Hey Everyone,
Today Eve Gaige and I did some birding around Albemarle, Fishersville, and
Waynesboro. We started the day off at Chris Green Lake in Northern Albemarle.
Sadly we missed the Mute Swans previously reported here but we did find the 2
Common Goldeneyes, 4 Buffleheads, and 3 Hooded Mergansers. While in the parking
lot we heard a fly over Pine Siskin. We then headed down to PVCC for some more
waterfowl. First we stopped at Ivy Creek where we added an Eastern Towhee and
then stopped by Moore's Creek right outside the Charlottesville borders where
we had 20 Mallards, 11 Gadwalls, 2 American Black Ducks, and a Northern
Shoveler. At PVCC we added 2 American Coots and Pied-billed Grebe.
We then shot over to Fishersville where we found a female Canvasback among
Gadwalls, Redheads, and a Ruddy Duck. Then 2 Horned Grebes popped out of the
water. Along the way we had a female American Kestrel. Then we hit Long Meadows
Pond where we found a huge flock of Canada Geese which included the Ross's
Geese. I IDed 7 Ross's Geese and one Snow X Ross's Goose. I IDed the hybrid
noting the slightly larger size, a thick black grin patch, and the lack of blue
at the base of the bill apparent in the other Ross's Geese. If you have
questions about this bird please ask. I have a picture but it is hard to upload
as it is on my IPod. Then we headed to InVista Ponds hoping to add a
Black-crowned Night Heron. There we had 2 Black-crowned Night Heron and in a
large flock of geese we had 4 Greater White-fronted Geese and 4 Cackling Geese.
Also there was a Redhead, Mallards, American Coots, and Hooded Mergansers.
We headed over to Crozet where at Old Trail we found 5 White-crowned Sparrows.
Then at Lickinghole Creek we had 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Swamp Sparrows, an Eastern
Phoebe, and 4 Pine Siskins among some Goldfinches. Then on the way to Beaver
Creek we had a big flock of Canadas and among them we found Ellison Orcutt's
Cackling Goose. At Beaver Creek we had nothing exciting so we headed to Jones
Mill Road where we had Cedar Waxwings and a Winter Wren. Finally we stopped off
at King Family Vineyard where we had 22 Mallards.
Thanks to Eve for such a fun day. I get my License in the Spring so watch out
Birds!
Good Birding,
Andrew Rapp
Yearlist- 108
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