This past three-day weekend I traveled to Augusta County, which has now
become my second home, in search of sparrows. My primary target was
Savannah. Not only did I locate target species but I was pleasantly
surprised in diversity and numbers of flycatchers, all in a relatively small
area around Swoope. There were other good sightings as well, not limited to
sparrows and flycatchers.
A single OLIVE-SLIDED FLYCATCHER was heard and briefly observed along
Cattleman Road near entrance to private Cottage Hill on Monday, May 30.
What was truly amazing was WILLOW FLYCATCHER clearly outnumbered all other
flycatchers observed/heard combined! Many of the Willow were very vocal
and photogenic! Three in particular were quite the show off and I found
myself trying to ignore them while honing in on other species such as the
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO that flew in at almost eye level a very short distance
from where I was standing, all the while doing its soft coo and occasional
5-6 kawlp calls thrown in. By now one Willow Flycatcher had become a
nuisance in that it actually flew across the road and landed in tree
directly in front of the cuckoo I was trying to photograph. I was seriously
thinking about shooing it away but I just stood there waiting for it to
finish its wheezy fitz-bew. Instead of flying off, it dropped down to the
fence just within a few feet of where I was standing, flutter to ground and
then back up to the fence, preen a few feathers, flutter to ground and back
up to fence. Fitz-bew, fitz-bew.... Geeze, enough already!
Highlights during three mornings:
COOPER'S HAWK - 1 very large female perched on tree stop at intersection of
Geez and Cattleman Roads. (Several observations in this area probably
indicate nearby nesting.)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - 1 on Cattleman Rd. near Livick Rd. along fence line
between white barn with blue roof and brown framed house - Monday, May 30.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - 1
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (11+) (Just in one small area along Cattleman Rd. 3 pair
observed along with 1 persistent singing male that chased off 2 other
singing males; 5 in small section on North Mtn Rd.at Scott-Christian Rd)
GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - 3
EASTERN WOOD PEWEE - 3
EASTERN PHOEBE - 3
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
SAVANNAH SPARROW
NORTHERN BOBWHITE - male pursuing female on Sunday, May 29; several heard on
Monday, May 30.
BOBOLINK - several adult males in far back fields on Livick Rd. and
Cattleman Rd.
BROWN THRASHER - quite a few fledglings with adults in tow
An interesting sighting was small flock of CEDAR WAXWING that flew into two
trees at the "Willow" spot on Cattleman Rd. and began feeding on tent
caterpillars, removing them from the tents. I have observed cuckoo and
Baltimore Oriole remove caterpillars from the tents but had never observed
other species doing so.
LINKS TO FEW PICS FROM PAST WEEKEND:
WILLOW FLYCATCHER:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/Gallery_pages/WillowFlycatcher_Gallery.htm ;
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/GrasshopperSparrow2_link.htm ;
SAVANNAH SPARROW
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/Gallery_pages/SavannahSparrow_Gallery.htm ;
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/Yellow-billedCuckoo2_link.htm ;
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/LoggerheadShrike4_link.htm ;
EASTERN WOOD PEWEE
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/EasternWoodPeewee4_link.htm ;
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures.
Photo journal including Birds of Virginia:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com ;<http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/>
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