Swainson's Warbler

I was really hopeful as I got out of the Prius having reached the Washington Ditch Parking lot with David Hughes right behind me.  I was pleased that his plans had changed and he was able to join this morning's walk.  Also there were Terry Jenkins, Renee Hudgins, John Young, and three sisters who came together from Chesapeake, Amherst County, and Michigan for this walk.  It was not long after starting out that we got our first warbler, a Pine.  From there we added American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, lots of Ovenbirds, a Hooded Warbler, a Northern Parula, several Prothonotaries, Louisiana Waterthrushes, a Black-throated Green Warbler, a few Myrtle Warblers, and a Yellow-throated Warbler.  The last of our dozen warblers is the creme de la creme of the Dismal Swamp.  As we sauntered along we heard off to our north about 3/4 of the way to the Lynn Ditch intersection the sweet song of a Swainson's Warbler (photo).  Although there are a few places north of here that Swainson Warblers breed, the Great Dismal Swamp is certainly its best known stronghold and the place that all who live north of here visit in order to claim the prize for their day's, year's, or life list.  In my experience the density of Swainson's Warblers has increased over the last decade.  I now feel they are not too difficult to find and in fact, to see if one has the patience, a trait I have been slow to acquire.  Just find a singing bird, wait for it to come near the road, and look for its singing perch which he will use for perhaps ten minutes at a sitting.  The perch is usually about 18 feet above the ground and is found by scanning intently ALL the horizontal twigs in the area of the song.  I know...it sounds like that's what you would do anyway.  Right?  But most people do not have the patience to follow those simple steps.  It has worked well for me the last several years.  Don't knock it, 'til you've tried it.
    Four of those warblers (Prothonotary, Hooded, Black-throated Green, and Swainson's) were year birds bringing my total to 433.  And I've still got a chance for a few more before John and I head off to Colorado on Saturday.

A Back Bay NWR Survey

   Today I assisted David Hughes and Geralyn Mireles with their impoundment survey at Back Bay NWR.  In the beginning we could see lots of lightning flashes to our north, but the thunderstorms all stayed away from us.  As a note to those who might be interested in visiting Back Bay, the west dike is now open for bikes and walking from the headquarters all the way to False Cape State Park.

    As everywhere the waterfowl have pretty much left.  There were quite a few Blue-winged Teal, however, and a lingering duo of Ring-necked Ducks, and few Gadwall, Mallards, and American Black Ducks  Raptors included Northern Harriers, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles.  A flock of ten Cattle Egrets flew in and the numbers of Snowy Egrets have increased to 45.  There were a few Little Blue Herons and a Tri-colored Heron to go with the usual Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons.  Singles of Glossy and White Ibis were seen and an American Bittern was heard giving his pumping call in the marsh at the north end of False Cape.  Along with a couple of American Coots was a Common Moorhen (web photo).  A few King Rails, Marsh Wrens and fewer Sedge Wrens were calling and singing.  Four Greater Yellowlegs, a Wilson's Snipe, and some Killdeer were the only shorebirds seen.

   On the way home I again checked for Prothonotary Warblers at Stumpy Lake and found none.  There were three Yellow-crowned Night-Herons feeding in the marsh on the south side of our house when I got home.  Tomorrow it's back to the Dismal Swamp with a hope in my heart for migrants.

Cardinals

   I went to Back Bay NWR early this morning prepared to do a beach survey with David Hughes and Sarah Davis.  However, we got the Expedition stuck in the soft beach sand.  Later we learned that the SUV had an overdrive gear that probably was engaged and kept the four-wheel drive from properly operating.  At least that's our story and we're sticking to it.  While the vehicle was being mobilized, refuge biologist, John Gallegos, sent us out to record impoundment water levels so he could decide when and where to do a controlled burn, not to be confused with the burn John did when he found we had gotten the vehicle stuck in the sand.  Nothing particularly exciting birdwise.
   On the way back home David and I stopped at Stumpy Lake to see if any Prothonotary Warblers were in.  We didn't see or hear any, although we did get to use the new entrance road for the first time.
   At home I watched the St Louis Cardinals first game of the season which they won.  Nice way to start the 162 games.

A Visit to Washington DC

   Joyce has a very large number of first cousins.  Today we went to Washington DC to get together with those on her father's side.  We left the house early so we could stop at the Bershader's house in Herndon in the hope that the Varied Thrush might show up.  It had been seen on Friday.  But even though Steve and Maggie were hospitable hosts, the bird didn't appear during the hour plus window of time we had to spend.  So it was on to the brunch which was lovely.  Very nice to catch up on the happenings among the cousins.  We also visited Joyce's Aunt Fan in Chevy Chase before we left the area.
   When we got home, there was a phone message from Barbara Mulligan on the Eastern Shore telling that her thirteen year old son Tommy had seen a Prothonotary Warbler today at Pocomoke Swamp (web photo).  He had noticed that I didn't have it checked off on my spreadsheet and wanted to let me know.  So I called him up and congratulated him on having one up on me for the year.  An interesting aside is that he really learned to read from the collection of bird books from  his grandfather.  I told him to call me again if he found a bird I hadn't seen.  Clearly we have an up-and-coming hotshot birder in the making.
   I watched the opening night of Major League Baseball, but fell asleep before the Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees.  Tomorrow the Cards open their season.

