Shenandoah University River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield – August 29, 2026
On nice-sized group of club members made the long drive out to the Shenandoah University River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield. With temperatures starting in the low 60s degrees and a gentle breeze under cloudless skies, the day promised a rewarding walk. The group was immediately greeted in the first meadow by a family of Red-headed Woodpeckers eagerly feeding a juvenile in the dead branches.
Soon, several more Red-headed Woodpeckers were sighted flying back and forth between the nearby trees. These stunning woodpeckers proved to be a highlight of the outing; both adults and juveniles were continuously visible throughout the walk, bringing a smile to the group at every turn. Scanning the tops of the dead trees, we also found an Indigo Bunting and several Cedar Waxwings, while fifty Tree Swallows swept through the air over the Shenandoah river just beyond the treeline.
As our walk progressed, the shifting season tested our identification skills. Several juveniles and early fall migrants lacking their breeding plumage required careful scrutiny and teamwork to accurately name. This patient effort paid off beautifully near the end of the trail when a single tree yielded flittering glimpses of an American Redstart, a Blackburnian Warbler, and a Red-eyed Vireo.
Tallying 43 species, it was a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful morning, showcasing the quiet magic of early autumn migration.