Hi,
Yesterday was another gorgeous day in the swamp. Diane Kaufman joined
me
for my weekly Thursday walk. We got started about 7am and finished
about 11:30 walking first south along Jericho Ditch past the dogleg,
then returning to five points and continuing north along Jericho Ditch
to Williamson Ditch and returning.
The volume of bird song was very high making it difficult at times to
separate the calls we were hearing. There were literally so many songs
coming forth that keeping an accurate count was difficult. I guess
that's a problem everyone would like to have. There were four species
recorded which were new for me for the swamp this year: Red-eyed Vireo,
Wood Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Chimney Swift. The vireo and the
thrush were notable parts of the chorus mentioned earlier. I suspect
both have been in the swamp for most of the week since my last visit.
The swifts have been seen around Norfolk for over a week. Incidently,
Chimney Swifts (as well as Purple Martins) are alleged to nest in
natural cavities in the Great Dismal. This week I recorded 51 species
with the most numerous species award going to Cedar Waxwings (30,
feeding on mistletoe berries), followed by Ovenbird (22) and
Prothonotary Warber (21). I heard 8 Swainson's Warblers with two along
the entrance road (Jericho Ditch Lane), 4 between five points and the
dog leg on Jericho Ditch to the south, and 2 near the intersection of
Jericho Ditch with Williamson Ditch. One of the birds to the south was
adjacent to the ditch, but alas, a brief glance was all we were able to get.
After 10:30 a.m. the butterflies really began to move with several
collections of swallowtails at scat and puddles. Pearl Crescents and
Palomedes Swallowtail were in the largest numbers. Others seen include:
Zebra Swallowtail, Spring Azure, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Henry's
Elfin, Carolina Satyr, Sleepy Orange, Juvenal's Duskywing, American
Lady, Orange Sulfur, and Red-spotted Purple.
Another attraction of the swamp is the accumulation of tracks in the
moist dirt or sand. Over the weeks I've been taking my walk, I've seen
tracks of bobcat, black bear, beaver, river otter, gray squirrel,
white-tailed deer, and local dogs. Of these animals I have seen only
the last one...but I keep looking.
Cheers,
Bob Ake
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