VA BIRDers,
I went to Leesylvania SP this morning. Highlight was
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. It was overcast and still air at 715am but got a
bit breezy by 930. I started at the parking lot near the Lee ruins - lots
of Blue Jays and orioles attracted to the wild cherries and trees on the
hillside. I managed to find a few warblers otherwise tough birding. Other
locations were devoid of birds until I got to Bushy Point - the little marsh
with the boardwalk by the canoe launch had a few birds. Walking the path
towards the trestle resulted in a good sized mixed flock near the little
marsh by the road. Here were the Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers plus
most of the warblers. Best was watching a Hooded work on a an insect while
a Black & White gave a half-hearted attempt to get the food item. 62
species in all, diversity was seasonally good but numbers low, the list of
notables are below.
Kurt Gaskill
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 2, adults
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Caspian Tern 2
Forsters Tern 3
YB Cuckoo 3
C. Swift 2
RT Hum 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
E. Wood Pewee 8
YB Flycatcher 1
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Trails Flycatcher 2
Least Flycatcher 2
E. Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 4, juvie following adult
White-eyed V 1
Red-eyed V 6
Blue Jay 13
Tree Sw 3
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
No. Parula 1
Yellow 1
Chestnut-sided 2
Magnolia 2
Blackburnian 2
Black & White 2
Prothonotary 1, adult male & singing
Ovenbird 1
Hooded 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Blue Grosbeak 2, juvie following adult male
Indigo Bunting 3
Orchard O 3
Baltimore O 14
