Birding in Dixie: Virginia

First Stop down south was the Commonwealth of Virginia.  We stopped at Grayson Highlands State Park (Link).  A real interesting park to be sure, it borders the Jefferson National Forest is a 30-minute drive from the Smoky Mountains NP.  It is part of the Appalachian Mountains and borders the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The Park was simply amazing.  We did the Cabin Creek Trail.  While we weren't there for birding necessarily (it was a road stop hike) we quickly found some amazing nature in this park.  We started with an encounter with the feral ponies in the park and ate some trail side blueberries that were literally ripe for the picking.  Next we encountered the creek.

The Creek was probably the most fun part of the trail and what made the park spectacular.  The life near the water was amazing.  We spent most of our time looking at different plants, fungi, fish, and listening for birds.  I've posted some pictures of the park looked like and the nature we got to enjoy.

 A View of the Park

 A Fungus

 A Destroying Angel Fungus probably

 The Waterfall

Blooming Wintergreen

The next two pictures were the birds we got.  Neither picture is mine.

Black-Throated Green Warbler (C) by William Majoros and Blackpoll Warbler (C) by Cephas

The only birds of note were a Black-Throated Warbler and a Blackpoll Warbler.  They were surprises as we got to the park very late in the day.  The Blackpoll was a particular surprise!  We heard the call, saw the legs and the cap and beak.  The Break was a good one as driving for hours can be particularly monotonous.  We even drove through Damascus, VA which was a welcome change from the typical roadside rest stops. Birding in Dixie will continue soon!

2013 Birds:

245 

Birding a State Park

Can you spot the Scarlet Tanager?

How about the Green Heron?

Can you spot the peep?

Where's the Northern Water Snake?

A Beaver in CT

In search of a Mississippi Kite in Connecticut took me and my wife to Great Pond State Park in northern Connecticut.  We weren't expecting much to be honest.  The Park was off the beaten path and we had only heard about it due to the sighting of a Mississippi Kite in the Region.  While we always enjoy a walk in the woods, we weren't expecting to find such a vibrant park.  Within minutes of parking the car, we found a Veery and some Black Capped Chickadees.  As we walked towards the pond, a kettle pond created by a glacier, we noticed a real abundance of life and biodiversity.  There were tons of mosquitoes, dragonflies, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals around along with a great diversity of plant life.

While we dipped on the Mississippi Kite, we discovered a superb state park.  Connecticut is lucky to have a great number of state parks.  I am lucky to enjoy them and use them as I go hunt for the Kite and other birds throughout the summer!  So get out there and go birding!

2013 List: 234
Louisiana Waterthrush