This morning I returned to the swamp after spending a month running around
the wilds of Malaysia where I had a fantastic animal show including elephant,
orangutan, siamang, proboscis monkey, gibbons, langurs, macaques, colugo, giant
flying squirrel, and...oh yes...the birds. A very successful trip.
Back to the swamp. It was coolish and never really warmed up or got sunny.
That was good for the birds, but less than perfect for butterflies. I got
started a little before 6:30 and walked in from the Washington Ditch parking
lot. First I had to herd a nearly tame tom turkey along the entrance road. I
saw him on and off for the first several hundred meters of the hike. The next
bird was a real surprise. As I got out of my Trooper a Swainson's Warbler sang
loudly from nearby. He sang a second time and left. I've never had a
Swainson's Warbler from that parking lot before. I was somewhat surprised at
the high level of song I encountered during the walk which lasted until 11:30am
with none of the predicted sprinkles making an appearance. The numbers and
variety of birds seemed quite good. The list follows: Common Yellowthroat 16,
Great Crested Flycatcher 10, Eastern Towhee 5, Swainson's Warbler 3, Wood
Thrush 3, Pileated Woodpecker 6, Ovenbird 22, Eastern Wood-Pewee 2,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7, Black-throated Blue Warbler 6, Red-bellied
Wood-pecker 8, Blue Jay 2, Prairie Warbler 2, Indigo Bunting 3, Wild Turkey 1,
Pine Warbler 1, Wood Duck 5, Prothonotary Warbler 42, Scarlet Tanager 2,
Carolina Wren 15, Acadian Flycatcher 8, Grey Catbird 4, Louisiana Waterthrush
7, American Redstart 22, Blackpoll Warbler 1, Common Grackle 6, Red-eyed Vireo
8, Northern Parula 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 10, Hooded Warbler 9, Barred Owl 2,
White-breasted Nuthatch 10, Black-and-white Warbler 2, Summer Tanager 2, Great
Blue Heron 5, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, American Goldfinch 1, Blue Grosbeak 2,
Tufted Titmouse 3, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 2, Chimney Swift 2, Downy Woodpecker
3, Northern Cardinal 2, Brown-headed Cowbird, Hairy Woodpecker 2.
It's interesting to note the large number of American Redstarts along
Washington Ditch. Only four miles north along Jericho Ditch at Five Points,
they are rather uncommon. Prothonotary Warblers were by far the most common
warbler, easily outnumbering Ovenbirds and the Redstarts which tied for second.
Not one, but two Blue Grosbeaks provide evidence of the openess in the swamp
provided by Hurricane Isabel.
I didn't see my first butterfly until about 9:30 am. I was a little
worried, but things got decidedly better on the walk back even though the
temperature never really rose. B'flies seen were: Spicebush Swallowtail 1,
Eastern Comma 3, Vicerory 1, Lacewing Roadside-Skipper 1, Clouded Skipper 3,
Red-spotted Purple 1, Easter Tiger Swallowtail 10, Pearl Crescent 27, Palamedes
Swallowtail 11, Red Admiral 1, Carolina Satyr 43, Black Swallowtail 1, Southern
Pearly Eye 30, Zebra Swallowtail 5, Question Mark 9, Zabulon Skipper 5.
My next walk will be May 15 from the Railroad Ditch entrance. I'll leave
there at 6:00 am. Please join me if you wish. No reservation is needed; just
show up. Hope to see you then.
Cheers,
Bob
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
