A Lot of Birding Going on In Luria Park

On Saturday morning, April 29th, Dan and I walked the boardwalk at Luria Park just off the footpath and up to the first (smaller) bridge. We didn't go much farther than that as we were content to observe all of the migrating birds in that small area. The tree canopy was nearly full which provided a cool shade from the climbing temperatures and sunshine.

We saw several birds for the first time in the park!

This is the Northern Waterthrush. He likes to forage on the damp ground, and in between was singing his little heart out. Notice the bold eye stripe and longer legs compared to his rotund body shape.

Here is the Ovenbird, so named because of the dome shape of their nests on the forest floor. He has a large eye with bold white monocle. He forages on the forest floor, strutting like a little chicken in the leaves.

What got us really excited was this bird singing up in the tree canopy between earnest foraging under the leaves: the Blue-winged Warbler. Notice his small dark black "mask" and dangerously sharp beak. He also has two white wing bars on his blue-grey wings.

There are so many birds migrating to and through our neighborhood and park, so please go out and look. Binoculars will certainly help you study the details especially of the birds that are up high! Happy Spring!

FYI: Dan and I are happy to host another mid-May late afternoon mid-week Luria Park birding walk. We had such a great time last year and saw so many birds, that we thought it would be fun to do that again this year. Stay tuned for the day and time!

In Our Yard: The Indigo Bunting

Welcome Spring and all of the birds migrating to and through our neighborhood!

This afternoon, I happened to see a young male (and molting) Indigo Bunting in our pink dogwood tree. He foraged for insects on the underside of the leaves, and then rose up from the behind the pink blossoms like The Great Pumpkin. Then he gave me a good look at the rest of him and it was apparent that he was still molting away his winter plumage to his full on bright indigo blue!

The Indigo Bunting can breed in our area and wouldn't that be exciting!

Oh, Say Can You See...A Bald Eagle in Raymondale!

On Tuesday, April 4th at one in the afternoon Mary and Mike Cogbill on Add Drive got excellent views of a Bald Eagle perched about 35 feet up in a tree in their next door neighbor's yard. To Mary the bird looked like it was just resting or sleeping.

We have seen Bald Eagles flying over Fairview Park but never one roosting in our neighborhood forests. Mary and Mike were quite fortunate indeed!

Early Wednesday morning, I was birding in Luria Park and heard Red-shouldered Hawks screaming in the direction of Add Drive. A minute later I saw a Bald Eagle flying from the Add Drive direction and over Luria Parka and out of sight. Most likely the Bald Eagle roosted over night on Add Drive.

Keep those great bird photos coming! And a big thanks to Mary and Mike Cogbill!

As a footnote, close examination of the photo revealed a chain ion the Eagle's leg, a small animal trap actually. If you see the Eagle again, please contact the following folks immediately and by phone:

 The Wildlife Center of Virginia at 540-942-9453 and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife Biologist Mr. Kevin Rose at 804-937-3193. They are handling all of the injured eagles in the state and if possible they will help this bird!