Hi VA-Birders,
The weather was perfect and the birds were cooperative for the VSO field
trip to Front Royal June 15-17, 2012. Over the three days, the forty-five
participants tallied 92 species. All three locations held beautiful vistas
and were exciting discoveries for many first-time visitors.
Special thanks to local birders Margaret Wester and Scott Baron for their
expertise and assistance over the weekend. Margaret helped organize and
lead the trips on Saturday and Sunday, and Scott invited interested
participants to join him on the higher elevation trails Saturday as he
conducted a butterfly count.
Friday afternoon we visited Shenandoah River "Andy Guest" State Park. After
Chief Ranger Brett Clawson gave us a brief orientation, we walked the
Bluebell trail along the river. Warbling vireos and both species of orioles
were abundant. One very cooperative Louisiana Waterthrush seemed to be
giving us a tour as it moved along the path in front of us for about 100
yards. At the RV campground we saw Red-headed Woodpeckers and their nesting
cavity. On the return trip we had great looks at Green Heron and
Yellow-throated Vireo.
All day Saturday was spent at Sky Meadows State Park, where we enjoyed
walking several of the trails. Margaret and I led two groups on the lower
trails, while the hearty souls who joined Scott Baron on the upper trails
learned a great deal about birds AND butterflies. Ridge-top species
included Kentucky, Cerulean, and Hooded Warbler, along with American
Redstart and Yellow-breasted Chat.
Those of us new to the park were amazed at the numbers of Red-headed
Woodpeckers we encountered. On the lower trails, most got good looks at a
Savannah Sparrow, an uncommon visitor at the park this time of year. Many
got to see Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Scarlet Tanager.
After a picnic lunch, we explored the Shearmans Trail on the opposite side
of the park. One group saw a Hairy Woodpecker family while another spotted
Scarlet Tanagers with young. Common Yellowthroats and Gray Catbirds were
seen in several places along the way.
My husband Lee and I offered a “bonus” late-afternoon field trip to the
Trillium Trial of Thompson WMA, and 15 people joined us to see what
high-elevation birds we might find. We got great looks at a Kentucky
Warbler and American Redstart, and we heard Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Cerulean Warbler and Hooded Warbler.
Sunday morning’s visit to the State Arboretum of Virginia /Blandy
Experimental Farm was fun and rewarding. Another beautiful spot in our
state! We had great looks at both orioles along the trails, and a highlight
was a Willow Flycatcher at the overlook. We also heard Yellow Warbler and
several Northern Bobwhites in that spot, and a few lucky people saw the
Bobwhites, too.
The complete list of 92 birds is included below.
Meredith Bell
VSO Field Trip Co-chair
Canada Goose
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
