Hello birders,
After getting a report of a Black-throated Blue Warbler clinging to the
outside wall on the 16th floor of our office building my suspicions arose
that downtown Richmond may have acted as migrant "trap" last night.
So I spent my lunch break at the State Capitol grounds and enjoyed a
surprising number of migrants. The grounds of the Capitol are kept very
clean but they do have a patch of large oaks and some mulched azalea
patches. Otherwise this location is small, surrounded by high-rises, busy
with foot and vehicle traffic, and not very attractive to resident birds.
Highlights in the mulched areas included WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WOOD
THRUSH, and multiple OVENBIRDs. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and a small
collection of singing warblers included multiple BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLERs. CATBIRDs were abundant but the lack of habitat sent many of them
to the treetops to search for caterpillars.
Nothing amazing by regional standards but, given the location, a
respectable list.
Good birds,
Ellison
Virginia State Capitol Grounds, Richmond City, Virginia, US
Apr 27, 2016 1:10 PM - 1:55 PM
21 species
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 5
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 16
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 17 Abundant.. likely more. Many
active in tree tops. One pair working hard to arrange a very long twig as
if selecting a nesting spot.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 8
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 2
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 3
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 28
White-crowned Sparrow (Dark-lored) (Zonotrichia leucophrys
leucophrys/oriantha) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 20
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 5
--
Ellison Orcutt
Birder/Naturalist
Richmond, Va
Cell: (804) 339-6976
Mr.EllyO@xxxxxxxxx
