VA BIRDers,
My main goal was Upper Thompson WMA which I started at 0745 and ended at
10am. I visited all parking lots, walked down a few hundred yards of trail
in the first 2, and censused all the way to the Sky Meadows gate at the end
of the road. Highlight was Black-billed Cuckoo distantly calling from the
south of the first parking lot with main trail. I missed Yellow-billed
Cuckoo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Not too many obvious migrants, yet it
appears most breeders are back, although I am sure numbers are still
fluctuating; I recorded 41 species. Below are the numbers of the notables
(note that last week, virtually all neotrops were absent):
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
E. Wood Pewee 1
Great Crested Fly 3
White-eyed V 3
Yellow-throated V 3
Red-eyed V 14
Blue Jay 26
Com. Raven 2 or more at nest
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
E. Bluebird 4
Wood Thrush 17
Am. Robin 14
Gray Catbird 6
Brown Thrasher 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Cerulean Warbler 9
Am. Redstart 9
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Ovenbird 22
Kentucky Warbler 6
Hooded Warbler 15
Scarlet Tanager 14
E. Towhee 33
Chipping Sp 7
White-thr Sp 5
Indigo Bunting 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Pine Siskin 3
Before arriving at Upper Thompson, I made a brief stop along Harrison Rd -
highlights were the yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper at the drained pond, an
amazing 19 Wood Ducks (nearly all on what was left of the pond), and
Savannah Sparrows.
After Upper Thompson I traversed Leeds Manor Rd and tallied 48 species (it
was birdy and I rushed it) with highlights Osprey, Bald Eagle (2nd yr),
Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed and Red-eyed
Vireos, No. Rough-winged Swallow, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warblers, Palm Warbler
(western), LA Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroats, Scarlet
Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Orchard Orioles, and Baltimore Oriole.
Sky Meadows has been reported by Linda Millington but let me add Red-headed
WP, Warbling V, Grasshopper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Baltimore
Orioles.
I visited the area a bit north of Upperville (Another birdy area) and the
pond on Piney Branch Rd has two Trumpeter Swans - I assume someone's
animals? Other notables were Red-headed WP, Great Crested Fly,
Yellow-throated V, Warbling V, more ravens, lots of thrashers, Yellow and
Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroats, Scarlet Tanagers,
singing Savannah Sparrows (Green Garden Rd, the gravel part near the
ephemeral pond), and both orioles.
On the way home the Rectortown Rd Bridge produced 4 Cliff Swallows and a
Belted Kingfisher. and a few others fun birds.
Kurt Gaskill
