A Very Enjoyable Day!
I spent Saturday, April 30th birding in Goochland County, Virginia.  The weather was overcast all day with temperatures ranging from 55 to 64 degrees and winds 0-3 mph.  Many species of birds were obviously grounded due to the “stalled” weather conditions and as such many migrating species presented themselves in enjoyable numbers.  Highlighted “grounded” species included Scarlet Tanagers (26) almost all of which were male, Blue-winged Warblers (5), Black-throated Blue Warblers (6), Tree and Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts. The Scarlet Tanagers observed were all male except for one and they appeared to be foraging in groups of 2 to 6 each time observed.  It was quite “colorful” to see 6 Scarlet’s in the same area of the tree at the same time. The day ended with 99 species observed (18 were warbler species) in Goochland County and additional 2 species in my yard in western Henrico County (Song Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker) for a total of 101 species.  I had many surprising misses from Rock Dove, Brown Thrasher to Northern Flicker.

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This morning, Saturday, April 23rd, I got up and initially visited the “wetlands” along the James River in the City of Richmond.  Daybreak found the sky mostly overcast but many birds in song.  Highlights at the “wetlands” were Blue-winged Warbler (2), Northern Waterthrush (1), Kentucky Warbler (1), Worm-eating Warbler (1) and an additional 9 warbler species.  Also observed was Swainson’s Thrush (2).

After departing the City of Richmond I visited a couple of sites in Goochland County.  Avian highlights were a Vesper Sparrow (1) and a couple of Palm Warblers.  Since last week Warbling Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers and Orchard Orioles have moved onto territory and are singing vigorously.  The most unusual sighting of the day was of a Star-nosed Mole “running” along a field line.

While in Goochland County I pursued some odes and butterflies but with skies clearing from the front passing and winds gusty they were challenging this morning.  The following odes were observed:

Chesapeake Snaketail 1
Spine-crowned Clubtail 1
FOS Cobra Clubtail 1
Springtime Darner 1
Fragile Forktail 1
Southern Spreadwing 1

Butterflies:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail  15
Duskywing sp  5
Pearl Crescent  45+
Cabbage White 5
Colias sp.  5
Eastern-tailed Blue 5

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I visited Fluvanna County, Virginia on both Friday and Sunday, April 15 &17 of the past long weekend.  The odes and butterflies are really starting to emerge in a variety of species now.  Nine (9) species of odes were observed on Friday and twelve (12) on Sunday.  The ode showing was highlighted by my FOS Green-faced Clubtail (Gomphus viridifrons)- 2, Spine-crowned Clubtail (Gomphus abbreviates)- 4 and Chesapeake Snaketail (Ophiogomphus susbehcha)-6 and a unique “coupling”, at least to me, of two apparent male Stream Cruisers.  Thirteen (13) species of butterfly were observed.  I also had one very vocal Cooper’s Hawk which suggested territoriality.  Some photographs from the trips are as follows:

 

 

 

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I just returned from an enjoyable couple of days (April 13 & 14) in southeastern North Carolina enjoying both Bladen and Scotland Counties.  Over the course of the two days, I observed 25 species of odes of which 6 were new to me.  The first day was spent wandering around Bladen County.  The highlights were:

Sandhill Clubtail (Gomphus cavillaris) 2
Taper-tailed Darner (Gomphaeschna antilope) 1
Mantled Baskettail (Epitheca semiaquea) 45+
Ornate Pennant (Celithemis ornata) 3

The second day I spent for the most part in Scotland County, with a minor incursion into Richmond County.  The highlights in Scotland County were:

Clearlake Clubtail (Gomphus australis) 1
Diminutive Clubtail (Gomphus diminutus) 9+
Piedmont Clubtail (Gomphus parvidens) 9+

Some photographs from the trip follow:

Gomphaeschna antilope

And a trip to the Sandhills of North Carolina would not be complete without a photograph of a Bachman’s Sparrow which were singing in many areas on day 2:

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I visited Goochland County on the afternoons of both Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd.  I found teneral snaketails and clubtails emerging on both days.  The following are the counts observed:

April 2nd:
Chesapeake Snaketail (Ophiogomphus susbehcha) 2
Ashy Clubtail (Gomphus lividus) 2
Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) 2

April 3rd:
Chesapeake Snaketail (Ophiogomphus susbehcha) 7
Ashy Clubtail (Gomphus lividus) 3
Spine-crowned Clubtail (Gomphus abbreviatus) 1
Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) 2

A few photographs follow: