Got to spend the weekend in the very NWern part of Page Co. (outside
of Luray) to witness the remarriage of two friends. Cross the
Shenandoah on Bixlers Ferry Road, turn right and 14 miles later you
are almost at the end of Page Valley Road, sandwiched between the
Massanutten and the Shenandoah, mean altitude ~ 650' according to my
Garmin. Don't see many posts from that neck of the woods, so here's my
two cents.
There's a colony of Cliff Swallows under the bridge on Bixler's Ferry.
We stopped today on the way home so Diana could steal some rocks out
of the river and I checked out the bridge. Adults are still feeding
young in the nests, which are not on the sides of the girders as I
have seen, but actually on the underside of the concrete roadway.
Pretty much have to be under the bridge to see the nests.
At the farm, recently fledged Phoebes. They were in the nest last
weekend, out on Saturday when we got there.
Indigo Buntings carrying food (also about the only bird singing/
moving on a 98 degree afternoon) and Towhee carrying food. Hairy WP w.
fledged young in tow does it for any confirmed breeders.
Kicked up a Timberdoodle on my walk down to the river on Saturday p.m.
Went down to the river early on Sunday to see if anything was there
before the rafters came thru and saw the local Bald Eagle. Could have
had a woodpecker sweep if YB Saps were around as I saw one RH WP
foraging in the yard on Saturday. Two GH Owls chatting last nite did
not shut up the Screech Owl warbling next to our tent although it did
sound a bit alarmed. List from a very hot weekend follows...
Rich Rieger
Alexandria, VA
GB Heron
TVulture
Bald Eagle (adult)
Am Woodcock
MoDo
E. Screech Owl
GH Owl
RH WP
RB Wp
Downy WP
Hairy WP
No Flicker
Pil. WP
E. Pewee
Acadian FC
E. Phoebe
RE Vireo
Blue Jay
Am Crow
Car. Chicks
Tufted Tmouse
WB Nuthatch
C Wren
BG Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
Catbird
Thrasher
Cedar Waxwings
C. Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tan
E. Towhee
Chipping Sp
Song Sp
No Cal
Indigo Bunts
Meadowlark
Grackle
Am Goldfinch
