Hello, Virginia Birders,
For a couple of years now, I have been jealous of Bob Ake, a notable RETIRED
person, for his ability to go to neat places like Dismal Swamp on WORK days. He
plans to go to Dismal Swamp TOMORROW, another WORK-DAY, the 21st of March. I
would like to join him, but I'll have to WORK. Have fun, Bob!
I walked in Dismal Swamp, along Jericho Ditch, on Saturday, the first NON-WORK
day with decent weather in about 6 months, hoping to find some avian signs of
Spring before Bob did. I failed. However, I did find some wintering birds with
obvious tendencies toward leaving the area. I heard a HERMIT THRUSH giving some
flute-like phrases, as well as RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and WINTER WRENS bubbling
their long and similar songs. Two groups of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were squeaking in
the woods, some at "five-points" and more up at Williamson Ditch. A BLUE-HEADED
VIREO gave its fussing chatter and then sang one sweet note. One ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER chipped and put in a brief appearance from the thicket along the
ditch-bank. Woodpeckers were the most notable residents, and HAIRY WOODPECKER
seemed to be the most common. I counted eight between the parking area and
Williamson Ditch, a distance of about a mile. I heard two more driving in on
Jericho Lane I found only one DOWNY WOODPECKER in the same area; strange!
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER and PILEATED WOODPECKER were also
common. I did not find any YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, which I thought was
strange; since they've seemed pretty common, to me, this winter.
Amphibians were more in tune with the advent of Spring. SOUTHERN LEOPARD FROGS,
PICKERAL FROGS, SPRING PEEPERS and BRIMLEY'S CHORUS FROGS were all calling. The
only reptiles seen were two SPOTTED TURTLES, sunning on a log. Mammals included
two RIVER OTTERS, which swam up huffing and puffing to get a closer look at my
human-intrusion, and the usual GRAY SQUIRRELS. Mammal tracks included those of
WHITE-TAILED DEER, BOBCAT, RACCOON and BLACK BEAR. Insects included one
AMERICAN PAINTED-LADY, my first butterfly of the year, and MOSQUITOES!!
Good Birding!
David L. Hughes
Portsmouth, VA Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download :
http://explorer.msn.com
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