All – I managed to get out to visit some specific spots around the county this
weekend, plus an adventure searching for a Whip-poor-will.
At my research site, there has been a Willow Flycatcher “yelling” about his
territory. He was insistent, so I went out there with my camera and got some
lovely photos. Also at my research site, there are both orioles (nesting), a
Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,
Tree Swallows (of course), Bluebirds, Grasshopper Sparrows, Field Sparrows,
Kingbirds (nesting), Common Yellowthroat, and a Raven.
On Saturday, I found 3 Ravens almost within the city limits of Lexington. It
looked like a pair of adults and an immature - maybe last years?. I then
wandered some back roads and turned up another Blue Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler,
Kingbird, and a couple of Grasshopper Sparrows. At Willow Lake there was a
Warbling Vireo making a racket and was willing to pose for me.
Later in the day, a colleague contacted me and said he was pretty sure there
was a Whip-poor-will nest in the woods by his house. After some searching, we
flushed the female and found her two babies. The female put on a wonderful
broken wing display trying to lead us away from her babies. I managed to get a
few photos of her, but given the dense woods and her unwillingness to stay
still, photos were hard to get.
Today, I was able to photograph one of the Grasshopper Sparrows at my research
site and then I went to Locher Tract – a State wildlife area near Natural
Bridge. At Locher Tract I found a pair of Red-headed WP, Yellow-throated
Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Wood Ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song
Sparrows, and a Louisiana Waterthrush.
I’ve posted photos of the Ravens, Whip-poor-will, Warbling Vireo, and Willow
Flycatcher from Friday and Saturday. Photos from today (Red-headed WP,
Grasshopper Sparrow, and Louisiana Waterthrush later today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vmibiology/
Dick Rowe
VMI Biology
