Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to post that the Common Moorhen is still hanging around the
same spot at Dutch Gap, just to the left of the first observation platform.
I've seen her twice in the past week. I really believe she is nesting
there. A few weeks ago I saw her repeatedly enter the same patch of
foliage, where she appeared to be arranging little rootlets and twigs with
her beak. It is well hidden, but from what I could see, it could be a
platform nest. Also, one day I was there I heard two birds from different
areas calling to each other. If she is now egg-sitting, that explains why
she is much harder to find now, and not visible for long periods of time.
Perhaps soon we'll get to see some chicks.
I also got a good view of a Warbling Vireo while at the second observation
platform last week:
http://flickr.com/photos/rlechols/2530281369/
And finally, yesterday I rode my bike around the Old Mill Bicycle Trail at
Pocahontas State Park. I saw mostly forest-dwelling birds, but I did stop
at a large field and saw my first ever YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Other
highlights were both TANAGERS. There were a few warblers very high up I
could not ID. Species list: (with one picture of Common Yellowthroat)
American Goldfinch
Indigo Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Scarlet Tanager
Summer Tanager
Yellow-breated Chat
Common Yellowthroat - picture here:
http://flickr.com/photos/rlechols/2530372893/ ;
Ovenbird (they were everywhere)
Worm-Eating Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Northern Parula
Wood Thrush
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Pewee
Pileated WP
Downy WP
Red-bellied WP
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Chimney Swift
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Mourning Dove
Turkey Vulture
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
WB Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
American Robin
Northern Cardinal
BH Cowbird
House finch
Rachel Echols
Chester, VA