Shopping and Mahler

Joyce and I got an early start with our visit to Cosco's on the day before Easter.  We had never been there this early, so it was a surprise to find that it didn't open until 9:30 which is almost exactly when we arrived accidentally.  We also visited Lowe's, Target, and Home Depot, hoping to find a just-right patio table to replace the glass-top one that was blown over and smashed in a wind storm last fall.  No success there.  So we came home and did some planting and yardwork.  Tonight was the last Virginia Symphony concert I'll be able to attend this year.  They did Mahler's fourth symphony.  I'm a huge fan of Mahler (web photo) and the symphony did a great job.  Later I watched a little of the Duke game and was happy for John Spahr that they had won.
   The Mahler always reminds me of the Tom Lehrer song about Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel, the wife of three artistic geniuses and lover of many more.  Several of the refrains end with "Gustav and Walter and Franz."

Dismal Swamp and Craney Island

Today I walked south along Jericho Ditch in the Great Dismal Swamp. It was beautiful. The road into the parking lot which I know as Jericho Ditch Lane was quite birdy.  I'm not sure why I never park at the lot and walk back along that road, but maybe I will.  A Barred Owl flew across the road directly in front of my car.  Two Louisiana Waterthrushes sang loudly near the road and many Common Yellowthroats were singing as well.  With absolutely no wind, I could hear forever including many Hermit Thrushes singing, chupping, and whining along the path.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were in full song and Gray Catbirds seem to have increased in number.

   During the walk, after reaching the dogleg in the road, I spotted a Black Bear ahead of me walking south.  At one point he stopped and scratched a tree, then hoisted himself up onto the tree, thought better of it and thudded back down to the ground.  He then turned and began walking north toward me.  With the little bit of wind coming from the south he didn't pick up my scent.  So the distance between us kept narrowing.  Finally I stopped and clapped my hands.  He raised up and gave me a good going over but still didn't leave the road.  So I yelled and raised my hands.  Reluctantly he turned and splashed off into the underbrush.  I continued to hear him breaking branches and splashing as he wandered away.

   At the same time I saw the bear, a raccoon was running around beyond the bear with a large bird flying over him and landing from time to time.  I identified the bird as a Red-shouldered Hawk and I came to the conclusion that there were two predators and one prey species.  I think the hawk won the confrontation and took whatever the raccoon had or wanted and left.  After the bear left the roadway, the raccoon came barreling down the road toward me totally oblivious of my standing there, again probably because he couldn't pick up the scent.  When he got too close for my comfort, I clapped and he stopped, stood up, looked at me, bolted in the opposite direction, and plunged into the ditch and splashed away.  Apparently I have animal magnetism!

   After I turned around, I met Larry Haugh from VT who had hoped to meet me earlier, but had gotten a later start than planned.  He heard a Black-throated Green Warbler call, but I missed it.  The bird didn't call again.  This would be the Wayne's race of that species, a local breeder and early arriver.  We were in an area with a few remaining Atlantic White Cedars, a favorite habitat component, and an area where we've had them before.  Further along on the way back to the parking lot we ran into David Hughes and a friend of his talking to Candie and Vic Delnore on their bicycles.  David had earlier heard an anemic song from a Prairie Warbler, a bird we hadn't heard earlier and in fact didn't hear as we walked back.  The only butterflies we saw were a few Spring Azures, a couple Zebra Swallowtails, and one Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  I'm planning to go to the swamp next Wednesday, April 7.  I'll leave the Washington Ditch parking lot at 7am.  Join me if you wish.  No reservation necessary.

   After visiting the swamp this morning, Larry Haugh and I went to Craney Island to check out the newly available open policy on Fridays that began today.  From the west end of the south cross dike looking southeast we saw the American Avocet that had already been entered into the birding log by an earlier group.  In addition there was a large group of Northern Shovelers and Green-winged Teal.  We did not see the two Blue-winged Teal reported by the earlier group.  A large mixed group of Sanderlings and Dunlin flew in and out of the impoundments.  A few Greater Yellowlegs were seen.  Outside the impoundments there were Buffleheads, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Ducks on the river.  Fenton Day and Andrew Baldelli had earlier seen a group of about 25 Least Sandpipers along the north road, but they had left by the time Larry and I arrived.  A group of Royal Terns was fishing in the James River and a couple of dozen Northern Gannets were plunge diving there as well.  The complete ebird list is appended.

    It's great to have Craney Island available to birders again.

Looking Forward to Tomorrow

John's back from Cuba and had a good trip.  We chatted a bit today.  I'm in the midst of finalizing the itinerary for Colorado based on our needs, what's there, and my experience with birding there at this time of year a few years ago.  We don't leave until a week from Saturday, but after then the trips come fast and furious with no time between.  Still, with the electronic connection I can do most tasks on the road.  Setting up the trip does get me excited about going.  Especially when migration here has been so slow.  I need a new bird fix.
To that end tomorrow I'm back in the Dismal Swamp, this time along Jericho Ditch.  When that walk is over, I plan to go to Craney Island for some shorebirding and check out the new procedure they've instituted to allow birders and others on that site on Fridays.  I'm sure I won't be the only birder there tomorrow.  It should be well covered.
Still had a Bufflehead in the cove behind our house.  Gives me the image for today (web photo).