Nine of us, including Gerry Hawkins, Donna Quinn, Liam & Laura McGranaghan, and
myself showed up for the regular monthly bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center
(BRCES) this morning. While it wasn't raining and only drizzled occasionally
during the walk, the walk began in a heavy dripping fog, and even when that
cleared the tropical humidity reminded all of us that something was brewing far
to the southeast. It was really quiet and not overly birdy except for one or
two mixed flocks until it got brighter about 11 pm and we began to see not only
a lot of butterflies but lots of young birds foraging around Mountain View Farm
which is on the north side of BRCES.
While we met at the Education Center on the north side we carpooled to Sawmill
Rd on the south side and walked back to the Education Center on the north side;
after the walk four of us drove down Arnold Rd where we found several more
species including a Baltimore Oriole. The highlights of the walk included
great looks at a Blue Grosbeak, several juvenile birds including Eastern
Bluebirds, Chipping and Field Sparrows, and Indigo Buntings. About 7:40 am I
got to watch two juvenile Blue Grosbeaks in the same area where the adult was
seen later in the day. We had one vocalizing Willow Flycatcher and another
which we left as a Traill's. And we didn't find a single warbler - what a
contrast from earlier walks this year.
For a complete list of the birds seen see the eBird results below.
The trails at BRCES are usually open to the public 7 days a week from dawn to
dusk.
Information on the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship can be found
at http://www.blueridgecenter.org. Information on the Loudoun Wildlife ;
Conservancy and its many free activities can be found at
www.loudounwildlife.org.
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship - MFF01, Loudoun, US-VA
Aug 27, 2011 7:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
41 species (+1 other taxa)
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 17
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 15
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 15
Willow Flycatcher 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 1
Eastern Phoebe 5
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo X
American Crow X
Common Raven 1
Barn Swallow 12
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Carolina Wren X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9
Eastern Bluebird 15
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1
Chipping Sparrow 15
Field Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal X
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting X
Brown-headed Cowbird X
Baltimore Oriole 1
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org/VA)
