Eight birders led by Larry Meade and Mary Ann Good explored the Arnold/Sweet
Run Loop trails at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship this
morning under overcast skies. The bird activity was slow with a few good
spots, but it's always a lovely place to hike anyway. Highlights were
first-of-fall Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and White-throated Sparrow for
everyone, excellent views of a group of 6 Wood Thrush, and a young Blue
Grosbeak and a Cooper's Hawk flying over our heads in Butterfly Alley.
Canada Goose - 50
Great Blue Heron - 2
Black Vulture - 25
Turkey Vulture - 2
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Mourning Dove - 8
Chimney Swift - 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 9
No. Flicker - 6
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
E. Phoebe - 5
Red-eyed Vireo - 1, singing weakly
Blue Jay - 30
Am. Crow - 20
Car. Chickadee - 16
Tufted Titmouse - 15
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Car. Wren - 11
Wood Thrush - 9
Gray Catbird - 4
No. Mockingbird - 4
E. Starling - 10
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 F/HY
Ovenbird - 1
C. Yellowthroat - 4
Scarlet Tanager - 1 HY
E. Towhee - 6
Field Sparrow - 4
Song Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 2
No. Cardinal - 24
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 30
E. Meadowlark - 1
Am. Goldfinch - 5
