Greetings,
Following James Fox's report of a Loggerhead Shrike at Sky Meadows State
Park, I targeted that species in a one-hour visit Sunday afternoon in extreme
northwestern Fauquier County.
The Shrike was pretty much where James (and Elton Morel) reported it:
near the northern intersection of the Rolling Meadow and Hayfield Trails.
When I saw the bird it was hunting in the little stream that runs through the
field, perching low on saplings and occasionally on the one mature tree in
that run. I was viewing at a distance from where the Rolling Meadows Trail
opens up and overlooks the intersection of the trails, and the fields and
stream. This is about a half-mile walk from the Lost Mountain/Bridle area
parking lot.
Other birds of note included a Lincoln's Sparrow in the field just south of
the spur from the parking lot to the Rolling Mills Trail; a Vesper Sparrow
on the edge of the asphalt at the parking area when I returned to my car;
and a Grasshopper Sparrow that I photographed just a little north of the
intersection of the spur and the Rolling Mills Trail. Sky Meadows rarely
disappoints in fall for sparrows, as I found eight species with little effort
(and missed Field, Junco, and Swamp). White-crowned Sparrows are easily
found and seen, just a few steps off the pavement down the trail, often
feeding along the trail's edge. Six Rusty Blackbirds and a Common
Yellowthroat
round out the notables.
eBird checklist below.
Cheers,
Todd
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25676875
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Todd Michael Day
Jeffersonton, Virginia
Culpeper County
blkvulture@xxxxxxx
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