I took off on Thursday and Friday and spent the long weekend chasing birds
around the forests, fields, and knobs of Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, and
Bath Counties.
Some of the highlights:
Flagpole and Reddish Knobs: Lots of warbler activity, Common Yellowthroat,
Ovenbird, Black and White, Redstart, Chestnut sided, as well as blue headed and
red eyed vireos. Black capped chickadee, red breasted and white breasted
nuthatches, juncos, ravens and a rose breasted grosbeak. A bright orange
scarlet tanager -- I needed to do a double-take because I initially thought it
was a Baltimore oriole. The highlight -- Red Crossbills -- I counted 51 -
found 7 last night and a large flock this morning -- almost exclusively at the
tops of the spruce trees on the road to flagpole knob.
Laurel Fork and Locust Springs: Great birding and one of the most beautiful
spots in Virginia - Mountain Laurel in full bloom. Breeding Magnolias,
chestnut sided, parula, Blackburnians, B&W, BTG, BTBs, Canada. Three thrushes:
Hermit, Wood, and Veery (and robins). Yellow bellied Sapsuckers, and a pair
of territorial Sharp shinned hawks. Barred owl. Least and Acadian
flycatchers, phoebe and pee wee.
Patty Knob: Mourning warblers right at the peak of FS road 55. Chestnut
sided, Canada, oven bird, redstarts, Magnolia, and rose breasted grosbeak.
Juncos, red breasted nuthatch, and black capped chicadees. The coolest and
most alarming thing -- a Timber Rattlesnake lying across the path - where there
was a giant puddle. It moved into the grass in the median of the path --
almost invisible - but right in the way.
Blue Grass Valley: Yellow, Chat, CHSI, Redstarts, Prairie, BTB, Common
yellowthroats, Blue headed and RE Vireos, hummingbirds, Lots of field
sparrows, song, and a vesper down on 642. I heard a Black Billed Cuckoo, then
saw a Cuckoo in the same area. I also very briefly heard a Golden Winged sing
-- once (not very satisfying). Many thanks to Margaret O'Bryan for allowing
me to go on her property.
Swoope area -- I was invited onto a private farm by a farmer who practices
rotational grazing. His approach has created wonderful habitat. Great
grassland birds: Bobolink, Dickcissel, eastern meadowlark, grasshopper
sparrow, kestrel, barn and northern rough winged swallows.
Hone Quarry -- Highlight here -- Whip-poor-wills. Started at 9:15 pm and again
at 5:00am in the morning (done singing before 6:00am). Wood thrushes and
ovenbirds, least and Acadian flycatchers.
Some of my pictures are on my flickr account:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614@N00/sets/72157645422710462/
Bill
p.s. A very special thank you to Lucile, Cliff, and Michael who found me
wandering around in the woods and invited me to a wonderful dinner and offered
me a much more comfortable place to sleep than my sleeping bag.
