I've been working on organizing my sightings from the VSO foray this year. I
didn't come across any unusual species, but Worm-eating Warblers, Scarlet
Tanagers, and Red-eyed Vireos were present in very high numbers. I hoped for
Grasshopper Sparrows, but failed to find any. Hawk numbers (actual and species)
were low for me. Some birds I expected were low in numbers or not to be found
(Mallard, Canada Goose, Northern Bobwhite, Ruffed Grouse, Northern Parula,
Yellow Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole). Then
again, I have never spent any time birding in Alleghany County before and don't
have a good idea of what to expect.
I still don't know what to make of the chickadees there. They sounded like both
Carolina and Black-capped, but were much more shy than the Carolinas I am used
to seeing. So, I didn't see many of the chickadees, but the ones I did see
looked more like Black-capped.
Anyway, I am curious to hear what other folks found in Alleghany County during
the foray and thought subscribers to VA-bird might find the results interesting.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
