We drove out to Rectortown in late afternoon to check the fields north of
town where I found two Northern Harriers. It was quite breezy, and the sun
was still too high, so we headed back to Marshall and The Plains. We got to
Harrison Road about 20 minutes before sunset and I stopped on the section at
the eastern end, between Gordonsdale Farm and Old Tavern Road. There were
at least six Northern Harriers there, including a "gray ghost". Just at
sunset, I spotted a single Short-eared Owl working along the new wooden
fence on the south side of the road, just east of the farm. While traveling
south on Rectortown Road, heading back to Marshall, I saw a buteo hovering
along the road margin. As happens so often on this road I was being
tailgated and as there was nowhere to pull off the road, and I had to let
this observation slide. I have seen Red-tails hovering, especially in a
stiff breeze, but it is getting to be the time of year when Rough-legged
Hawks visit, so for those birding around Rectortown be alert to this
possibility.
I used the "tracking" feature on the eBird mobile app for the first time
today and once again the eBIrd folks have executed beautifully. It works as
well from the car as it does on foot. It is going to be very useful for
the Xmas Bird Counts, and for the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas work in the
spring.
Dave Larsen
Haymarket
