Three of us of the Buchanan County Bird Club went hiking the River Trail in the Breaks Park on April 13 looking for the possible Peregrine nesting site that had been spotted by members of the Virginia Department of Game. It was a cold, frosty morning, but it soon warmed up. The trail was steep and rugged, but we finally made it down to the river and despite the fact that it was Friday the 13th we found the site with lots of "whitewash" on the cliffs. Along the way we found 32 bird species including two Peregrines, an Osprey and lots of spring plants.
Breaks Park - Mike Sanders, Roger Mayhorn, David Raines - photo by Mike Sanders
Hitting the trail
Stonecrop in bloom
Making our way
A splash of lavender
Pausing to Listen for birds
The trail is narrow
The mountain is steep
The Russell Fork River
A view of the opposite side of the Russell Fork River
Squawroot
Fire Pink along the trail
More trail to cover
David spots "whitewash" on the cliffs above
Viewing the site with binoculars
Another look at the site
Digiscoping the site
Mike's digiscoped photo
Rattlesnake Plantain?
A strange sight
A closer look
More trail obstacles
Heading toward the Grassy Creek Trail
Pausing for a photo
Photographers photographing photographers
Taking a look at the river
The confluence of the Russell Fork and Grassy Creek
Pausing at Grassy Creek
Are those Peregrines? Yes!
Getting a shot of the river
A beautiful sight on a spring day
Wild Pink Azalea
A Black Vulture
A Jack-in-the-pulpit plant
The only way to cross swollen Grassy Creek
Halfway there
Come on across
The Choke Hole on Grassy Creek
A better view
Wild Geraniums
Another fall on Grassy Creek
Foam Flower
Listening to singing Black-throated Green Warblers