Last week I asked for information about the Rappahannock NWR, Wilna Unit. A
number of you responded with some very good tips, and our family says,
"Thank you." Some asked for a report how the trip went. I confess I'm not
a good one to ask, "What all species did you see." Instead of judging a
birding adventure by the number of species we can check off a list, we
concentrate on seeing how many species we can photograph.
The Wilna Unit was a lovely place to visit, and anyone that hasn't been
there but is considering it, we can recommend it. We found prairie
warblers, and yellow-breasted chats in a field of blackberries surrounded by
woods. Two , yellow-throated warblers were in the pine trees by this field.
A large meadow had dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows, bobolinks, indigo
buntings, blue grosbeaks, common yellow-throated warblers, red-winged
blackbirds, deer, and blacksnakes. I'm not trying to name everything we
saw, just what is quickly coming to mind.
One aspect of this refuge that we especially liked were the wide,
low-traffic roads through the "bird-infested" meadows. We were able to
mount two cameras on window-pods, one on either side of the vehicle, and
shoot from the vehicle. This approach enabled us to slowly easy close to a
singing dickcissel or common yellowthroat, etc., and photograph them. Any
tips on locations with similar photographic opportunities are welcome.
Following are a few of the photos we took.
Indigo bunting (1st picture).
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=24
Blue grosbeak: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=109
Dickcissel: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=113
Dragonflies: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=66
Kingbird: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=110
Bobolink: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=116
Common yellowthroat (1st 6 photos):
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=79
Yellow-throated Warbler:
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=112
Prairie Warbler: http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=111
Red-winged blackbird:
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=115
Grasshopper sparrows:
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/photos.pl?catid=114
We really enjoyed our short time there. One target bird we did not find (I
know we were/are late) was the prothonotary warbler. If anyone knows where
there is still a reasonable chance of finding this bird, you are welcome to
drop me a note.
Kevin Shank
