(this email is half-birding thoughts that came to me today as I was
birding and half bird-reporting)
In this past week, I have finally come to fully understand the definition
of "advanced birding". I believe it encompasses hearing many many birds
(and hopefully knowing what they are), rarely seeing the birds, and when
you do, they are the size of a pin head, your neck is hurting, and you're
still able to identify them. :)
I spent an hour+ doing some "advanced birding" today in the Loftridge Park
behind our home (22303 zip code). I've always felt it was potentially as
birdy during migration as Monticello Park; I can hear the warblers when I
wake up in the mornings. However, there is one key difference in the 2
parks: the birds are spread out in Loftridge!
So, I spent my morning straining to find the BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS that
I could hear all around me, but it was all in vain. The trees were alive
with birds, but darned if I could see them. I did, however impress myself
with identifying two warblers ('chestnut sided 'and 'canada') from so far
away I almost didn't believe that I finally have the skill to do so! The
highlight of the morning was what I'm sure was a CANADA WARBLER (life bird
for me) - far away, but I got to see it for a good full 2 minutes as it
hawked insects. Had I not seen a MAGNOLIA WARBLER earlier this morning, I
might have doubted myself, but it was clearly different. Below is more
comprehensive list of the highlights:
- black and white warblers (heard only)
- black throated blue warblers (heard only)
- yellow warblers (heard only)
- ovenbirds (heard only)
- wood thrush
- swainsons thrush
- magnolia warbler
- canada warbler
- chestnust sided warbler
- common yellowthroat
- red eyed vireos (lots)
- downies
- redbellieds
- flickers
- acadian flycatchers
- one kingfisher fly-over (heard only)
Loftridge Park panned out better than I thought it would! The only
problem was that when I was done birding at 9am, I was still at home and
very late to work! :)
Thanks to everyone on this great bird list for all the posts (from all
over VA), bird walks led by list members, etc. - everything I read here
has helped me become more like the birder I want to be!
-Renee Grebe
Alexandria, VA
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
