At Brenda Tekin's suggestion I birded Riverview Park early Saturday
morning. Thought I didn't get my elusive winter birds, the Hermit Thrush
and Brown Creeper, I was hardly disappointed. Highlights were my
first-of-season BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and GRAY CATBIRD (Steve, I agree --
I miss them as much as I miss the White-Throated Sparrows when they're
gone). The catbirds just need to come a couple more blocks to my yard! Also
saw what I am fairly confident was a single NRW Swallow overhead.
Too many to count were the RC Kinglets singing, the Yellow-Rumped Warblers
gleaning and bug-catching, and the Carolina Wrens. Seems there was a N.
Cardinal in every tree. Also saw a pair of amorous Canada Geese on the
water... an Am. Goldfinch singing assiduously, in bright breeding
plumage... an acrobatic E. Phoebe and male E. Bluebird... a couple of B.
Thrashers singing and calling... as well as the more usual chickadees,
titmice, juncos and Chipping, WT and Song Sparrows.
Winston Barham
Charlottesville
From: SteveYoung@xxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 11:31:18 EDT
Subject: [va-bird] First Catbird...
Saw my first Catbird of the season this morning, splashing in the birdbath. I
always miss those guys. Cheers,
Steve Young
Arlington
