orange-crowned Warbler-1, Yellow-rumped Warbler-15, Pine Warbler-3, 
Northern Cardinal-2, Eastern Towhee-6, Song Sparrow-2, Swamp Sparrow-1, 
White-throated Sparrow-8, Red-winged Blackbird-15, Rusty Blackbird-8, Common 
Grackle-12, Brown-headed Cowbird-2, and American Goldfinch-2.  

The Dwarf Trillium were in grand display along the edge of the road on Jericho, 
just as predicted. Wild Blueberry bushes are also coming into bloom. No sign of 
fern fiddleheads, yet. Mammals stayed out of sight for us yesterday, but we did 
see plenty of River Otter signs. The only butterfly seen was a single Zebra 
Swallowtail, in immaculate condition. No frogs were calling yesterday, another 
result of the cold temperatures.

The Cape Henry Audubon Society will conduct another field trip to Dismal Swamp 
on Saturday, April 29. Once again, we'll explore the Jericho Ditch area; then 
go down to Railroad Ditch for a change of scenery later that morning. Bring a 
lunch, insect repellant and prepare to possibly stay into the afternoon. Meet 
no later than 8:00 AM at the Jericho parking area, or come earlier and linger 
along the Jericho Lane. All Cape Henry Audubon Society field trips are free and 
open to the public.

Good birding!

David L. Hughes
CHAS Field Trips
Portsmouth, VA   

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