This morning I was joined at 6:45 a.m. at the Washington Ditch parking lot
by Bob and Kathy Loomis, Tom Ewert, Renee Hudgins, David Matson, Elisa Enders,
and John Fox. Today's walk showed that a lot has happened since the last walk.
We tallied 48 species (13 warblers) with 11 species new for me for the swamp
this year. As has happened in recent weeks when the weather has been warm and
sunny, the singing slowed substantially by about 10 a.m. Then we start
recording butterflies.
Our new birds included Eastern Wood-Pewee, Hooded Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo,
Chimney Swift, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Oriole,
American Redstart, Red-headed Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and
Blue-winged Warbler. Some of these birds have been reported elsewhere or by
others but they were new for me this year in the swamp.
The complete list includes: Carolina Chickadee (7), Ovenbird (13), Blue Jay
(4), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (5), White-eyed Vireo (3), Common Yellowthroat (26),
Northern Cardinal (2), Prothonotary Warbler (54!!), Great Crested Flycatcher
(6), Carolina Wren (11), Louisiana Waterthrush (5), Prairie Warbler (2),
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1), Hooded Warbler (6), Eastern Towhee (5), Red-bellied
Woodpecker (7), Pileated Woodpecker (4), Red-eyed Vireo (7), Chimney Swift (2),
White-throated Sparrow (7), Yellow-throated Warbler (1), Northern Parula (3),
Wood Duck (5), Belted Kingfisher (1), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1), Tufted Titmouse
(1), American Goldfinch (7), Northern Oriole (1), American Redstart (18),
Red-shouldered Hawk (1), American Crow (2), Barred Owl (3), Brown-headed
Cowbird (15), Common Grackle (6), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (4),
Black-and-white Warbler (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (5), Turkey Vulture (4),
Black Vulture (2), Red-headed Woodpecker (1), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2),
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Great Blue Heron (3), Blue-winged Warbler (2),
Laughing Gull (4), White-breasted Nuthatch (1). A birder we met along the walk
reported a Summer Tanager, a bird we didn't see or hear. No Swainson's
Warblers were heard.
Butterflies included: Juvenal/Horace's Duskywing (18), Pearl Crescent (16),
Zebra Swallowtail (6), E. Tiger Swallowtail (4), Palamedes Swallowtail (1), E.
Comma (2), Falcate Orangetip (6), Silver-spotted Skipper (1), Carolina
Roadside-Skipper (2), Black Swallowtail (1).
My next walk will be from Jericho Ditch Lane parking lot Wednesday, April
27 at 6:30 a.m. No reservation is required; just show up. Please join me.
Cheers,
Bob
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
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