In spite of the cloudy day yesterda (when sun was expected) I was able to check
again in the woods immediately around the abbey and found most of the breeding
birds on our property.
There were several young Red-eyed Vireos and Worm-eating Warblers begging food,
as well as Kentucky, Cerulean and Hooded Warbler adults carrying food. I also
saw two Cedar Waxwings carrying food to a spot in the pine trees from which I
have been hearing the chirping sounds of nestlings. There was a Brown Thrasher
holding grasses and singing at the same time, and an a very large immature
Cooper's Hawk making a close inspection of the bird feeders. Several
Blue-headed Vireos and Yellow-throated Vireos are still singing heartily.
Father John Sebastian
Syon Abbey
Blue Ridge Parkway
Franklin County
50 species
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Red-bellied Woodpoecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 7
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker
E. Wood-Pewee 12
Acadian Flycatcher
E. Phoebe 8
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Blue-headed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 20
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 9
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Carolina Wren 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
E. Bluebird 2
Wood Thrush 7
American Robin 5
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwing 4
Cerulean Warbler 3
Black-and-White Warbler
American Redstart 12
Worm-eating Warbler 5
Ovenbird 18
Hooded Warbler 15
Kentucky Warbler 4
Scarlet Tanager 7
E. Towhee 21
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 9
Northern Cardinal 8
Indigo Bunting 17
Red-winged Blackbird 24
E. Meadowlark 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 12
