I visited the Isle of Wight, Sussex, and Surry county areas this morning. I
birded from the road at the Piney Grove Preserve near Wakefield and saw 2,
possibly 3, RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS. I looking for these, but thinking I
would not see them. So, I was very pleased to observe these noisy birds
(sound like a cross between a Brown-headed Nuthatch and a Downy Woodpecker
to me). There were also several RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS in the area.
ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS, EASTERN PEWEES, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, PRAIRIE WARBLERS,
PINE WARBLERS, A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, HOODED WARBLERS, SUMMER TANAGERS,
WILD TURKEYS, HAIRY WOODPECKERS, NORTHERN FLICKERS, RED-EYED VIREOS, a
WHITE-EYED VIREO, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, INDIGO
BUNTINGS, BLUE GROSBEAKS, FIELD SPARROWS, and CHIPPING SPARROWS were some of
the species I remember encountering while at Piney Grove and other places.
I was unable to find my target bird: KENTUCKY WARBLER.
At Hog Island, there were quite a few GREAT BLUE HERONS and GREAT EGRETS. I
also saw 2 immature BALD EAGLES, a female WOOD DUCK, and a SNOWY EGRET.
ORCHARD ORIOLES, EASTERN KINGBIRDS, ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, and CANADA GEESE
with young were also observed.
I saw RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS sitting on fence posts in two locations while I
was driving to Hog Island on back roads. It reminded me of when I saw Acorn
Woodpeckers in CA years ago. In fact, when I saw the first bird on the
fence post, I immediately thought,"Was that an Acorn?".
It was a nice day to be out.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
