This morning Dave Hewitt met my husband Lee and me at 6:45 AM to explore the
North part of Beaverdam Park in Gloucester County. Although we've corresponded
with Dave via email, we'd never birded together so it was fun exploring this
area familiar to both of us.
We were thrilled to spot the first RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that any of us had
seen at the park since Hurricane Isabel in Sept 2003. It was reassuring to know
they're back.
Another first for the season was a RED-EYED VIREO - when we saw it, we were
surprised that it was silent. In contrast were the five WHITE-EYES VIREO that
were vocal throughout the morning.
We tallied 7 warbler species: PALM, NO. PARULA, BLACK & WHITE, YELLOW-RUMPED,
PINE and OVENBIRD. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were everywhere!
A BARRED OWL called from across Fary's Mill Road as we explored the short path
at the upper end of the park. A WOOD DUCK flew in as we listened to the owl,
and a lone AMERCIAN COOT was still hanging around.
Complete list of the 51 species follows.
Meredith Bell
Hayes, VA (Gloucester County)
Mute Swan 4
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 9
Canada Goose 15
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 2
American Coot 1
Laughing Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 12
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Phoebe 2
White-eyed Vireo 5
Red-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 17
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 6
Brown Thrasher 3
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 4
Black & White Warbler 2
Northern Parula 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Pine Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Palm Warbler 4
Ovenbird 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Savannah Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 8
Chipping Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
American Goldfinch 10
