Nine Birders attended on this gorgeous fall morning (5 from Augusta Bird Club and 2 from the Headwaters Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists). We took 4 hours to explore the grounds and road and totaled 54 species!! We were hardly underway, and still standing in the parking lot, when a Yellow-breasted Chat popped up on the bramble hill in front of us. It continued to pop up off and on but no photos were to be had. We continued on our way and tallied more birds. Then, a Peregrine Falcon appeared over the fields!! We ended the day with 10 Warblers (1 Black-and-white, 6 Tennessee, 2 Nashville, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 5 Cape May, 7 Bay-breasted, 2 Blackpoll, 2 Black-throated Blue, 1 Black-throated Green, 1 Wilson’s Warbler) a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swamp and Lincoln’s Sparrows, a late Blue-headed Vireo, an early Hermit Thrush and lots of the other usual suspects here. Lots of great conversations with both old and new birders and the eyes and ears of all the participants made for a great tally of species and a fun outing. Our next official walk will be in March of next spring but anyone is more than welcome to come out any day.
Augusta Bird Club
Connecting people with birds since 1966
