Birded the Limberlost area of Shenandoah National Park this morning to check on
resident nesters.
Key bird was a female Blackburnian warbler—the Limberlost is generally pretty
reliable for this bird.
Plenty of Redstarts, Hoodies, and Chestnut-sided warblers that are also typical
of the the Limberlost.
Also noteworthy were several Red-breasted Grosbeaks and a Black-billed Cuckoo.
About 9:30 I headed to the Lower Stonyman Parking area and followed the AT to
the cut-off
with the Passamaquoddy Trail. This is a very nice little gem that runs under
the Stonyman cliffs, and like the
Limberlost, it once had a wonderful stand of Eastern Hemlock. Main attraction
of the Passamaquoddy area are
nesting Canada warblers. Saw three males and two females along the trail, and
heard at least three more singing
males. Other Passamaquoddy highlights included another two Blackburnians, a
Black-throated Green warbler,
several Black and White warblers, and two Dark-eyed Juncos.
En route between the Limberlost and Lower Stonyman trail head, I saw two
Roughed Grouse—one w/ three
little chicks, the other with at least one. Nice to see this interesting game
bird doing well.
Finally, it was pretty special to sit on the rocks overlooking the Shenandoah
Valley on the Passamaquoddy
Trail and listen to several Veeries and a couple of Wood Thrush fluting away in
the morning coolness. It
doesn’t get much prettier for bird song fanciers.
Ron Vogel
Annandale, VA
