Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Cathy and I went to Seneca Creek where Berryville Road passes right next to it. We saw a belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) on a tree leaning out over the water and I was able to get a few photos, although it was pretty far away. We walked upstream and enjoyed the bluebells (Mertensia virginica) that wrre pretty much in full bloom. Some of the flowers were brown, probably as a result of the recent freeze we had a week or so ago.
We heard quite a few birds, including wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis). We didn’t see either of those. A blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) kept showing up on Cathy’s Merlin screen but I didn’t expect to be able to see this little, elusive bird. We did, though, and I was able to get a photo or two.
Today’s photo is of an eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) who sat on a branch over the creek and let me get fairly close.
