March 26, 2022
I took a short walk in Powhatan County this afternoon under intermittent clouds and blustery conditions. Spring flowers are bursting forth with Spring Beauty abundant, followed by Yellow Trout Lily. Other Spring flowers will be coming forth shortly.
March 22, 2022
I visited Southampton County today. For the first time this year it really felt like Spring here in Virginia! Breeding birds singing, butterflies flitting around and my FOS odonates here in Virginia.
Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow-throated Warblers, Pine Warblers, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-headed Vireo and Rough-winged Swallows all made their presence known. The first four (4) bird species listed were represented by multiple individuals.
The butterflies and odonates observed can be found summarized in the following table:
March 19 & 20, 2022
I got out briefly to Powhatan County on the 19th and then traveled to Charles City and eastern Henrico Counties on the 20th. The two most enjoyable events occurred on the 20th when I observed and photographed my 2nd ever White M Hairstreak in eastern Henrico County after earlier hearing three (3) King Rails in eastern Henrico County go through their entire repertoire of vocalizations.
Butterflies were more evident on the 20th than on any day so far this year in Virginia. The following were observed:
| White M Hairstreak | 1 |
| Spring form Summer Azure | 1 |
| Azure species | 2 |
| Anglewing species | 1 |
| Cabbage White | 2 |
| Falcate Orangetip | 3 |
In the afternoon while walking my neighborhood, I encountered an apparent partial rufous morph Gray Squirrel (photo in the following by cell phone).
March 18, 2022
I ventured to Southampton and Sussex Counties this morning. The day started with patchy fog and mild temperatures ranging from 43 to 67 degrees before I returned home. Migration is underway and breeding birds are arriving locally. I started the morning at a small marsh in Sussex County and was entertained by two (2) Virginia Rails responding to my recording. In Southampton County I again encountered the Lincoln’s Sparrows which I first noted during the winter with a maxima of three (3) noted. Many Yellow-throated Warblers (6+) were singing and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were present. I was surprised to stumble upon an American Woodcock while walking a open wood area. The biggest surprise was not hearing any Louisiana Waterthrushes.
A few butterflies were noted with Eastern Comma and Mourning Cloak landing long enough to photograph. I did not note any salamanders even though I checked a few interesting sites.
March 15 & 16, 2022
I traveled to Augusta County on the 15th and to Fluvanna County on the 16th. Both efforts were focused on salamanders. The weather was mild both days with temperatures rising fairly quickly from the upper 30’s/low 40’s to almost 60 each morning.
In Fluvanna County, I encountered four (4) species and in Fluvanna County I encountered two (2) species. The most common species in both counties proved to be Red-backed Salamander. For my first time, I observed two (2) individual salamanders (Spotted and Red-backed) with recently lost tails one of which demonstrated signs of early growth.
March 14, 2022
The morning started off cool in Powhatan County but with the mostly clear skies the temperatures rose fairly quickly, 37-57 degrees. The very light snow from Saturday has completely disappeared.
Very few butterflies were noted on the wing this morning. Those observed were comprised of only Cabbage White and a couple of Clouded Sulphur.
I walked some new areas in hopes of some new salamander species. The “old” reliable Red-backed Salamanders were found (4) and what I have tentatively identifyied as a Northern Dusky Salamander(?) was found.
Spring flowers are coming forth! It was enjoyable to see a variety of new blooming flowers on display today ranging from Common Blue Violets, Bloodroot, Heartleaf to Spring Beauty and Cutleaf Toothwort. Many Trout Lilies and few Mayapple were also noted visible above the ground.
March 11, 2022
I ventured into Fluvanna County, VA this morning. The day started cool and warmed fairly quickly (34-58 degrees). My focus again was on salamanders but a few other enjoyable observations occurred.
Red-backed Salamanders (21) were the only species I got my hands on today. I encountered a different species in a “spring area” but it proved to slippery for me to capture successfully.
A few flowers were in bloom in the woods with Spring Beauty and Early Saxifrage being observed. Several fungi were in good display and presented for a couple of photographs.
March 10, 2022
I, once again, traveled to Powhatan County this morning. Temperatures were cool, 42-48, and skies were mostly cloudy. Fungi appear to be in growing and showing mode finally with my first of year Witches Butter (probably Tremella mesenterica) observed.
Salamanders were only present with two species, Marbled Salamander (1) and Red-backed Salamander (11). Broad-headed Skinks were in greater numbers with two immatures observed.
March 8, 2022
I visited Powhatan County this morning. My hopes were after the light rain last night that salamanders would prove more abundant. The numbers of species really didn’t indicate much increase:
| Red-backed Salamander (all red-backed morph) | 8 |
| Marbled Salamander | 3 |
I did encounter two first for the year today as a fresh Zebra Swallowtail and an immature Broad-headed Skink both demonstrated themselves.
March 7, 2022
I traveled to Sussex County, VA this morning in hopes of some early spring sightings. The day was warm and blustery as temperatures ranged from 65 to 79 degrees and winds ranged from 5 to 20+ mph under partly sunny skies.
The most interesting observation today was a Southeastern Fox Squirrel apparently relocating a young between nest. It was interesting to observe this parent carefully transporting a fairly good sized young to it new home.
In the reptile world I noted my first Eastern Fence Lizards (2).
Butterflies made a decent showing with the following observed:
| Azure species (probable Summer Azures?) | 6 |
| Eastern Comma | 1 |
| Question Mark | 1 |
| Mourning Cloak | 1 |
