Happy New Year all,My mom and I spent this first day of 2015 birding the day
away in the Shenandoah Valley today, primarily in Augusta County but we also
had 1 stop in Rockbridge and 2 in Rockingham. It was a gorgeous day to be out
and raptors and waterfowl were plentiful. The wind made for a slower day for
songbird movement. In the end, we ended up with 63 species which we thought
was a good tally.
At McCune's Pond (Augusta Co. private property near Fishersville) we had 17
species with highlights: 180 Canada Geese, 45 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 27 Mallard, 3
N. Pintail, 17 GWTeal, 3 Ruddy Duck, 1 Horned Lark. At the Old Fishersville
Quarry we added 60 more Canadas, 19 Mallards, 16 GWTeal, 5 Redheads, 2 Ruddy
Ducks, 7 Coot.In the Stuarts Draft area at the Mountain Meadow Pond on Hwy 340
there were 65 Canada Geese but no Cacklings or G. White-fronteds. At Heston's
Ponds on Shalom Rd, 130 Geese, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk. Once
again, neither rare Geese species.
Heading south, south of Greenville we stopped at Spottswood Rd pond where we
had 14 Mallard, 1 N. Shoveler, 6 Redhead. At Willow Lake (Rockbridge Co.) we
had 3 G. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 115 Canadas, 27 Gadwall, 13 Mallard, 2 Redhead, 4
Ruddy Duck, 1 RSHawk, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Savannah Sparrow.
We headed west towards Swoope from Greenville via Mish Barn Rd. Once we turned
right onto Glebe School Rd from Mish Barn Rd, it got very interesting! Just
100 yards north on Glebe School from Mish Barn Rd, I spotted an adult Bald
Eagle flying low to the west. My mom ended up picking up on a different large
raptor, that when I found it, was very surprised to discover was an immature
GOLDEN EAGLE! We watched as the Eagle sailed northwest, too distant for
photos. As we were packing up, my mom picked up on ANOTHER Eagle--this one, an
ADULT GOLDEN! It sailed southwest but lower and closer than the immature,
allowing ID-worthy photos. Just as it was flying out of site, I picked up on
the 4th Eagle at this location within 10 minutes, and to my shock, it was
ANOTHER adult Golden! This one, unlike the first two Goldens and the Bald,
remained low and sailed DIRECTLY overhead in perfect light, giving us some of
our best looks ever of GEs! Needless to say, I got some great photos.
Unfortunately, my ISO was mistakingly set to 1600 so they are grainier than I
would like, but still my best ever of this species! A link is below.
Along Shuey Rd we had 1 Raven and 1 Fox Sparrow. A quick-drive through of the
Swoope area yielded 15 species with highlights: 5 RTHawks, 6 Kestrels, 1 Pipit,
1 Swamp Sparrow. Along Trimbles Mill Rd in Swoope, we spotted a gorgeous Red
Fox running through the fields.Up on Badger Rd we lucked into finding 1
Red-headed Woodpecker along with 1 Pileated, and 6 more Kestrels. On my second
try, I once again couldn't find Dan's Loggerhead Shrike.In Mt Solon we were
able to hear one of the long continuing Eurasian Collared-Doves. Eve Gaige and
I saw one of them here at this location on Dec. 23rd. The pond held 3 Canadas,
45 Mallards, 1 Shoveler.
Over on Narrow Back Rd, the pond was void, but I was surprised to find a Merlin
flyover (likely the individual found here by William on Dec. 29th). A quick
walk-through of Natural Chimneys Park yielded 1 YBSapsucker, 1 Hairy WP, 1
GCKinglet, 40 Junco.Along Mossy Creek Rd, there was 1 E Phoebe.A walk-through
of Wildwood Park in Bridgewater (Rockingham) had 11 species with highlights: 1
GBHeron, 1 resident E Screech-Owl (gray morph seen well), 1 Great Horned Owl
heard calling along the river and upriver, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Pileated WP.Our
final stop at Silver Lake added 1 Mute Swan, 5 Gadwall, 80 Mallard, 1
WBNuthatch.Back at home near New Hope (Augusta) there was 1 Chipping Sparrow in
my yard under the feeders which I did not expect.
Here is a link to some photos from the day:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gabrielmapel/sets/72157649998001146/
Thanks to my mom for an awesome day. Wishing everyone a wonderful year and
many birds in 2014! Gabriel MapelNew Hope, VA
