I took a ride to the Great Dismal Swamp in Suffolk this morning. It was
a pretty good morning. I spent my time at Jericho Ditch and along the
entrance road to Jericho Ditch and had 11 species of warblers dominated
by PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS. Also present were SWAINSON'S WARBLERS. I
heard 2 along the entrance road and 1 along the ditch near the banding
nets. I wasn't fortunate enough to see one (not from lack of trying)
but they were singing very loudly. Other warblers were NORTHERN PARULA,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, PINE
WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (singing very
close to the road) and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Other highlights included a
group of 4 INDIGO BUNTINGS, a flyover YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, plenty
of GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, WOOD THRUSH, RED-EYED, WHITE-EYED and
YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS, GRAY CATBIRD and a very vocal RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK. Probably the biggest highlight for me was to hear a HERMIT THRUSH
singing. Great sound!
After I left the swamp, I went to Craney Island where I saw pretty much
the same stuff that was reported yesterday. The 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS were
still in the southwest impoundment. They were with a ton of GREATER and
LESSER YELLOWLEGS. I also saw a nice breeding plumaged DUNLIN mixed in
with the LEAST SANDPIPERS. The terns were a treat and were lined up on
a sandbar. From left to right were 2 FORSTER'S TERNS, 1 GULL-BILLED
TERN, about 10 ROYAL TERNS and 3 CASPIAN TERNS. All in all, a great day
out. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
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