June 5, 2005 [LINK]

Shenandoah day trip

Jacqueline and I spent a wonderfully relaxing day up in the central section of the Shenandoah National Park today. We stopped at several scenic overlooks and went for a short hike to Dark Hollow Falls, near Big Meadows. We saw many Redstarts and Chestnut-sided warblers (see photo; note yellow cap), and I saw four other birds for the first time this season. [Prior to today,] I don't believe I had seen a Veery since 2000; unfortunately it was not singing its enchanting song. I took some video clips, but the results were mixed. Here are the highlights:

• Indigo buntings (M)
• American redstarts (M, F)
• Chestnut-sided warblers (M)
• Red-tailed hawk (juv.)
• Broad-winged hawk
• Towhees
• Canada warblers (M, FOS)
• Veery (1st in 5 years!?)
• Hairy woodpecker (M)
• Dark-eyed juncos
• Blue-headed vireo
• Scarlet tanager (M)
• House wren (FOS)
• Bluebird (M)
• Hooded warblers (M, FOS)
• Red-eyed vireos