Taking advantage of the fabulous weather over the Memorial Day weekend, I
headed to Bath and Augusta Counties for a bit of birding & photography.
On Sunday morning I arrived at Paddy's Knob and quickly discovered to my
great disappointment, NO singing Mourning Warblers. However, all of the
other birds were in full chorus including AMERICAN REDSTART, BLACK-THROATED
BLUE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, HOODED
WARBLER, INDIGO BUNTING, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, SCARLETT TANAGER, RED-EYED
VIREO, a distant BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and the "che-bek" of several LEAST
FLYCATCHERS. There were lots of VEERY, all quiet except for one that
perched out on an open snag in the morning sunlight. But NO Mourning
Warblers.
When I arrived at this historical nesting territory, there were two vehicles
up ahead pulled off onto cleared grassy area. I later learned that one of
these individuals was a photographer from Maryland, driving a large white
SUV and armed with a 700mm telephoto lens and an audio device which HE used
extensively and excessively, playing the song of the Mourning Warbler. This
individual also went as far as walking THROUGHOUT the nesting areas
repeatedly playing the device. When approached by the other individuals who
were concerned with what amounts to an abusive use of playing a recorded
song, this individual dismissed their concerns, claiming he played it for
short durations.
Was the excessive playback of the Mourning Warbler by this individual in
addition to his walking around the nesting areas the reason why NO actual
Mourning Warblers were heard for hours, except for one very distant bird
long after the photographer departed the area? Maybe it was a coincidence
but NO other Mourning Warblers were heard until hours later after his
departure and this small cluster of at least three males were located
further back down the road.
On an up note, not long after this individual left, the other birders
returned and together we were fortunate to locate, observe and photograph a
female Mourning Warbler carrying and delivering nesting materials to within
a few short yards from where the photographer had been parked! Another
highlight was observing a female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD flying from nest
located very near the graveled fire road to grab up an insect or two.
Back in Highland Co. along Rt. 84 I observed and photographed a very late
date RUDDY DUCK swimming & diving in small farm pond.
On Monday I took a quick morning trip to Augusta County to bird the Swoope
area. I ended up spending considerable time along a fragmented wooded
section adjacent to a flowing stream. It is here where I was captivated for
about an hour with the likes of nesting WILLOW FLYCATCHER, YELLOW WARBLER,
BALTIMORE ORIOLE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (striking in
the morning sun!), CEDAR WAXWING, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.
A drive down Livick and Cattleman Roads yielded singing Grasshopper and
Savannah Sparrows. Along North Mountain Rd. an adult male HOUSE WREN popped
up onto fence. I managed to maneuver the big telephoto lens out the window
but struggled to focus because the bird was too close.
I'm posted a few images of my recent travels:
MOURNING WARBLER-1:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/MourningWarbler4_Link.html
MOURNING WARBLER-2:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/MourningWarbler5_Link.html
MOURNING WARBLER-3:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/MourningWarbler6_Link.html
RED-EYED VIREO:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Red-eyedVireo2_Link.html
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Chestnut-sidedWarbler4_Link.html
VEERY:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Veery_Link.html
WILLOW FLYCATCHER:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/WillowFlycatcher3_Link.html
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Red-wingedBlackbird4_Link.html
HOUSE WREN:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/HouseWren3_Link.html
Brenda Tekin - www.birdsofvirginia.com
Brenda's Nature Photography, including Birds of Virginia
<BLOCKED::mailto:bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx> brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx / (434)
962-4936
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
