Bill Parkin and I birded mostly Shearman's Mill Loop at Sky Meadows SP this
morning. Things seemed very slow for what should be near the peak of
migration. However, at the end of the morning we had tallied 50 species,
including 7 warblers. Also notable was a Yellow-throated Vireo, and the
special treat of the morning was a Black-billed Cuckoo at the end of the
walk, right behind the stable and at the edge of the mowed grass in a small
tree at eye level. Unfortunately, my camera did not come up until the bird
had hidden a bit better in a slightly more distant tree. Notable low
numbers: woodpecker species (only Red-bellied), no Red-eyed Vireos, no
Thrushes (besides Bluebird and Robin), no Chickadees. A photo of the Cuckoo
and the YT Vireo can be seen attached to my e-bird list at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36654690 .
A few miles west on Rt. 50/17, we stopped at the Castleman's Ferry Boat Ramp
under the bridge over the Shenandoah River in Clarke County. We had at least
15 Cliff Swallows, and 20 or more Cliff Swallow nests on the south underside
of the bridge. This location can be accessed from Swift Shoals Road off of
the main highway. There is parking across from the boat ramp under the
bridge, but the land along the river is all private and posted, so please be
respectful. The nests and the Swallows can be seen from the boat ramp area,
which is public. A photo of the nests can be seen on that e-bird list at
http://ebird.org/ebird/atlasva/view/checklist/S36667419 .
Dave Boltz
Lake Frederick
Sky Meadows SP--Shearman's Mill Loop, Fauquier, Virginia, US
May 8, 2017 8:52 AM - 12:07 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
50 species
Canada Goose 2
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 3
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 9
Gray Catbird 9
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 12
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 3
Field Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 5
Eastern Towhee 4
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Indigo Bunting 5
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Orchard Oriole 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 6
