On Monday morning, Sam Evans and I birded the Weir Dam area (including a
walk around Osceola Island), Rooty Branch marsh area, and Musick's
Campground:
*Osceola*: 19 species featuring Bufflehead (95), Mallard Duck (11),
Great-blue Heron (1), Canada Goose (11), Wood Duck (2), Yellow-rumped
Warbler(15). The Wood Ducks were exploring a hole in a Sycamore tree
near the water. Others--Red-bellied WP, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Carolina
Wren, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, Belted Kingfisher (2), Carolina
Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, Tufted Titmouse, Downy WP, Eastern Phoebe,
and Pileated WP (1)
*Rooty Branch/Pemberton Road: *15 species including Mallard Duck (2),
Canada Goose (5), Wood Duck (2), American Wigeon (1), American Kestrel
(1), and an unidentified falcon. Others--European Starling, Carolina
Wren, American Song Sparrow, Blue Jay, E. Phoebe, Am. Crow, Belted
Kingfisher(2), Red-winged Blackbird, E. Bluebird.
*Musick's Campground: *16 species--Canada Goose(24), Bonaparte Gull
(10), Double-crested Cormorant (11), Ring-billed Gull (150 +) and
Pied-billed Grebe (1). Others--Killdeer(5), Am. Song Sparrow, Black
Vulture, Turkey Vulture, House Finch, Eastern Bluebird, N. Cardinal,
Common Grackle, Flicker, Am. Robin, and E.Starling. Spotted a hawk in
the distance as we were checking out--appeared to be a Northern Harrier,
but could not confirm.
Ron Harrington, Bristol, VA
