[va-richmond-general] The Wetlands--James River Park System--Rusty BB, geen-winged teal; bittern & barred owls not sighted

This morning Gerry Weinberger and I parked at the same time and spent a half
hour or so getting his rusty year bird and looking for the barred owls and
the Am. bittern that  was sighted yesterday afternoon by me and later by
Arun Bose.  In the pond were about 20 teal that flew as soon as we looked
(sorry Paul, didn't know your field trip was this morning!) and a pair of
wood ducks.  Gerry is sure we heard a yellow-throated warbler (remember I
forget the songs over the winter) and there was a ruby crowned kinglet close
to it over at the boardwalk.  The 3 rusty blackbirds were along the
boardwalk trail this morning, but we covered very little territory and there
could be more.  Still more flickers than I usually see there.  I would not
be surprised if the bittern is still around.  It was frozen, frosty and
crunchy this morning.  No frog is going to be out in that, so everyone be
alert when it warms up.  Last year the bittern was first sighted in April
and gone a day or so later.  Maybe we will have it longer this time.
Remember we had a visit from a chuck will's widow last year also, so keep
your ears open!   This park is in Richmond, the state capital with Class 5
rapids running through it!  Landria Dr. deadends at the entrance, and a
nearby intersection for mapquest is Wallowa Rd. and Landria Dr.  Have a
great day!

 

Jan

Richmond

 

P.S. If anyone figures out what the strange clucking sound was in the brush
between the boardwalk and the houses, Gerry and I would like to know...

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