Wakefield Park, 23 Sep 98
BlkVulture@aol.com
Wed, 23 Sep 1998 17:22:36 EDT
Wednesday, 23 Sep 98.
Clear skies, temps starting around 60F. Breezy, perhaps 10mph steady, gusts
higher.
After hearing so much about Wakefield Park, I decided to visit it after this
cold front came through. I was accompanied by my father, Mike, and met up
with Kurt Gaskill. Beside the fact that fall arrived precisely on time, the
migrants were less courteous. Overall we managed 35 species, with only 5
warbler species and 2 vireo species. Birding was somewhat difficult, the wind
was keeping the both the leaves and the birds moving.
Highlights included:
(8) Chimney swifts
(1) Kingfisher
(8) House Wrens
(1) Wood Thrush
(15+) Catbirds (maybe more)
(1) Brown Thrasher
(3) White-eyed Vireos
(6-8) Red-eyed Vireos
(1) Magnolia Warbler
(1) Bay-breasted Warbler
(1) Black & White Warbler
(3) Redstarts
(8) Common Yellowthroats
(2) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
(12) Indigo Buntings
(3) Song Sparrows
(300 or so) American Goldfinches
I found the number of Goldfinches staggering. Very few males still have any
brilliance left in their plumage. It won't be long before I wish I could see
some of that brilliant yellow among the grays, pales, browns, and black that
is winter passerines that we have to look forward too. Okay, Cardinals are
red.
I was really hoping for my first-of-the-season junco, white-throated, or
yellow-rump, but no luck (my father has already seen a junco in my yard). I
am looking forward to trying Wakefield again when sparrows arrive in numbers.
It could be interesting. It also impresses me as a place where one of the
many Common Yellowthroats might stick around a little later than usual.
Overall, not a wasted morning. Considering I had to deal with 66 during rush
hour to arrive there by 7, that is saying something.
Cheers,
Todd M. Day
Jeffersonton, VA