Hiked today and last weekend along the same route in Shenandoah National Park's
Central Section -- the loop from South River Falls trail head to the App. Trail
north, then returning to South River Picnic area via the Fire Rd to South River
Overlook. Both days began late morning and ended early afternoon. Today, I
ran into and birded in the company of William Leigh.
Most interesting was running into a VERY active mixed flock of resident
breeders in the exact same location both trips. This was at & near the
intersection of the AT and Fire Rd; birds were viewed from both trails. Only a
couple of variations in species seen between the two days -- today we found a
Canada and two Blackburnian Warblers which were not seen last weekend; and last
weekend I found Black-throated Green and Chestnut-sided (adult & immature),
which we missed today. Repeats were at least two Black-and-white Warblers,
many A. Redstarts, Hooded Warblers, and perhaps the same family of Cerulean
Warblers...only suggesting this as one of the two singing males sounded pretty
strange...as if a bit more practice was in order(!) Last weekend both an
experienced and amateur Cerulean songster were joined by a female.
Another treat was lots of Wood Thrush activity and song. Last weekend one,
directly overhead, occasionally hit a note that challenged my eardrums...a
lesson that even the most beautiful of birdsong can be painful at close range.
(Don't mistake this for a complaint, of course!)
Diane Lepkowski
Harrisonburg, VA
