With the skies looking like it was going to rain any minute now, the birds were
very active today. Lately we seem to be overrun with Northern Cardinals in
varies stages of molt. It is fun to see the birds looking
white/brown/reddish-neither juvenile not fully adult yet. Slowly they are
growing up. In a few weeks they all look like adults. Also we saw a juvenile
male Rose-breasted Grosbeak not yet fully adult, but getting there. The white
breast with the pinked/red splash are present and very vibrant, but the head
was still brownish. Mom (assumed) also was present did not feed the youngster
and he was fending for himself just fine. Our family of American Goldfinches is
still going strong. 2 adults taking care of three begging young. Mind you the
young are sitting next to the parents at the seed cylinder so they easily could
get their own food. Lazy they just are.
Warblers were out in force. 10 species were observed. We saw juvenile
Chestnut-sided, Pine, Backburnian, Tennessee, an incredible fresh looking
Black-and-white (see photos), American Redstarts, Ovenbirds and a few more. The
Black-and-white Warbler was truly stunning-just black and white feathers and
yellow feet. He/she was kind enough to pose for a few photos. In one of our
wildflower patches I found not the usual one, but 3 Common Yellowthroats. All
juvenile birds.
A lone Veery represented the Thrushes until the evening hours when several
American Robins showed up. Interestingly I have noticed that the Robins depart
in North-North-West direction in the evening hours. Not a single birds flies
into another direction. It is fun to see a small group exploding from the
cherry trees. You think no bird is present and before you know it half a dozen
birds flies out.
A surprise male Norther Harries flew across the tree tops this morning. This
was the second cool species of raptors in two days. Yesterday, a Peregrine
Falcon flew over. This was a very dark brown bird, thus indicating a juvenile.
Very cool.
Without a doubt, most excitement caused by a bird was a visit from a Green
Heron to our small ponds. Around noonish I heard "Get your binos there is a
heron in the trees near the ponds". So indeed, there was a Green Heron sitting
in the Red Buds. We have seen Green Herons fly over in the past, but this is
the first time that we observed one in the yard. Not much later the heron had
return and we suspect scarred the living day lights out of the many Green Frogs
in the ponds. Usually the pond is fully of activity but this afternoon it was
very quiet. Hopefully the heron left us a few frogs.
A complete list of all birds seen with some photos can be found at
https://BirdersDiary.com/sr/7597935.html
Gerco
Leesburg, VA
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