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Join us on the First and Third Sunday of each month at 7:00 AM at the parking lot behind the Ranger Station!
Thanks to Jane Frigo for providing these reports.
With migration in full swing, on May 4, 2008, Phil Bogert, Phyllis Roth, Raquel Rickard, Marc Nichols, Jim Harrison, Cathy Bond, Eileen O'Toole, Libby Carmine, Eleanor Young, Fred Blystone and Jane Frigo combined skills and were able to find 72 species. The weather was perfect and the first bridge was extremely productive with: Prothonotary Warblers, Summer and Scarlet Tanager, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebirds and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.
In the reservoir a raft of twenty+ Wood Ducks were seen. At the Spawning Pond Bridge, the Great Horned Owlet was seen and photographed by Fred Blystone (photo at right ). While most participants headed home or to church around ten, Marc, Raquel, Libby and Jane continued on to the Swamp Bridge. They were led by Blue Jays to a Barred Owl! Notable omissions for the morning include Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow and Orioles. No Eastern Kingbird showed either. |
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Fred also provided these photos of the group.
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The first bridge by Ranger Station |
Spawning Pond Bridge |
A complete species list follows.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker |
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing |
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow |
The regular third Sunday walk at Newport News Park took place on April 20, 2008, in spite of the predicted rain. Eleven participants - Marc Nichols, Tom Charlock, Fred Blystone, Jim Harrison, Eleanor Young, Phyllis Roth, Mel Pettard, Libby Carmine, newcomer Margie, Raquel Rickard and Jane Frigo - dodged a few sprinkles to see a great list of 60 species of birds, a box turtle and two huge snapping turtles. New species for the year included Green Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Northern Parula, Prothonotary Warbler and Blue Grosbeak. Complete list is shown below the photos.
Thanks to Fred Blystone for providing these photos from the morning's walk.
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Jane Frigo in the lead |
Walking towards the water |
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Prothonotary Warbler |
Prothonotary singing |
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Looking for birds |
Snapping Turtle |
Here's the list of all birds seen on today's walk :
Canada Goose-with goslings
Wood Duck
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
tern species
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker |
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jan
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
N.Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird |
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling'
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping S[arrpw
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch |
The regularly scheduled Sunday park walk on April 6, 2008, at Newport News City Park began under drizzle and heavy cloud cover. Four hearty souls, Richard Hudgins, Tom Chalock, Fred Blystone and Jane Frigo, braved the 50 degree temperatures to see what spring migrants had arrived. FOS arrivals included Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Rough-winged Swallows. 43 species were recorded. A complete list follows.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle (Imm.)
Hawk species--Sharp-shinned or Cooper's
Red-shouldered Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
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Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush |
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch |
On Sunday, March16, 2008 the second monthly walk at Newport News City Park began under cloudy skies and temperatures in the 40's. Tom Chalock, Jim Harrison, Richard Hudgins, Marc Nichols, Eileen O'Toole and Jane Frigo braved the damp and dreary morning and still managed to identify 48 species before giving in to the sprinkles. Notable absent species included Brown Creeper, Winter Wren and Red-headed Woodpecker. A total species list follows.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpcker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Pileated Woodpecker
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Brownn-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch |
We had a wonderful Sunday morning walk at Newport News City Park on March 2, 2008. The day was perfect with clear, calm skies and temperatures cool but not frigid. The group was rather large and included Julie Breeden, Richard Hudgins, Richard and Nicolas Ferree, Lee and Meredith Bell, Eileen O'Toole, Dave Youker, Ben Copeland, Nick Flanders, Tom Charlock, Phil Bogert and Jane Frigo. From 7 AM to 10:15 AM the group had identified 60 species. Notable spottings included at least 13 Brown Creepers and 6 Winter Wrens. The feeling among the group was that these species may be getting ready to move out. Five members of the continued the walk going to the Swamp Bridge and back. They added 2 more species to the already impressive morning list. The following is a complete species list.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
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Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow |
The weather was variably cloudy and cool for the February l7 walk. There was a slight wind. Fred Blystone, Eileen O'Toole, Julie Breeden, Marc Nichols, Barbara Hudgins, Richard Hudgins, Nancy Gruttman-Tyer, Mel Pettard and his daughter Robin who was visiting from Oregon met me for our regular park walk. We were all hoping to see a repeat visit from the Great Horned Owls of the last walk but no luck. We had great views of both Kinglets and all three Nuthatches. All totaled we saw 44 species. At the end of the walk we ran into photographer Ken Sheide who had walked beyond the Swamp Bridge and picked up a few other species. The following is our total list.
Canada Goose
Swan species--KS
Wood Duck--KS
Gadwall
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck--KS
Hooded Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Kildeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
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Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird'
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch |
Following the regular walk, Marc, Julie, Nancy and I decided to make a few side trips. We headed to Rexford Drive and saw the Monk Parakeets. It took a few minutes for them to show but we were not disappointed. We then went to the Denbigh boat ramp. There we watched a pair of Bald Eagles with hopes of seeing the mating courtship. We also saw two Red-tailed Hawks and a Northern Harrier. Our last stop was the Riverview Park. We were hoping to see Meadow Larks but couldn't find them. We saw beautiful Eastern Bluebirds and had a terrific look at an American Kestrel. Just before leaving we witnessed a Sharp-shinned Hawk swoop towards an unsuspecting European Starling. It was touch and go but the Starling lived to see another day.
The February 3 Sunday morning Newport News Park walk was very productive. The group stayed until 11 am. Great day with cool and no wind. We had a great turnout too. Cathy Bond, Eileen O'Toole, Diane and Nicolas Ferree, Nick Flanders, Ben Copeland, John Porter, Jim Harrison, Mel Pettard, Marc Nichols, Richard Hudgins, Fred Blystone, Jane Frigo and a new person, Ann McDonald.
We totaled 60 species with a couple of exciting sightings. We had a Fox Sparrow that we saw high in a tree at the first bridge. Having him so high up in the tree was unusual and to hear him sing was also a treat. Then at the Arboretem we found the Great Horned Owl. Several of the photographers had said that they had seen him there but to date our group had not found him, until today. The owl gave us all a great show. In fact, we think there were two and probably a nest close by. It will be worth watching this spring. The pine tree is near the road just before the Japanese tea house and pond.
Finally, we got to see an immature Eagle go after a Great Blue Heron while over the lake near the Spawning Pond.
Here is our total species list:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle (I)
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
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Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling'
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow |
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