Like Elisa and Nick, I got a late start this morning and arrived at Washington
Ditch around 9:30. I thought it would be a little warmer and that I would see
more insects, but I had to work hard for those. I found around 40 lingering
Rusty Blackbirds, saw a distant Barred Owl and heard more, listened to numerous
woodpeckers (mostly Downy, Hairy and Pileated; I also heard a Red-headed), and
heard both Kinglets, one Blue-headed Vireo, and a handful of Blue-Gray
Gnatcatchers. The warblers, though not yet numerous, made my day:
Warblers:Ovenbird (8)Prothonotary (8)Hooded (1)Northern Parula (4)Louisiana
Waterthrush (1)Common Yellowthroat (3)Pine (1)Yellow-rumped (dozens)
Butterflies:Question Mark (5)Mourning Cloak (1)Falcate Orange-tip (12)Henry's
Elfin (1)Spring Azure (2)
Odonata:Common Baskettail (3)
It's always hard to photograph songbirds along Washington Ditch but I'll share
a photo of a female Prothonotary Warbler with you to wish you Happy Easter and
prove to you that spring is on its way:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/birdingva/17018682686/
Karen KearneyChesapeake
