February 12, 2007 [LINK / comment]

First Fox sparrow of winter

This morning was the mildest we've had in over a week, so I went for a quick walk behind the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad. There was a fair amount of bird activity, mostly Chickadees and White-throated sparrows, but a few interesting birds popped into view as well, including the first Fox sparrow I have seen this winter. Today's highlights:

• Red-bellied woodpecker
• House finches
• Goldfinches
• White-breasted nuthatch
• Bluebird (prob.)
• Robins
• Hermit thrush
• Yellow-rumped warbler
• Fox sparrow (FOS)

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Clair Mellinger, a bird expert from Rockingham County, reported to the ShenVal birds e-mail list that a friend found a male Black-throated Blue Warbler on the ground, just barely alive. He contacted the Wildlife Center of Virginia, but it died before they could take it there. It was the first time this species had ever been sighted in this area during the winter months.