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June 29, 2016 [LINK / comment]
Shenandoah National Park birding
As bird breeding season gradually nears an end, each opportunity to see neotropical migrants becomes more and more precious. On June 22-23, Jacqueline and I went up to the Shenandoah National Park for some hiking and relaxation. We knew the weather was going to be iffy, but were startled by the fierce thunderstorm during the night. (That was when the devastating rains and floods struck West Virginia, no doubt part of the same weather system.) We saw several Chestnut-sided Warblers, as well as the other birds in the photo montage below. On our way back, we stopped at the High Top Mountain parking lot about one mile south of the Route 33 intersection with Skyline Drive, hoping to see a Kentucky Warbler that had been reported there. Sure enough, I soon spotted it, but just couldn't get a good photo of it. The winds started kicking up, and rain threatened again, so I decided to try again some other day.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Chestnut-sided Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Wood Phoebe, American Redstart, Indigo Bunting, and Scarlet Tanager. All males except for the Phoebe, which is undetermined. (June 20-23, 2016)
On June 18, I hiked along Madison Run for the second time this year, and for the first time I hiked up the side trail toward Austin Mountain. The highlight of the day was a close encounter with a Pine Warbler, who responded fiercely not only to his own song being played, but also to the song of the Worm-eating Warbler, which I heard but did not see. Other birds of note included Louisian Waterthrushes, Ovenbirds, Blue-headed Vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and a possible Broad-winged Hawk.
Pine Warbler, June 18. More photos can be seen on the Wild Birds yearly page.
While I was at Madison Run, some hikers pointed out to me what I believe was a Northern Water Snake. According to ces.ncsu.edu:
Nonvenomous; adult size 30 - 60 inches. Basic color varies from reddish-brown to pinkish-purple, with brown to black bands. This common NC snake prefers a wet environment, but during rainy weather may travel a long distance from water. Feed on frogs, toads, and fish. These aggressive snakes will vigorously defend themselves by biting and discharging a foul-smelling musk. ...
They're "aggressive"? Yikes.
Northern Water Snake, at Madison Run, June 18. Roll your mouse over the image to see a closeup.
Finally, on Monday I saw and photographed a Great Blue Heron on Kiddsville Rd., while looking for the Sandhill Cranes that apparently still lurking there. (I saw them there on June 2.)
Later I stopped at Betsy Bell Hill, and got some nice photographs of a Scarlet Tanager and a Hairy Woodpecker, both males.
Bird photo update
For the first time in over a year, I have updated my Wild Birds species list page, showing the best photos I have taken for a large majority of species from this area, as well as species seen in other areas, indicated with a distinct color lettering.
Posted (or last updated or commented upon): 29 Jun 2016, 2: 23 PM
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Category archives:
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Wild Birds
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This (or that) year's
blog highlights
January 10, 2016 ~ Cooperstown calls Griffey, Piazza
January 17, 2016 ~ ABC field trip to Highland (& Bath!) County
January 21, 2016 ~ R.I.P. Glenn Frey
January 26, 2016 ~ Sweet Briar College is saved!
January 31, 2016 ~ Presidential campaign begins
February 6, 2016 ~ Fall bird migration season 2015
February 20, 2016 ~ Life bird: Virginia Rail!
February 21, 2016 ~ 2016 primaries: populists propel polarization
March 10, 2016 ~ Yes, another Wrigley Field update!
March 26, 2016 ~ Trump triumphs, Republican Party implodes
April 4, 2016 ~ Opening Day(s) in America, 2016! (& Sportsman's Park update)
April 18, 2016 ~ R.I.P. Alan L. Clem
April 21, 2016 ~ Flying out to So. Dak. (& back)
April 30, 2016 ~ Trump & Clinton take commanding leads
April 30, 2016 ~ Migration season reaches peak
May 7, 2016 ~ Trump secures victory; Sanders fights on
May 21, 2016 ~ ABC field trip to Reddish Knob
June 7, 2016 ~ ABC field trip to Highland County
June 9, 2016 ~ FOD [first-of-decade] Prothonotary Warblers!
June 14, 2016 ~ Birding on Hite Hollow Road
June 16, 2016 ~ Holy $#!+ -- Nationals win big showdown with Cubs
July 1, 2016 ~ Nationals sweep the Mets, widen NL East lead
July 3, 2016 ~ Kentucky Warblers, and more!
July 8, 2016 ~ Soras breeding in the Valley!
July 13, 2016 ~ Redistricting reform movement is growing
July 16, 2016 ~ The Nationals' starting rotation
August 5, 2016 ~ New page: Stadium profiles!
August 7, 2016 ~ Magical mushroom tour*
September 7, 2016 ~ To the northeast: Baseball road trip, 2016
September 18, 2016 ~ East by Northeast: Big city scenery travelogue
September 25, 2016 ~ Nationals win National League East Division
September 27, 2016 ~ Lucky! 13 warblers on Betsy Bell Hill
October 2, 2016 ~ Nationals' regular season ends on a high note
October 5, 2016 ~ Shenandoah National Park birding (II)
October 14, 2016 ~ Nationals flinch, Dodgers advance to NLCS
October 14, 2016 ~ Shenandoah National Park getaway
October 16, 2016 ~ World War II aircraft show (II)
October 25, 2016 ~ Holy cow: Cubs beat Dodgers, win NL pennant!
November 3, 2016 ~ The Cubs win the World Series!!!
November 4, 2016 ~ New month arrives, & new birds too
November 6, 2016 ~ Campaign 2016 grinds to a nasty, ugly end
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Blog highlights have been compiled for the years 2010-2012 thus far, and eventually will be compiled for earlier years, back to 2002.
Explanation
The "home made" blog organization system that I created was instituted on November 1, 2004, followed by several functional enhancements in subsequent years. I make no more than one blog post per day on any one category, so some posts may cover multiple news items or issues. Blog posts appear in the following (reverse alphabetical) order, which may differ from the chronological order in which the posts were originally made:
- Wild birds (LAST)
- War
- Science & Technology
- Politics
- Latin America
- Culture & Travel
- Canaries ("Home birds")
- Baseball (FIRST)
Also see: My blog practices.
Blog errata (Nobody's perfect.)