Greetings,
I found an Alder Flycatcher singing this morning (15 May) at Chester
Phelps WMA in southern Fauquier County. The bird was cooperative enough to
let
me record it singing a few times on my iPhone. It was hanging out in the
wetland area that is most easily accessed from the Curtis Parking Area.
(Specific directions below).
Also at the wetland area was an impressive 13 Northern Waterthrushes. At
one point I was standing still and had six of them either singing or in view
less than twenty yards from me. They were foraging low in the willows and
in the mud of the wetland impoundment. There were also about a dozen
Blackpolls foraging in the willows. I lucked into a silent Black-billed
Cuckoo. Two Kentucky Warblers were singing at various locations of the trail,
as well as a half-dozen chats, a few Hooded Warblers, several Swainson's
Thrushes, a Summer Tanager, and a Blue Grosbeak, among a few dozen other
species. Missing was Yellow-throated Vireo, a bird I always encounter here in
mid-May. An eBird list is linked below.
Elsewhere, a lone Dickcissel was along Grassdale Road later this morning,
at a spot along the road where I don't typically find them. About 3/4 of
the way down the road, just past the white house on the east side of
Grassdale, there's a fence dividing two fields with tall grass. The bird was
singing from atop a small tree in one of the fields. Grasshopper Sparrows
were
easily seen and heard along Grassdale Road as well, and there was a happy
little Horned Lark. A link to that checklist (which contains a link to a
map) is below.
Specific directions to the wetland impoundments:
The wetland impoundments at Phelps are most easily accessed by parking at
the Curtis Parking area, and walking about a mile-and-a-half to the cells.
The Curtis Parking area is along Route 632 (Rogers Ford Road), off of
Route 651 (Sumerduck Road). This parking area is about one mile south of the
intersection of 632 and 651. In season, there is usually a Blue Grosbeak
singing from across Rogers Ford Road at the parking area.
To get to the cells, head down the wide, gated gravel road. At about a
half mile there's an intersection where the Sighting-In range is off to the
right, and there's a seasonal, yellow gate (that is open now). The road
becomes more overgrown with less gravel here. Continue straight through the
open gate. (There's a small meadow on the left side of the road here that
had a singing Kentucky Warbler right at the north end; it is easy to pop into
this meadow from near the gate. The meadow can often be productive for
migrants foraging in the pines on the west side, as well as resident Prairie
Warbler, Chats, and Indigo Buntings.) A couple hundred yards or so beyond
the open gate there is an intersection where the road can either go straight
or to the right. Take the road to the right (if you've wandered into the
meadow, there is a large break in the pines on the west side that is easily
seen, which is where this intersection is). Follow this road as it winds
downhill. Acadian Flycatcher, Pewee, Ovenbirds, Hooded Warbler, and
thrushes should be singing in the morning; a Louisiana Waterthrush pair has
set
up shop along the (now dry) streambed on the left. Eventually there's
another fork, with a large sign that lists the sponsors of the wetland
project.
Turn left here and enter the wetland. It is about a one-mile, clockwise
loop around the wetland from here. The grass is tall (and wet in the
morning), so waterproof footwear is helpful. Expect ticks. There are three
hunting blinds set up along the rim of the wetland. The Alder was singing
near
the second blind, which is on the south side of the impoundments, where the
two impoundments meet (directly opposite from where you enter the
wetland). The Waterthrushes were everywhere in the wetland. There are Chats,
White-eyed Vireos, Orchard Orioles, Kingbirds, Common Yellowthroats, Green
Herons, Parulas, Yellow Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos,
Solitary
Sandpipers, among other species likely to be seen and heard here. There is
a Blue Grosbeak singing at the west end of the impoundments, and a
Kentucky Warbler singing in the woods at the west end. The Rappahannock River
is
obvious along the south side of the wetland. Keep an eye out for Common
Mergansers. Culpeper County is across the river.
Once you pass the third hunting blind, and ascend up a slight incline, the
road you are on intersects with another road. Turn right here, and you're
back at the sign near the other entrance to the wetland in a couple hundred
yards.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23452291 Checklist for ;
Phelps this morning.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23455089 Checklist for ;
Grassdale Road.
Cheers,
Todd
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Todd Michael Day
Jeffersonton, Virginia
Culpeper County
blkvulture@xxxxxxx
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