John's comments about the chipmunks is interesting in the light of a recent
study reported at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/13890816
The report was posted on the American Bird Conservancy Facebook page
Wendy Ealding
Powhatan County
-----Original Message-----
From: John Spahr <jspahr@xxxxxxxxx>
To: shenvalbirds <shenvalbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; va-bird <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Jun 7, 2011 5:13 pm
Subject: [Va-bird] More from Highland County, VA, 6/6 & 6/7/11
y schedule did not coincide with Sunday's Augusta Co Field Trip, capably led be
Allen Larner. So I missed the Long-eared Owl that John Rowlett and his group
ound and showed Allen's group. I think this is only the 2nd visual
onfirmation of this owl in Highland. I hope someone got a photo. After
earning about from John I visited the area at least 3 times including just at
awn today but neither saw nor heard the owl. For the following list I did
retty much the same route that the Allen did, only a day later and then added
ome other locales this morning. The list is therefore a compilation of two
ays.
Some interesting observations include the ragged appearance of the Broad-winged
awks, which are obviously molting. All 3 had multiple primaries and tail
eathers missing. One of the Y-b Cuckoos was seen running on the road, tail
-cock, looking like a small road-runner -- quite amusing. Rt 601 was
roductive, with Myrtle, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided & Black-throated
Green Warblers, all in one copse of mixed evergreen and deciduous trees. Also,
olden-crowned Kinglets, several Savannah and Vesper Sparrows up there, but no
orned Larks. Rt 642 (Laurel Fork Rd) yielded the usual assemblage of warblers
lus a singing Nashville Warbler on Middle Mtn. Not many summer records for
his species. Did not hear the Alder Flycatcher at Straight Fork on 642 this
ime, but I did hear one in the swampy area where 600 intersects US 250. Bob
ke found one at there 2 years ago. An Orchard Oriole by Forks of Water was a
urprise. This may be my first in Highland, where they are quite uncommon.
Other critters of interest (to me at least):
) Black, Spicebush, Pipevine, Tiger & Zebra Swallowtail butterflies. The Zebra
Swallowtail was on Allegheny ridge, well above 4,000 ft.
2) Mammals (non-bovine/ovine/equine/hominid types) included groundhogs,
muskrat,
4 squirrels (fox, gray, red & chipmunk) and deer. I'm still searching for my
irst Highland Co. coyote.
3) Regarding chipmunks, I have never seen such numbers as this spring. I'm
sure
I saw or heard well over 50, including many young. Since these cute little
hings are omnivorous and aggressive I wonder what effect such a bumper crop
ight have on ground nesting birds. If they find a nest they apparently wait
ntil the parent vacates it and then they attack the eggs or young. Perhaps
hat is why there seem to be fewer juncos about??
4) I also saw a doe suckling a fawn on 642. This is actually the 2nd time I
itnessed such a tender event on that road.
5) This morning on 637 (Dug Bank Rd) I saw an adult doe with a baseball-size
ass at the base of her jaw/upper neck area. It did not seem to interfere with
er grazing or chewing. I suspect it was a goiter as it seemed to be midline.
Don't know how common this is or what other types of lumps deer get in this
rea.
John Spahr
taunton & New Hampden
ocation: Highland County, VA, US
bservation date: 6/6 & 6/7/11
umber of species: 97
Canada Goose 2
ood Duck 2
allard 2
uffed Grouse 1
urkey Vulture 35
ald Eagle 3 (all juvs)
ed-shouldered Hawk 1
road-winged Hawk 3
ed-tailed Hawk 1
merican Kestrel 5
illdeer 8
ourning Dove 18
ellow-billed Cuckoo 3
lack-billed Cuckoo 2
himney Swift 4
uby-throated Hummingbird 3
elted Kingfisher 1
ed-headed Woodpecker 1
ed-bellied Woodpecker 2
ellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
owny Woodpecker 1
orthern Flicker 7
ileated Woodpecker 1
astern Wood-Pewee 8
cadian Flycatcher 3
illow Flycatcher 4
east Flycatcher 9
astern Phoebe 13
reat Crested Flycatcher 1
astern Kingbird 3
ellow-throated Vireo 3
lue-headed Vireo 5
arbling Vireo 1
ed-eyed Vireo 23
lue Jay 5
merican Crow 17
ommon Raven 5
orthern Rough-winged Swallow 1
ree Swallow 45
arn Swallow 58
liff Swallow 5
lack-capped Chickadee 5
ufted Titmouse 2
ed-breasted Nuthatch 1
hite-breasted Nuthatch 1
arolina Wren 1
ouse Wren 15
lue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
olden-crowned Kinglet 2
astern Bluebird 18
eery 5
ermit Thrush 2
ood Thrush 2
merican Robin 46
ray Catbird 8
orthern Mockingbird 3
rown Thrasher 16
uropean Starling 150
edar Waxwing 20
olden-winged Warbler 4 (3 at M O'Bryan, w/ one carrying food; 1 on 637)
ellow Warbler 19
hestnut-sided Warbler 9
agnolia Warbler 9
lack-throated Blue Warbler 1
ellow-rumped Warbler 2
lack-throated Green Warbler 3
lackburnian Warbler 7
lack-and-white Warbler 1
merican Redstart 4
venbird 4
ouisiana Waterthrush 1
ourning Warbler 1
ashville Warbler 1
ommon Yellowthroat 7
anada Warbler 2
astern Towhee 13
hipping Sparrow 27
ield Sparrow 21
esper Sparrow 4
avannah Sparrow 2
rasshopper Sparrow 1
ong Sparrow 18
ark-eyed Junco 2
carlet Tanager 7
orthern Cardinal 1
ose-breasted Grosbeak 5
ndigo Bunting 12
obolink 23
ed-winged Blackbird 38
astern Meadowlark 30
ommon Grackle 24
rown-headed Cowbird 3
rchard Oriole 1
altimore Oriole 9
ouse Finch 7
merican Goldfinch 68
ouse Sparrow 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
______________________________________________
a-bird mailing list
ttp://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird
Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of
rnithology. Please consider joining the VSO.
ttp://www.virginiabirds.net/
