Nine birders had a productive early spring morning at Boxerwood. While the sky was overcast, the birds were in full song. Along with the year round residents and a few continuing winter visitors, the group enjoyed watching a First of Season Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher interacting with an annoyed Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. Complete list follows.


Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Rockbridge, Virginia, US
Apr 2, 2016 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
Comments:     Overcast
29 species

Canada Goose  2
Turkey Vulture  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Eastern Phoebe  4
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  5
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Carolina Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1     FOS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  5
American Robin  2
European Starling  10     At least two birds maintaining vigil over several days at abandoned woodpecker hole, sometimes entering
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  1
Field Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  15
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  8     Lots of aggression between multiple males
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
American Goldfinch  3

The Walk, led by Dick Rowe, was most successful with a total of 29 species. Spring has started as indicated by the courting Flickers observed by the group. The next First Saturday will be in two weeks on April 2nd with, hopefully, more Spring arrivals present. Here is the complete list: 


Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, Virginia, US
Mar 5, 2016 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Temp 28-40 degrees, cloudy no wind, Walk led by Richard "Dick" Rowe
29 species

Canada Goose  3
Black Vulture  20
Turkey Vulture  15
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  4
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  5
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  7
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  9
American Robin  25
European Starling  30
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
White-throated Sparrow  30
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  2
House Finch  5
American Goldfinch  2