Hamhed
Well-known member
Temperatures these days make me want to hop in the car just after breakfast and go a few thousand feet up on the Parkway. Yard birding is still pretty good though, making me reluctant to leave. A Wood Thrush chose an easily visibly location about 22 feet up in a white oak to build a nest, possibly the second? We have a pair of Ovenbirds very close to our house but finding their nest has not happened yet. Still, they call frequently and it's great knowing they are there. A Red-eyed Vireo has been hanging around lately and a Scarlet Tanager has been here since the spring, making us believe it is nesting somewhere close. Our Eastern Phoebes are on their second brood under our carport on the ledge we put up for them.
Not far away in mountains, a pair of Ceruleans is doing a great job of building the local population. Last week, they were still singing and visible at 3 in the afternoon.
On the trail to Little Butt Knob, Liz and I found an unoccupied Brown Creeper nest trailside, at head level. No evidence of it being used; it is a popular trail and may have been too busy, especially on the weekends. We saw a good many wonderful, mountain birds on this 6 mile round trip through deciduous and spruce forest. Blackburnian Warblers were actually common but, as a canopy species, difficult to see. We found two pairs of Canada Warblers, none of which were very happy to see us, chattering and chipping, fortunately not always not well concealed.
We had only one quick look at a Red Crossbill but they are being seen regularly and frequently this year. I plan on going back up soon to get some pictures and chill out!
Steve
Not far away in mountains, a pair of Ceruleans is doing a great job of building the local population. Last week, they were still singing and visible at 3 in the afternoon.
On the trail to Little Butt Knob, Liz and I found an unoccupied Brown Creeper nest trailside, at head level. No evidence of it being used; it is a popular trail and may have been too busy, especially on the weekends. We saw a good many wonderful, mountain birds on this 6 mile round trip through deciduous and spruce forest. Blackburnian Warblers were actually common but, as a canopy species, difficult to see. We found two pairs of Canada Warblers, none of which were very happy to see us, chattering and chipping, fortunately not always not well concealed.
We had only one quick look at a Red Crossbill but they are being seen regularly and frequently this year. I plan on going back up soon to get some pictures and chill out!
Steve