It was projected to be a beautiful day today so I decided to skip doing
projects and spend the morning birding. The first time in two weeks I have
ventured out.
I decided to do my route of back roads in the Stonewall area of northern
Appomattox County which has lots of creeks and little bridges. The second
creek I came two near an old pond produced the notes of a Louisiana waterthrush
which was truly music to my ears. I was even able to locate the bird and get a
great look at it. I proceeded along the various roads to one that borders a
large creek and mill pond to see if the two great blue heron nests that I
observed there last year were in use. There was one nest only in the tree but
with a resident sitting tight on the nest. Above it was what appeared to be
the beginnings of another nest with a great blue standing on it. I assume that
it was the mate of the female in the lower nest but I could be wrong about
that. I don't know a lot about great blue nesting protocols.
Meadowlarks were seen and heard in every field I passed and brown thrashers
were heard in several areas. The FOS for me appeared at my home yesterday
although I occasionally see one now and then during the winter. I always have
a pair nest in my yard so I am assuming this one is one of the nesting pair.
Several flocks of juncos were along the roads and many groups of chipping
sparrows were active and looking lovely in breeding plumage with their rufus
crown. One of the first birds I saw and heard on a road was a lovely field
sparrow and it was singing. As a matter of fact I heard them singing nearly
everywhere I went. Pine warblers were vocalizing in the pines along the road
and I saw 2 of them.
Every bridge over a creek had a resident phoebe flitting around and at one
creek a saw a very handsome kingfisher. Titmouse were singing loudly but I did
not see or hear a chickadee or Carolina wren. I looked out over the landscape
toward Amherst County across the James River for any bald eagles which might be
up but only saw turkey and black vultures and two red tail hawks. Last week on
my way to Lynchburg from Concord I had seen two adult bald eagles soaring over
the James. The usual suspects, cardinals, mocking birds and bluebirds were
around in large numbers and I did hear one raven call.
It was a glorious morning and the best reason I can think of to be a birder.
Peggy Lyons
Concord
Campbell County
