Today I was joined by Alise Enders and Dave White
for a nice four-hour walk south along Jericho Ditch starting at about 7:00 am
from Five Points. The temperature was 47 degrees and the sky was
perfectly clear. A Louisiana Waterthrush was singing loudly at the parking
lot as we drove up. (Do they ever sing softly?!?) New birds for me
for the swamp this year were Wood Thrush and Green Heron. The level of
bird song was a bit muted at the beginning, but warmed up as the morning
progressed. Warblers seen or heard during the walk were: Louisiana
Waterthrush (2), Prairie Warbler (9), Prothonotary Warbler (19), Ovenbird (9),
Yellow-rumped Warbler (12), Worm-eating Warbler (5), Common Yellowthroat (15),
Swainson's Warbler (4), Hooded Warbler (2), Black-and-white Warbler (6),
Northern Waterthrush (1), and Yellow-throated Warbler (1). The four
Swainson's Warblers were evenly spaced between Five Points and the dogleg
(kink)
going south along Jericho Ditch with half of them near the road. Other
highlights included a highly vocal Red-headed Woodpecker that Alise pointed out
and a Red-shouldered Hawk that was hopping around on the entrance road putting
on quite a show. Never did see what she was after.
Next week my Thursday Dismal Swamp walk will be on
Wednesday and I plan to start about 6:30 am since daylight is upon us earlier
with every passing day. Please join me; I enjoy company.
Cheers,
--- Robert Ake
--- akeneff@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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