Happy Halloween,
I birded from the Visitor Center to the AT today, by way of the No. Ridge and
Piedmont Overlook Trails. It was a beautiful day, variably cloudy, temps
rising from the 60s to 78 degrees F. The SW breeze picked up in the early
afternoon.
Highlight was 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS with a flock of Robins in the woods. The
flock was eating berries in a vine covered tree along the No. Ridge Tr., just
below the intersection with the So. Ridge Tr. I initially thought the flock
was composed of just Robins but luckily I took a closer look. This is the
first time that I've definitely had them in the park and I think it's only the
third record that I know of here, including the sighting by Kurt Gaskill et al.
from yesterday.
Robins were in evidence in other parts of the park, too. Sparrows were common,
incl. Chippings near the Meeting House and lots of Juncos and White-throats on
the upper No. Ridge Tr. A Red-headed Woodpecker called from the the Vis.
Center.
An immature Bald Eagle flew parallel to the entrance road and crossed Rte. 17
on my way into the park. Red-tails, TVs and a Kestrel were tallied. I watched
the Kestrel, a female, hover hunt for a while. I didn't see her catch anything.
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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