Finally, the radar did not lie. A decent double-digit warbler morning at
Leesylvania. The birds were not dripping off the trees but it seemed like it
after the stretch we have had. The morning got off to a good start with a
Swainson's thrush along the entrance road, a nighthawk over the picnic area and
2 kestrels and a red-headed woodpecker at the Confederate battery. On the
hillside were several birders and a nice mix warblers including blackburnian,
blackpoll, black-throated green, Cape May, bay-breasted, magnolia,
black-and-white and chestnut-sided warblers, northern parula, redstart,
yellowthroat, a red-breasted nuthatch, and rose-breasted grosbeak. Another good
spot was along the road to the cottages, where Phil Silas and I ran into a
flock that contained blackpoll, bay-breasted, pine, and blue-winged warblers
plus yellow-billed cuckoo, scarlet tanager, and cedar waxwing. A
yellow-throated vireo was in the small clearing across the road from the
Powell's Creek parking lot. I ended up with 13 warbler species and 60 species
in all.
Marc Ribaudo
moribaudo@xxxxxxxxxxx
