Birding on the James
Lynchburg, VA
Monday 19 February 2024
58 °F
This month I am down in Lynchburg, VA to sing a residency as a young artist with a small company here called Opera on the James. I have a wonderful host here, Nancy, who lives on top of a hill — so there is a wonderful view to watch for birds. A few days into my stay, a lovely SHARP-SHINNED HAWK graced us with its presence:
CAROLINA CHICKADEES, a species I have actually seldom photographed before as I am not in their range terribly often, are abundant here at the feeders:
Here’s another view of the Sharpie circling above:
I took a walk to Percival Island, Lynchburg’s main nature park, and noticed an absolute proliferation of vultures. Outside of the tropics, I have never seen so many vultures in one place! Most were TURKEY:
But there were a few BLACK VULTURES mixed in — note the silvery wingtips:
A compare-and-contrast view of the two species while perched:
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW:
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER:
DOWNY WOODPECKER:
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET:
NORTHERN FLICKER:
MOURNING DOVE:
SONG SPARROW:
CAROLINA WREN:
Bird-of-the-week to the Sharp-shinned Hawk with runners-up to all the Turkey & Black Vultures:
STAY TUNED!
1) An incredibly rare bird has turned up not too far from me in Virginia. Will I get it?
2) On March 10, after my opera residency is over, I fly down to PANAMA to meet my friends Kim and Susie for a week of incredible birding in the Canal Zone and environs.
Happy birding!
Henry
World Life List: 1186 Species
Listen for the song of the Carolina wren- it's charming. Maybe some of those turkey vultures are thinking about heading north soon.
by liz cifani