May 9, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Nashville warbler comes to town

No, I'm not talking about Kenney Chesney or Martina McBride. It was, rather, the first Nashville warbler I have seen in two years. It was singing high in a tree. Also seen behind the Staunton- Augusta Rescue Squad this morning: an Indigo bunting, a couple Cedar waxwings, and some Catbirds.

This snail, which I saw this morning, was a more cooperative photographic subject than most wild birds are. I relocated it to the side of the trail.

Here is a run-down of my recent first-of-season bird sightings over the past week, in chronological order:

• Ruby-throated hummingbird (May 2, out back)
• Ovenbird (May 5, Chimney Hollow)
• Red-eyed vireo (May 5, " ")
• Ruffed grouse (May 5, " ")
• Cliff swallow (May 5, " ")
• Spotted sandpiper (May 6, Bell's Lane)
• Least sandpiper (May 6, " ")
• Nashville warbler (May 9, behind SARS)

At Chimney Hollow last Saturday, I was surprised to see a large bird with a very long neck, short tail, and angled wing flying high overhead; I'm almost certain that it was a cormorant, probably a Double-crested cormorant. At the trail head I also saw Dave McRuer of the Virginia Wildlife Center; he had joined my field trip there on March 30.

In Waynesboro on Monday, I visited Riverside Park for the first time ever. It is very scenic and pleasant, which would explain the large number of human visitors. I saw several Yellow-rumped warblers and a Kingfisher, among others.