In spite of a pretty gloomy start, we had a dozen birders turn out for the
Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas "Block Party" that Richmond Audubon Society held
today at Poor Farm Park in Hanover County. This park is in the Hanover Academy
SE priority Atlas block. Before today, there had been only a few checklists
submitted in this block, with two species confirmed, two probables, and 10
possibles.
All the recent rain had washed out Route 54 east of the park, which turned out
to be a good thing for the Atlas, as an occupied Purple Martin house and
Grasshopper Sparrows singing on territory were found along the detour route
before the walk proper. Even though were had a gray start to the morning with
a little drizzle, there was a lot of activity immediately around the edges of
the soccer fields at the trail head. There was an Eastern Bluebird family
foraging under the trees, Chipping Sparrows, Yellow-billed Cuckoos,
Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos singing. There was a lot of activity in one
particular tree, with a pair of Summer Tanagers, a Cedar Waxwing, a
White-breasted Nuthatch, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker all active in the same
bough of the tree.
Down in the woods we ran across singing Ovenbirds and Acadian Flycatchers, a
couple more woodpeckers and nuthatches, and a Red-tailed Hawk vocalizing. The
trail leads down to a spot where Stagg Creek runs through a power line cut,
another spot with a lot of activity. It started off with singing Common
Yellowthroat and Field Sparrow and over the course of about half an hour we
added Yellow-breasted Chat, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a pair of Indigo
Buntings, a Blue Grosbeak chasing a Cardinal along with another Summer Tanager.
It was a very productive day - when the Hanover Academy SE summary page updated
on the eBird Atlas portal, we had 6 confirmed species, 11 probables and 19
possibles.
The complete checklist is below, and there will be photos over on the Richmond
Audubon Facebook page.
—
Lewis Barnett
blbarnett3@xxxxxxxxx
Poor Farm Park, Hanover, Virginia, US
Jun 23, 2018 9:19 AM - 11:21 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.69 mile(s)
39 species
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 1
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Ovenbird 3
Common Yellowthroat 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Seen and heard.
Summer Tanager 3
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1 Chasing female Cardinal.
Indigo Bunting 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 12
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