Late Saturday afternoon I happened to be taking a walk on Candler
Mountain, which lies in Campbell Co., just to the southeast of
Lynchburg, when a Ruffed Grouse crossed the trail in front of me maybe
40-50 feet ahead. A rare bird anywhere in the vicinity of Lynchburg
off the Blue Ridge, we encounter it most frequently on the north side of
town closer to the Blue Ridge and some foothills between here and there.
But the ridge line of which Candler Mountain is a part of, also does not
get birded much. There is one Breeding Bird Atlas Project record in
Campbell Co. farther to the south and east of this location.
Although the Carolina Wrens, Gray Catbirds, and Song Sparrows have been
continuing in song pretty persistently the last few weeks in town, most
everybody else is much subdued or otherwise quiet.
Gene Sattler
Lynchburg
