VA Birders,
The day began with clouds and drizzle, so I thought it would not be a good
birding day, but I soon noticed that the birds were very active. I ended the
morning with 41 species. The Yellow-rumps were most conspicuous flitting and
fly catching from tree to tree. A couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were
some of the first birds of the morning. One female landed in the walnut tree
and looked me over. Evidently I didn't seem a threat because she stayed put.
I noticed what I thought was a Summer Tanager in the top of a locust tree,
and it turned out to be two of them. Moments later an immature White-eyed
Vireo hopped down to the lower branches of the Cedar tree. It still had its
white spectacles, but some adult yellow could be seen coming along. It was a
day for vireos. A short time later a Blue-headed flew into the same Cedar
tree. Not long after a Warbling Vireo fed in the top of the walnut tree in
the backyard. An hour or so later a Philadelphia with its yellow breast and
throat was seen hopping about in the top of a locust near the edge of the
woods.
3 Pileated Woodpeckers took turns flying across the yard from one section of
woods to another, calling to each other from time to time. I had 5 species
of woodpeckers around the yard today. A Downy was feeding on the top of a
Mullein plant. A Red-bellied came for a breakfast of apple in the top of the
apple tree. A Northern Flicker and a Hairy were eating Poison Ivy berries
from a vine that had gotten rather far up into a locust at the wood's edge.
I was rather surprised to see an American Redstart just inside the woods. It
was either an immature male or an adult female. Oct 10 is rather late for
them isn't it?
I watched a Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Swainson's feed on Virginia Creeper
berries in the top of a tree, while a Wood Thrush called from deeper in the
woods.
Two Magnolia Warblers fed at eye level among the tops of some Queen of the
Meadow plants. They looked a little bedraggled because of some wet feathers.
Later, after I came into the house, a female Tennessee Warbler caught my eye
as it fed on the top of Goldenrod plant just outside our glass dining room
door. I was able to watch it up close, from no more than four feet. It was a
very enjoyable birding morning in spite of, or possibly because of the
occasional drizzle.
The day's list follows:
Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
American Crow 4
American Goldfinch 6
American Redstart 1 (female or immature male)
American Robin 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Brown Thrasher 1
Carolina Chickadee 4 (1 eating Poison Ivy berries)
Carolina Wren 2
Cedar Waxwing 11
Chimney Swift 2
Chipping Sparrow 3
Cowbirds 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Downy Woodpecker 2 (males)
Eastern Bluebird 3 (2 males, 1 female)
Eastern Towhee 8 (6 males, 2 females)
European Starling 14
Gray Catbird 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1 (male) eating Poison Ivy berries
House Finch 9
Magnolia Warbler 2
Mourning Dove 4
Northern Cardinal 6 (4 males, 2 females)
Northern Flicker 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Northern Mockingbird 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 (1 male, 3 females, 1 immature female)
Song Sparrow 3
Summer Tanager 2
Swainsons Thrush 1
Tennessee Warbler 1 female
Tufted Titmouse 4
Warbling Vireo 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-eyed Vireo 2 ( 1 adult, 1 immature)
White-throated Sparrow 1 (1st of the season)
Wild Turkey 9
Wood Thrush 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Chipmunk 4
Eastern Gray Squirrel 4
Wood Chuck 1
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