A Day of Several Good Finds ~ September 22, 2023

I decided to go up to Little Gap mainly for migrants but also for raptors. Partway up the trail, I ran into Adam Miller and Mike & Corinne Schall. They were focused on a nice group of migrants. I missed some of the ones they saw, but I did get to see Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Northern Parula, American Redstart, and one of two Philadelphia Vireos, which I got two poor photos of.

Philadelphia Vireo

Birds seen near the lookout included Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-and-white, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Cape May Warbler.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Cape May Warbler

While hawkwatching, I got these photos of a close Broad-winged Hawk.

Broad-winged Hawk

I left Little Gap around noon and checked out the Regency Boulevard ponds. The north pond held a Pied-billed Grebe, 10 Wood Ducks, and a Great Blue Heron.

Pied-billed Grebe

Wood Duck

I was checking out the swallows when I caught sight of a Merlin zipping low over the pond!

Merlin

Five Green-winged Teal were on the berm in the south pond. A walk along the woods edge produced Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and House Wren. Seven "Western" Palm Warblers were feeding along the fence by the north pond with 4 Cedar Waxwings and an Eastern Phoebe.

"Western" Palm Warblers

Two Red-tailed Hawks and a Broad-winged Hawk were also seen overhead.

Red-tailed Hawk

My last stop was at the Hollo Road retention pond. In addition to several Yellowlegs, I saw a long-winged 'peep' along the near edge of the pond. The grayish, scaly back and the buffy head and breast meant I was looking at a Baird's Sandpiper! I sent out a text about it and then got these fairly good photos of it before a Killdeer chased it to the back right corner of the pond.

Baird's Sandpiper

It was a really good end to a really good day.

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