Gabriel M & I birded around Augusta and Rockingham Counties today. We first
headed to Reddish Knob and as soon as we hit the parking lot we had a Snow
Bunting. It was scurrying along the ground and onto the parking lot. It then
flew off and around the knob only to land back near where we first saw it. It
than flew off again and landed a little ways down the road from the parking
lot. It gave us some terrific views. A life bird for me! Photos can be seen at
link below. I'm pretty sure that we viewed this bird within the Augusta County
border. Also, it's possible that a second snow bunting was sighted, but we
never saw two birds at once so not sure about a second bird.
We then headed to Lake Shenandoah in Rockingham County and found the Nelson's
Sparrow that was found by Diane L and Greg M. We found it along the water's
edge mostly, and it also spent a little time in some nearby bushes. A life
bird for both Gabriel and me! Photos can be seen at link below. Other
highlights on the lake included 4 Lesser Scaup, 3 Bufflehead, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 2
Coot and 2 Golden Crowned Kinglets.
On Little Run Rd (alongside the SHD airport) highlights include 1 Harrier, 1
Sapsucker, 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Swamp Sparrow.
On Strickley Road in Augusta County we had 60 American Pipits and a
Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Vic L
Photos link:
http://vehawk.smugmug.com/BirdingPhotos/Miscellaneous-birds/24452969_k6bjjw
