April 30, 2021
I visited Powhatan State Park this morning for a little birding and then to pursue odonates. The day was nice, mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from 61-68 degrees and winds increasing from 5 to 12+ mph.
A few migratory species were noted this morning with the majority being Black-throated Blue Warblers (4) and Magnolia Warblers (2). All in all it was a leisurely time with 68 species being noted.
I then walked several locations for odonates and really enjoyed seeing full adult St. Croix Snaketails with one pair being noted in a wheel. I also observed Cocoa Clubtails, which are now consistently observed along the James River, which is amazing when you think of their increased north and westward expansion over the last 5 to 7 years. Overall ode diversity was good and appears to be increasing.
| St. Croix Snaketails | 11 |
| Cocoa Clubtails | 2 |
| Stream Cruiser | 8 |
| Springtime Darner | 4 |
| Brown Spiketail | 1 |
| Blue Dasher | 3 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 8 |
| Spangled Skimmer | 1 |
| Carolina Saddlebags | 1 |
| Common Baskettail | 3 |
| Common Whitetail | 12 |
| Blue Corporal | 6 |
| Fragile Forktail | 1 |
Lastly, I have included two shots of Rose-breasted Grosbeak from my home, the female was photographed on the 29th and the male today on the 30th.
April 27 & 28, 2021
I traveled to North Carolina in an attempt to photograph some herps (snakes and turtles) and to photograph Henslow’s Sparrow on their breeding territory. The weather was cooperative with mostly sunny conditions, winds averaging 10-15 mph and temperatures ranging from 48 to 88 degrees.
My first stop on April 27th, near sunrise, was the Bear Grass Voice of America location in Beaufort County for Henslow’s Sparrow. The Henslow’s Sparrows did not disappoint as many males were heard singing and observed along the entry road and offered favorable photographs. When I got to the end of the road I encountered a NC Wildlife Resource team who were banding and performing genetic testing on Henslow’s Sparrows. It was here that I got to see and photograph a male Henslow’s Sparrow in hand.
I then traveled to Hyde County to pursue my endeavor for some herps. While my efforts were enjoyable, I only had limited success in photographing a couple of the more common species. However, the benefit of being in Hyde County is your ability to also observe/encounter a variety of plants and animals and even friends.
Audio file of Henslow’s Sparrow in song:
April 23, 2021
I had business today in southern Virginia today so I took advantage of it and left early and visited a few areas for birds in Southampton County. Upon completing my business, I then traveled home via Lunenburg County for a change of pace.
The morning was cold as it dipped to 31 degrees but the temperatures improved to approximately 56 degrees by early afternoon with mostly sunny conditions.
Photography was enjoyable today but nothing really unexpected demonstrated itself my travels. I have included a photograph of a Barred Owl I observed on the 21st because it was at point blank range.
April 20, 2021
I got up early and traveled to Sussex County for pre-dawn birding and then continued south to Southampton County. The weather was a mixture of clear skies and then intermittent clouds as the day progressed. The temperature ranged from 37 to 69 degrees.
In Sussex County, I had my FOY Chucks-wills-widow and then in Sussex County I enjoyed several new species for the year with Blue-winged Warbler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo being heard and/or observed.
Dragonflies were enjoyable but the only new species for the year was an immature Eastern Pondhawk. The table below summarizes my odonate observations:
| Blue Corporal | 120 |
| Common Whitetail | 12 |
| Common Baskettail | 75 |
| Mantled Baskettail | 4 |
| Lancet Clubtail | 4 |
| Cocoa Clubtail | 2 |
| Harlequin Darner | 16 |
| Common Green Darner | 1 |
| Springtime Darner | 3 |
| Stream Cruiser | 5 |
| Little Blue Dragonlet | 3 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 1 |
April 17, 2021
I visited Cumberland and Greene Counties with a friend today principally focusing on flowering plants. I quickly visited Powhatan County to check on Vesper Sparrow earlier in the morning.
The day was beautiful with mild temperatures and sunshine for most of the day. I enjoyed the trip for all of the plants for which I have not focused on for many years and the good company.
April 16, 2021
I went briefly to Sussex County before dawn today and then spent most of my time in Southampton County. The day was sunny but temperatures were lower than previous outings ranging from 38-63 degrees and winds were moderate at 3-8 mph.
Birds were enjoyable today. I started by pursuing nightjar species but was only successful with Whip-poor-wills. I then worked a new marsh in Southampton County and had one (1) each of Sora and Virginia Rail. On my way out from the rails, I observed a bird fly up to the power line and stopped and it proved to be a Vesper Sparrow. As I headed home later in the day, I also encountered my first Loggerhead Shrike for Southampton County.
Odes numbers continue to increase and a few new species were encountered. New species for the year were Little Blue Dragonlet and Blue Dasher. I also observed two (2) more Mantled Baskettails. A list of the species observed included:
| Common Baskettail | Very Common |
| Mantled Baskettail | 2 |
| Common Whitetail | 15 |
| Blue Corporal | Abundant |
| Ashy Clubtail | 4 |
| Lancet Clubtail | 2 |
| Harlequin Darner | 10 |
| Common Green Darner | 1 |
| Painted Skimmer | Common |
| Little Blue Dragonlet | 5 |
| Blue Dasher | 1 |
| Citrine Forktail | 3 |
Other new species for the year were Spicebush Swallowtail and Spotted Turtle.
April 13, 2021
I visited several sites in Fluvanna County, Virginia this morning. The weather was again cooperative through mid-day with mild temperatures and mostly clear skies.
New birds observed/heard for the year included Broad-winged Hawk, Black-throated Green Warbler and Purple Martin. I also continue to encounter the ubiquitous Evening Grosbeak (3) and the trees were commonly occupied by American Goldfinch and many Purple Finch.
