[Va-bird] Fauquier Co., Apr. 24 and May 1
- From: Scott Baron <brnpelican@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Virginia Birding <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 15:22:54 -0700 (PDT)
Hello, birders.
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday (4/24) at Sky Meadows it was
pretty slow birdwise. I birded the Bridle Trail. It was nice to hear Barred
Owl and Wild Turkey. I had my first of spring Kingbird, Yellow Warbler,
Grasshopper Sparrow and Orchard Oriole, plus lots of Blue Jay, Common
Yellowthroat and Am. Goldfinch, plus widespread Red-headed Woodpecker.
From reading everyone's reports it seems that the pace of migration has picked
up quickly over the last few days. Sky Meadows was no exception with many
"firsts of the spring" for me on this hot spring day.
Saturday 5/1 - I birded from the Rte. 17 to the Appalachian Trail. First of
year for me - E.w. Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Y.t. Vireo, Nashville
Warbler, B.t. Blue Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, B&W Warbler, Am. Redstart,
Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, R.b.
Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Balt. Oriole. Other cool stuff - Grasshopper Sparrow
singing near Piedmont Overlook Trail, (might be a first for me for that trail),
Osprey overhead w/ what looked like nesting material - where WAS it going??,
Goldfinches galore at Visitor Center parking lot, Jays still migrating. The
most numerous migrant was Blue Jay, next most were Red-eyed Vireo and
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
A minute after leaving Sky Meadows today I thought I heard BOBOLINK song just
off of Rte. 17 a few hundred feet down Leeds Manor Rd. I pulled over and
confirmed the song. There is a place to park on the north side of the road
next to a farm gate. These beautiful birds were on both sides of the road in
the grass and trees. I observed at least 10 males for 20 minutes before
leaving for Thompson WMA's Trillium parking lot and nearby trails.
At Thompson WMA, the trilliums are already past peak because it was so warm
last month but its still worth a visit there. Many warblers, etc. are in but I
missed Kentucky there. Butterflies were strangely scarce.
Happy spring, or is it summer?
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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