I happened upon my second Olive-sided Flycatcher of this spring in Augusta
County. This bird was perched atop a isolated snag in the middle of a wet
pasture. It sallied once for a bug then flew off into the nearby sycamores.
This may be a late date for this species in Augusta Co but will let that up to
YuLee Larner to refute or verify. The location was in Cowbane Prairie Preserve
along the South River near Stuarts Draft. Most of us locals call this the
"South River Preserve." It's a unique remnant of marsh, wet pasture, fields
and woods along the South River. To experience it properly one needs to wear
boots (I had on calf-high boots but could have used hip waders). I believe
that the TNC acquired this property, in part, because of some special native
plants and grasses that remain there. It's also great for birds. The habitat
looks ideal for rails, Sedge and Marsh Wren, which were not encountered.
However, speaking of flycatchers:
Great-crested (1)
Eastern Wood-Peewee (1)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
Willow Flycatcher (at least 7 territories with calling males; saw 6 birds,
including 2 pairs; I'd venture to boast that this locale may have the greatest
density of Willow Flycatchers in the county).
Eastern Kingbird (3 -- including one pair at a nest in a sycamore; interesting
nests --oversized and with a bulky lining of plant down.
Other birds of interest:
Warbling Vireo (at least 3 territories; saw one pair building a nest in a
sycamore).
Yellow Warbler (at least a dozen)
Yellow-breasted Chat (2 calling males on territory)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
Orioles (both species heard)
Blue Grosbeak (1 singing male)
Of course lots of Song Sparrows, Indigo Buntings and Meadowlarks.
Other breeding activity included:
Red-winged Blackbird, the most numerous species out there. I saw one female
with nesting material, discovered 1 nest (8 feet from Tree Swallow box 179,
placed by College of W & M grad students) and flushed 3 recently fledged young.
Brown Thrasher -- 1 recently fledged young in a multiflora rose tangle.
Tree Swallows -- about 2/3 of the boxes must be active since the adults are
very defensive and pugnacious, dive bombing me if I get within 2 meters of
their box.
John Spahr
Waynesboro
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