[va-bird] Orphan BH Vireo/Fauquier Co + Black Rail

After pigging out on the Black Rail this morning (he started singing at 6:40), 
I stopped at Thompson WMA (upper Lot 6) on the way
home to pad my June warbler list.

After ticking off the desired Cerulean and Hooded, I heard a strange sound that 
I knew was a bird, but was non-specific. When I
finally found the little bugger, it was a newly fledged Blue-headed Vireo 
crying for mom and dad. It had a very short tail and downy
breast, but did have the typical eye ring and bluish head. How old he was, I 
can't say. It was very near the spot where I found an
adult male singing last July 4.

Although I spent 15 minutes or so waiting, I never saw an adult. Perhaps it was 
time to let him go on his own, or something might
have happened to the adults. As there was a fair amount of storm damage from 
yesterday up there, who knows?

While up there, I found a Towhee nest with 2 Towhee eggs and 1 Cowbird egg. 
When I left, it had only 2 Towhee eggs.

Another treat was a single fledgling Kentucky Warbler being taught by an adult 
male how to hunt.

A final treat was a fly-by Raven, just above the radio towers.

After a day like that, I can only wonder what normal people do for fun?!

Jon Little
Winchester

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