This is a belated post from Saturday, April 25.
I headed to rural Rockingham County early Saturday morning in search of the
reported HARRIS'S SPARROW and EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE.
The good news is I found both.
The Harris's Sparrow was located along the fence bordered by shrubs
including forsythia as described by William Leigh's earlier post. GOOD
binoculars are a must. Spotting scope would be ideal but really no suitable
place without permission from property owner (who were not home at the
time.)
A single Eurasian Collared Dove first reported by Allen Larner was first
heard and then observed along Rt. 257 near Rt. 604 not too far up the road
from the Harris's Sparrow location. Approximately 2/10ths of a mile east of
Rt. 604 there are conifers (spruce?) near the road on left as you're heading
west on Rt. 257. With windows down I was able to easily hear the diagnostic
cooing of the collared dove. I pulled off the road and walked back with
camera in hand. A single dove was spotted perched in upper bare branches of
a deciduous tree (possibly an oak). I managed to get a few images for
positive identification before it flew off heading west a short distance,
disappearing in a stand of evergreens between two houses (about 2nd and 3rd
house just past Rt. 604.) I was able to relocate by sound only with no
visual.
The bad news -
The rural route where Harris's Sparrow is narrow, on a slight curve with no
adequate areas to pull off and some of the drivers could care less for the
safety of others. AND PLEASE, do not pull into the driveways to park
without permission.
Rt. 257 is a bit better with areas suitable to pull over but cars do whiz
by, so be careful if you go looking for the doves!
Brenda Tekin
Brenda Tekin - <http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/> www.birdsofvirginia.com
Brenda's Nature Photography, including Birds of Virginia
<BLOCKED::mailto:bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx> brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx / Cell:
(434) 962-4936
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
