This past Sunday, June 4th 2006, I birded Sky Meadows State Park in NW Faquier County, VA. The approximately 2000 acre park is only about 40 miles from my house and offers some habitats that are very different from where I usually bird. The bulk of the park consists of grazed meadows and mature hardwood forest. The elevation ranges from about 700 ft to 1700 ft. A portion of the Applachian Trail runs through the park.
Due to its position north and west of my typical haunts and the elevations some different birds call this area home. I saw a total of 63 species. The highlights of the day where:
* Common Raven
* Cerulean Warbler (heard only)
* Kentucky Warbler (heard only)
* Willow Flycatcher (lifer for me)
* Loggerhead Shrike (lifer for me)
* Red-headed Woodpecker
* Eastern Meadowlark
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of my favorite birds and a bird that I unfortunately do not get to see often enough. There is a decent sized breeding group that is well established in the park making Sky Meadows one of the best places in Northern Virginia to see them. Willow Flycatcher is an Empidonax flycatcher. Its breeding range’s eastern limit is right about in the area of Sky Meadows so this is a bird that I typically would not see in my area. It was also very cool to see the Eastern Meadowlarks, birds that while common, I rarely get to see. The real highlight was the Shrike. Unfortunately I only got to see it as it was flying quickly across the meadow into some brush and out of sight.
I can not wait to go back!
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