This morning, I accompanied Peggy Rommen Waterfield on her BBS route, which
starts near Newsoms and ends near the border (Meherrin River) between
Greensville and Southampton Counties. Nothing too unexpected (a few Horned
Larks, okay numbers of Northern Bobwhite, lots of Indigo Buntings and Blue
Grosbeaks -- open country and edge habitat birds). However, a singing
Swainson's Warbler was heard on Route 667, just west of the intersection with
Route 35, on the north side of Boykins. The bird was singing from the first set
of woods west of the intersection, on the south side of the road. Probably not
a bird that could be seen (it was back a bit from the road), but an unexpected
location for this species (at least for me). Also, more expected, a Mississippi
Kite was seen over Little Texas, VA. We stopped at Steel Bridge Road and saw a
Barred Owl land on the bridge railing -- very nice. No Swainson's or Kentucky
Warblers were heard here. No American Redstarts were heard at the location
where Route 730 (Low Ground Road) crosses the Meherrin River. This use to be a
spot for Swainson's Warbler, but I haven't heard one there in a few years.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA