This morning I had time to explore more of the trails at Foamhenge, but some of
the best birds, including a female WILSON'S WARBLER, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and a
singing WARBLING VIREO, were found right around the parking area.
The sprawling system of trails up and over the hill took me through myriad
habitats, mostly open shelterwood-like areas, with lots of low shrubs and
brambles and sparse mature canopy in which several warblers were easily seen.
It reminded me of the kind of timber lots one would find in the Piedmont, but
it felt like I was at the top of a mountain. At the peak, there were good views
of Short Hills, where Golden Eagles were seen last winter. My path then
descended to the point where I could hear Cedar Creek before curving back
towards Route 11.
Working my way back to Foamhenge proper, I spotted two birds I could not
identify. They were fairly large flycatchers, with short tails and thick bills,
and appeared generally dark above and whitish below, with possible brownish
streaking on the back and sides. They flew off across the gorge, and one of
them gave a call--a burry, descending, almost thrush-like "veer!" I thought I
saw a pale rump on one, too. My best guess would be Olive-sided Flycatcher
(this was my first impression) but I can't find this call anywhere, and only
had very brief views of the birds, so I'm leaving them unidentified for now.
Very interesting area!
Wes Teets
Buchanan, VA
Natural Bridge/Foamhenge Tract, Rockbridge, US-VA
Sep 27, 2013 7:35 AM - 11:05 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.6 mile(s)
53 species (+1 other taxa)
Wild Turkey 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 8
flycatcher sp. 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 30
American Crow 13
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 16
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 2
American Robin 9
Gray Catbird 7
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 14
Ovenbird 4
Tennessee Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 12
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 13
Song Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 18
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 2
American Goldfinch 2
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15266242
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
