Ive noted a few interesting birds in Albemarle this past week or two that I
can add to the others posted recently. The meager list of ducks includes a
Blue-winged Teal (male) and Red-breasted Merganser (female) on Chris Greene
Lake yesterday. Double-crested Cormorants are apparently more common than
I supposed; Ive seen them at Ivy Creek, Chris Greene Lake, along the
Rivanna River, and at Lake Scogo with a high total of 14 birds on April 7th
(various locations). My first Osprey of the year was at Chris Greene Lake
on April 7th, and Chimney Swifts arrived in my Charlottesville neighborhood
on the 7th as well. Barn, No. Rough-winged, and Tree Swallows are all back
in numbers, but there is still no sign of Purple Martin or Cliff Swallow,
which supposedly nests under the Charlottesville Reservoir bridges.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, first detected on April 1st at Chris Greene, are now
widespread. Warbler migration has been slow, but Palm Warblers have been
fairly widespread and common since April 1st. I had three yellow palms
yesterday 2 at Ivy Creek and 1 at Chris Greene Lake. Yesterday I also
found my first Common Yellowthroat of the year singing along the peninsula
trail at Ivy Creek. Pine Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush are on
territory at both Ivy Creek and Chris Greene. Blue-headed Vireos have been
singing at Ivy Creek regularly, and 6 Purple Finches (one male) were on the
feeders there yesterday as well. I kicked up a single Vesper Sparrow in the
grassy area around the parking lot at Ivy Creek on April 5th, but I was
unable to relocate it thereafter. Hopefully this weather will improve
soon...
Alex Merritt
Charlottesville, VA
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