What a gorgeous day! This morning I was joined by 10 enthusiastic
birders from as far away as Fredericksburg. None of the group was
disappointed. I arrived at the entrance gate to Jericho Ditch Lane at
6:30am and found the gate open. I transversed the 2 miles to the
parking lot VERY slowly recording the birds I heard as I went. The
tally was 20 species by the time I reached the parking lot with a line
of cars accumulated behind me. After some preparation and simply
standing around listening to what birds were in the immediate vicinity
of the parking lot, the group headed south along Jericho Ditch. Common
Yellowthroats, Prairie and Prothonotary Warblers were the most numerous
of the 13 warbler species recorded. Blue Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings
were seen and heard as was a Yellow-breasted Chat, clearly indicating
the semi-openness of the area primarily brought about by Hurricane
Isabel ten years ago. No Downy Woodpeckers were seen (quietly nesting)
although we did encounter a vocal Hairy Woodpecker pair in addition to
the usual more noisy Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers. Only one
Acadian Flycatcher was heard and that on the drive in. A single
Swainson's Thrush was heard giving its repititious flutey song at a
distance. Only vultures (no hawks) were seen overhead but there was a
Chimney Swift and a Barn Swallow.
Butterflies included Palamedes, E. Tiger, and Zebra Swallowtails,
Spring Azures, Questionmarks, Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral. Perhaps had
we stayed a little longer, some of the smaller butterflies would have
made an appearance. It was strange not to have a single Pearl Crescent.
The big event was the discovery of a BOBCAT on the trail ahead of
us, walking slowly toward us in one of the tire tracks. We stopped
immediately and watched him approach for five or six minutes. The wind
was blowing toward us. That helped keep him from getting upset with our
presence. He finally walked off the trail and disappeared. When he
looked directly at us, he appeared to have the broad-faced, jowly look
of a male which is why I referred to him as a he.
After returning to the parking lot, most everyone left for parts
unknown. But the Fredericksburg duo and Tracy and Andrew stopped along
Jericho Ditch Lane where there was a singing Swainson's Warbler. We had
heard five of them along the way this morning, but hadn't had any close
enough to the road to commit the time necessary to find one. This bird
was close to the road. I didn't stay with them, but later I got a text
from the group saying they had long, scope looks at the bird, a lifer
for some. Great ending to an excellent morning of birding.
I'm scheduling the next walk in the Dismal Swamp for Monday, May
18, 2015. We'll leave the Washington Ditch parking lot at 6:45am for
another great walk in the swamp. No reservation is necessary; just show
up. Hope to see you then.
The complete bird list for this morning's walk is below.
Dismal Swamp NWR Jericho Ditch, Suffolk, US-VA
May 13, 2015 6:26 AM - 11:26 AM
Protocol: Traveling
8.0 mile(s) 4 miles by car, 4 miles on foot
46 species
Wood Duck 2
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 10
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 11
White-eyed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 10
Blue Jay 1
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 9
Cedar Waxwing 15
Ovenbird 2
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Prothonotary Warbler 19
Swainson's Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 12
Hooded Warbler 3
Northern Parula 2
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 10
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Summer Tanager 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orchard Oriole 1
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
