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