[va-richmond-general] Huguenot Flatwater to the Dell (JRPS)--red-eyed vireo heard, possible kingfisher nest

I wanted to get out so bad this morning that I hiked in the rain until it
quit and then kept going.  I got out at Huguenot Flatwater, drove along
Riverside Dr., got out to look at GHOWlets at Dogwood Dell (and look for the
other adult in the ivy-covered trees-still no luck), went to the Pumphouse
(there is now a diving dock for dogs by the bridge-at least that's what the
builders call it-and the trails are wider and more extensive than I
remember, with interesting new signs), and got to the Wetlands as the rain
quit.  Lots of the expected birds with these highlights:

 

Hug. Flatwater:  A very clear "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet" (I forget
songs over the winter, so I have to look it up unless someone wants to
coddle me.  I can't remember what Arun said.).

 

Riverside Dr.:  A beaver, a belted kingfisher, 3 pied billed grebes (also
seen yesterday on the way home from school), and a sleeping m. common
merganser across the river, all in the vicinity of Rock Falls Dr.   Another
merganser flew upriver.  Also heard a red-eyed vireo along there somewhere.
This year there seem to be more DC cormorants than I have seen in the last
year or so.

 

Dogwood Dell:  The owlets are thriving but not ready to move from the nest.
Is it just me, or are there more flickers in that area than just about
anywhere else around Richmond?

 

The Pumphouse:  There seem to be more trails and vernal pools than in the
past.  The rain was pretty heavy then, but the first thing I saw at the gate
was a hermit thrush.  A large deer herd was at the end of the trail across
the canal.  I think there may be unsavory cruising activity happening there
still, even in the rain.  Lots of sparrow activity, but hard to see while I
was there due to rain and fogging glasses.

 

The Wetlands:  A beautiful male towhee up in a tree telling me to drink my
tea (usually the ones at Montauk do that and the ones here just say chewink
from the bushes).  4 deer running back and forth in the water by the
boardwalk, apparently caught between me and a dog.  Hermit thrushes near the
boardwalk (loving the extension on the boardwalk, by the way).  Over at the
creek I heard an awful racket from at least 2 kingfishers and could see one
perched.  They flew away, so not sure if it was territorial or other noise,
but there were 2 holes and one had gray feathers stuck to the mud below it.
Both had scratch marks at the entrance.  Arun Bose came by and we will both
be checking for any activity worth reporting.  He and I did not find the Am.
bittern, but we both saw 2 large snapping turtles in the pool where it had
been, and the water is deeper today, so maybe it is just around the pond or
in another pool.  Ben and Betsy did not find it during the rain (sorry to
miss you guys), but reported a horned grebe on the river.  The barred owl
was seen in the same place by me and by Arun.  After Arun left, the crows
were mobbing something back where I usually see the GHOW, but it was gone
when I got there.  Lots of gnatcatchers, and one "zweet, zweet, zweet" (this
one I do know).  A beautiful pair of wood ducks in the water near the barred
owl's perch.

 

I have had far worse days with much better weather!  Make sure you check out
Rachel's excellent pictures of the bittern.  Time to get back to the
paperwork (sigh).

 

Jan

Richmond

Other related posts: