What a great day! Apologies again for the late notice of this
morning's walk. An early good omen was the electronic gate lifted a few
minutes before 7am. As I usually do, I drove slowly down Jericho Ditch
Lane. The temperature was 28F but did rise to 48F by the time I left at
11am. There was a bit of song and woodpecker drummings during the drive
in. Highlights during the walk included flights of approximately 1600
TUNDRA SWANs overhead during the morning; three lustily singing
WHITE-EYED VIREOs; a couple of PURPLE FINCHES flying into tulip poplars,
a favorite of theirs. Lots of the other winter birds including a flock
of AMERICAN ROBINS that kept things noisy during the early part of the
walk. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWKs were calling almost constantly overhead.
Several PINE WARBLERs were singing even from some areas with no pines.
There were RUSTY BLACKBIRDs near the parking lot. The number of rusties
I listed is probably low since most were out of sight on the ground.
However, several did perch affording a good view. On the way out a
glance to my left revealed a tom WILD TURKEY strutting his stuff in the
presence of 8 hens who seemed not to care at all. The complete bird
list is appended to the end of this email.
I'll be out of town next week, so let me go ahead and schedule the
next walk for two weeks from today, March 19, leaving the Washington
Ditch parking lot at 7am. No reservation is necessary; just show up.
Hope to see you then.
Bob
Dismal Swamp NWR Jericho Ditch, Suffolk, US-VA
Mar 5, 2013 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
45 species
Tundra Swan 1140 Five groups flying over. Two other groups heard
but not counted. Total probably exceeds 1600.
Wood Duck 2
Wild Turkey 9 A single male displaying to 8 females who seemed
totally uninterested.
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 12
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 6
Pileated Woodpecker 3
White-eyed Vireo 3 All three birds were calling loudly, one seen
well at close distance, an adult with white eye and prominent yellow
spectacles.
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 8
Winter Wren 4
Carolina Wren 23
Golden-crowned Kinglet 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Hermit Thrush 8
American Robin 250
Gray Catbird 15
Brown Thrasher 1
Cedar Waxwing 18
Pine Warbler 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Eastern Towhee 9
Field Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 60
Northern Cardinal 11
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Rusty Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 3
Robert L. Ake
6603 Catherine Street
Norfolk VA 23505
I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is
at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/
