The clouds finally lifted today, and it was like a curtain being drawn back: I
was amazed at the number of birds which were migrating down our ridge today.
Several groups of White-throated and Song Sparrows moved through, with 4
LINCOLN Sparrows mixed in, as well as a juv. WHITE-CROWNED and 6 Swamp
Sparrows. Just around noon, when the sun finally broke out, many of the
sparrows stopped to preen, and that is when I saw the HENSLOW'S SPARROW (I was
in a boggy, weedy valley in a disused pasture) about 20 yards away sitting on
top of a small weed. I had nearly a minute to study its head, breast and wings
(I never really saw its back) as it straightened the feathers of one of its
wings. Thankfully the light was perfect and the bird was close, otherwise I
would be hesitant to believe a bird I knew in Louisiana was here at the abbey.
The complete list of sparrows:
Towhee 12
Chipping 11
Field
Henslow's
Savannah 2
Song 37
Lincoln's 4
Swamp 6
White-throated 43
White-crowned
Junco 3
When I thought it couldn't get much better than this lineup of sparrows, I
walked upstream a little bit and found dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers taking
a bath. After watching for a while several others came down to the water: a
Red-eyed Vireo, 3 Blue-headed Vireos, NASHVILLE WARBLER, 3 Black-thr. Green
Warblers, 2 Palm Warblers (one brown, one yellow), a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER and a
Common Yellowthroat. It was really nice to see the Bay-breasted with a good
neutral backround of stones and leaves, and without having to bend over
backwards.
Other birds of interest were both Kinglets, a Swainson's Thrush and a Gray
Catbird.
An Osprey stopped by the ponds this evening and perched in a large pine tree,
but then left without trying his luck.
Father John
Blue Ridge Parkway
Franklin County
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