The only new ode for the year was Uhler’s Sundragon but numbers were good with many other species. Lastly, I had my first Gemmed Satyr and Sleepy Duskywing.
| Uhler’s Sundragon | 2 |
| Sely’s Sundragon | 4 |
| Common Whitetail | 15+ |
| Common Baskettail | 20+ |
| Blue Corporal | 15+ |
| Stream Cruiser | 5 |
| Twin-spotted Spiketail | 2 |
| Ashy Clubtail | 7 |
April 12, 2021
I got word from Andrew Rapp that he had found Banner Clubtails emerging at the boat landing on the Nottoway River adjacent to the Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve in Sussex County yesterday (the 11th). I made my way down there this morning in hopes of replicating his efforts. The weather again proved cooperative in the morning with warm temperatures and sunny skies.
My first pass at the boat ramp area proved unsuccessful (~8:10 a.m.), so I visited the opposite side of the road and walked for about one mile. I observed one (1) American Copper and had one (1) male Spine-crowned Clubtail. When I again worked the boat ramp area I started noting Banner Clubtails emerging on both cypress knees and logs. Over the next hour and a half, I probably saw 6+ individuals, many of which flew up high to perch when they left the water. Also emerging at this location were Ashy and Lancet Clubtails.
I then traveled to the boat ramp on SR 653 in Southampton County. At this location, I observed two (2) teneral Cocoa Clubtails emerging but no Banner.
April 11, 2021
What an enjoyable morning pursuing odes! I went to Powhatan State Park and found many odes flying this morning. The mostly clear skies and mild temperatures of today have apparently done wonders to enhance both their visibility and emergence since the 8th when I was last here.
| Brown Spiketail | 2 |
| Twin-spotted Spiketail | 1 |
| St. Croix Snaketail | 30+ |
| Lancet Clubtail | 2 |
| Ashy Clubtail | 7 |
| Common Baskettail | 20+ |
| Common Whitetail | 8+ |
| Blue Corporal | 6+ |
| Stream Cruiser | 30+ |
| Springtime Darner | 2 |
Butterflies were also enjoyable with Zebra Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Pearl Crescent, Eastern Tailed-blue, Orange Sulphur, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Juvenal’s Duskywing, Cabbage White, Falcate Orangetip and Silver-spotted Skipper (FOS) being observed.
I also observed my FOS Green Heron and Grasshopper Sparrow in Powhatan County and last but not least I had six (6) Evening Grosbeaks at Tucker Park in Goochland County which were in all likelihood the same six that I observed earlier in the week directly across the river at the boat launch in Powhatan County.
April 8, 2021
I went to Powhatan State Park today with a brief side trip to the adjacent old Beaumont Correctional Property. One of the two Vesper Sparrows was again noted today at Beaumont. At Powhatan State Park, odonates were noted by just three (3) species today with Common Baskettail, Stream Cruiser and Springtime Darner making the list. All of the species were in good numbers but nothing else was noted.
Butterflies were in good numbers with Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Eastern Tailed-blue, Clouded Sulphur, Juvenal Duskywing, Cabbage White and Question Marks continuing and my first of year White M Hairstreak and Pearl Crescents being seen.
April 7, 2021
I ventured to Sussex County (for birding) and then to Southampton County for odonates. The weather was again cooperative with warm to almost hot temperatures, light winds and sunny skies.
I got out early for nightjars and was rewarded with nine (9) Whip-poor-wills and good numbers of Barred Owls, many of which were duetting. In Southampton County while focusing on odes I encountered my FOY Hooded Warblers (2) and at least two (2) calling Evening Grosbeaks which are still present from the winter.
The highlight of the day was twofold with both Mantled Baskettails (6+) and a Spine-crowned Clubtail (1 teneral individual) being found in Southampton County. I had to retrieve the Spine-crowned from the Nottoway River as it flew into the water as I approached. Baskettails were everywhere this morning with a major expected increase in Common Baskettails noted from last week, Robust still in good numbers and then the Mantled being found. The Spine-crowned was a surprise as I was hoping for Banner but it was not to be (unless someone else observes something I missed on the photographs). Other species in good numbers were Springtime Darners, Stream Cruisers, Harlequin Darners, Painted Skimmers, Lancet Clubtails and Common Whitetails.
April 6, 2021
I stayed local and visited Powhatan County today visiting the State Park and a couple of other sites. The weather was again nice today with sunny skies, temperatures ranging from 55 to 69 and winds 0-3 mph.
Odonates are starting to divulge themselves locally with Sely’s Sundragon (4), Common Baskettail (4) and Common Green Darner (2) being observed. Butterflies are also increasing in numbers with my FOY Mourning Cloaks (3) being observed. I also had my first Snowberry Clearwing Moth for the year.
Migrating birds consisted of two (2) Vesper Sparrows and continuing for the winter now into the Spring I also had six (6) Evening Grosbeaks.
April 5, 2021
I visited Sussex County today with a short side trip into Southampton County. The weather was very cooperative with mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures and light winds.
New birds observed for the year were: Chimney Swift, Yellow-throated Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler and Prairie Warbler. Both Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Palm Warblers were noted in good numbers indicating the possible peak of their migration through our area.
Odonates continue to increase both in species and overall numbers. Species observed today were:
Fragile Forktail 20+
Citrine Forktail 10
Southern Spreadwing 2
Blue Corporal 15+
Common Whitetail 1
Common Baskettail 4
Robust Baskettail 10
Stream Cruiser 3
Harlequin Darner 3
Butterflies consisted of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail, Juvenal’s Duskywing, Brown Elfin, Azure species, Falcate Orangetip, Eastern Comma and Question Mark.
