[va-richmond-general] The Wetlands (JRPS), Shockoe/Purple martins

I was not expecting a lot late in the afternoon with so many dogs around,
but what was there was interesting.  Over near the bridge to Pony Pasture
there was a sound that was almost like a kid's toy making a short whirring
sound as it moves.  It turned out to be a fledgling pileated (PIWO) begging
for food while a male adult busily excavated a dead tree limb and
periodically came over to feed it.  Such a goofy looking crest on that
little guy!  Other interesting sight and sounds were at least 3 great
cresteds (GCFL) calling by the pond, a pair of barred owls (BDOW) hooting
over between the pond and the river, and several common nighthawks (CONI)
making low flights just above the trees toward the river as you look from
the meadow.  When they showed up it was my cue to move on to the Bottom,
where every day it gets harder to count the birds and the people.  If you
haven't been yet you should check it out.  It is a pre-migratory roost, so
it has a limited time frame.  The birds have some interesting behaviors that
you really have to see to appreciate, and you never know what the red tail
(RTHA), peregrines (PEFA), and American kestrel (AMKE) might do.

 

Jan

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