On Wed. Mar. 29th, Leni Friedman and I went to Sky Meadows State Park, in
Fourquier County. It is red-headed woodpecker country. The weather was partly
cloudy and about 57 F. Good for hiking in the hills.
We heard a field sparrow chorus when we arrived, and proceeded up the
trail. Leni warned me the gate down to the pond would be locked, and we would
only get a distant look at the swans. Well a truck came, and they asked if we
had seen the swans. We explained we had just arrived.
They left the gate open and we wandered down to the pond. Along the
way, we encountered a Red Fox and a Woodchuck. We were able to get all the way
to the fence and did not spook the swans. Both of us took pictures, mine with a
Nikon 8008 film camera, Leni with her Canon digital. She may post them.
Eventually, the swans took flight , a sight to behold, and they were calling to
each other. They flew in a circle , landing behind a hill on another pond,
out
of view.
We went back up the hill to the woods, where there is a small stream
and found a treasure trove of birds. Apparently , it was bath time as well as
feeding time. They were lots of Robins (migrating flock) that bathed, but also
were turning over leaves, looking for dinner.
Among the trees were the Red-headed woodpecker flying from tree to tree
-hiding from our cameras. We heard the Red-bellied, saw 1 Blue jay, 1 Junco.
We sat for 15 minutes taking all in, before heading for the farm house.
We were looking for Ravens, but I only saw one flying away from us. At the
farm house, we encountered a Mockingbird, who posed for us. I also took some
pictures of barn and house. We were hoping to see the courting Kestrels, but
no luck. We headed home about 4 pm. Below, our list of birds for the day.
1 Blue Jay,1 Cardinal, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, Crows, 3 Canada Geese,
Carolina wren, 6+ Eastern Bluebirds, 1 Eastern Woodpewee, 1 Northern Flicker,
Grackles, 1 Junco, 1 Northern Mockingbird, N. Roughwing swallows, Tree
Swallows,
Red-bellied woodpeckers, Red-headed woodpeckers, 1 Raven, Starlings a tree
full., 1 Pine warbler, Field sparrows,
Song sparrows, 3 meadowlarks singing, 7 Tundra swans-- calling, and a Fox and
Woodchuck running free. GRIN. Oh, and the Tundra swan was a lifer for me. 3
new lifers this year, so far.
ilse jorgensen
Cross Junction, VA.
