Birders,
I arrived at the bridle path at Sky Meadows State Park before 8 AM and as I
emerged from my car, a dozen *Eastern Meadowlarks* lifted off and flew over
the field, *Eastern Bluebirds* dotted the fences, a *Red-tailed
Hawk*soared from its perch, and about 8
*Northern Flickers* were having a meeting on the path. I walked west
through the field where sparrows were abundant - many *Field
Sparrows*, *Chipping
Sparrows*, at least 2 *Savannah Sparrows*, and just beyond where the trail
crosses the stream, I had great views of several *Lincoln Sparrows*. Later,
I added *Song Sparrow* to the list. While in the field, I could hear *American
Crows* along the ridge mobbing something and thought I could hear very
faint hooting and wondered if perhaps a Great Horned Owl was the object of
the crows' attention. Walking along the ridge, species included *Magnolia
Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat,
Golden-crowned Kinglet, House Wren, *and *Eastern Phoebe. *When I returned
to the parking lot, the large flock of *American Robins* that I had seen on
a dusk walk on Wednesday was there again.
Linda Millington
Upperville, VA
