May 18, 2019

I visited Powhatan State Park this morning and was greeted with mostly overcast skies, temperatures ranging from 63-69 degrees and winds 0-3 mph.  While the morning walk proved enjoyable I was surprised by the dearth of migrants.  With the overnight thunderstorm I thought that a few species may have been grounded.  The only likely migrant was one lone non-singing and likely female Black-billed Cuckoo.  All in all, 58 species were observed and 57 of them were likely breeders.

May 6, 2019

I stopped at a pond just south of the Carson Rest Area, along Highway 301today, to check for Anhinga.  I was not disappointed as I encountered 1 perched in a tree and three (3) soaring overhead.  Also observed while at this site was an adult Mississippi Kite and two (2) Great Egrets.

April 6 & 7, 2019

I went to Sussex County, Va on both Saturday and Sunday morning. With overcast conditions and cool temperatures my efforts were focused on birds on Saturday.  The highlight of the day was the number of Palm Warblers observed, 14+, and the arrival in number of the common breeding warblers of the area and several White-eyed Vireos.

On Sunday the weather was much more cooperative for both odonates and butterflies.  At Chub Sandhill Preserve the following were noted flying:

Butterflies- Falcate Orangetip (1), American Snout (1), American Copper (1), Juvenal’s Duskywing (11), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2), Eastern-tailed Blue (4), Crescent sp. (1)

Odes- Robust Baskettail (6), Common Basketball (5), Basketball sp. (4), Citrine Forktail (1)

April 1, 2019

I traveled to Sussex County again this morning.  The day was cold with lows reaching 33 degrees.  Bird activity picked up about 20 minutes after sunrise.  Highlights included another Orange-crowned Warbler and a slightly early Yellow-throated Vireo.  Yellow-throated, Black-and-White Wablers and Louisiana Waterthrush were very noticeable.  A Northern Parula was noted.

March 24, 2019

I visited Sussex County this morning and on my way home I stopped briefly at the Carson Rest Area on I-95 in Prince George County.  In Sussex County I encountered several singing Blue-headed Vireos, 5+ Louisiana Waterthrush, 4 Yellow-throated Warblers and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler.  At the Carson Rest Area, a single female Anhinga was noted.