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13 May Another Back Yard report 5/13/2008 ["Ulysses A Brooks" ] 13 May 42nd Street - James River Park [] 13 May College Creek Hawkwatch/1,000th Bird [] 13 May Re: [va-richmond-general] 42nd St - James River Park - Richmond: today [Arun Bose ] 13 May Veery; LOS White-throated Sparrow NOT! [] 13 May ADVENTURES IN BOBOLINK LAND ! ["Donald Sweig" ] 13 May Broad-winged Hawk ["Rachel Echols" ] 13 May Hog Island ["Rachel Echols" ] 13 May 42nd St - James River Park - Richmond: today [] 13 May Hog Island [Barbara Houston ] 13 May Thompson WMA, 5/13 ["Joshua Taylor" ] 13 May Voice: Greater Washington Area, May 13 ["Joe Coleman" ] 13 May Seconding the Bobolink Sentiment ["Derek Nittle (gmail)" ] 13 May Spring migrants at Bear Creek Lake SP, Cumberland County 5/13/08 [WEalding ] 13 May Anhinga in Southside [] 13 May Tuesday morning at CF Smith Park [Bill Bickel ] 13 May Lincoln's plus 10 other sparrows, at Spruce Creek Park ["Tim Hodge" ] 13 May Cape May and Chestnut-sided Warblers at CF Smith Park, Arlington ["Peter S. Ross" ] 13 May International Migration Day - Buchanan County ["Roger Mayhorn" ] 12 May Chincoteague [Barbara Houston ] 12 May Thanks for posting Bobolinks at Gravelly Pt. [Lori Keeler ] 12 May birding in Martinsville, Va ["Carol Laing" ] 12 May Indigo Buntings at Bell's Mill Park, Chesapeake [] 12 May Red - necked Phalarope in Augusta County ["Allen & Pat" ] 12 May Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk ["Harry & Melitta Glasgow" ] 12 May Ferry Farm Birding Tour - Fredericksburg 10 May [] 12 May Scarlet Tanager ["Rachel Echols" ] 12 May Back yard view...again! ["Ulysses A Brooks" ] 12 May BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Powhatan County, 5/12/08 [WEalding ] 12 May Thompson WMA, 5/11 ["Joshua Taylor" ] 12 May Buckets of Bobolinks, Harrison Road, Fauquier County, 5/11 + Thompson WMA + Vint Hill region of Fauquier [Jeff Clark ] 12 May Buckets of Bobolinks, Harrison Road, Fauquier County, 5/11 + Thompson WMA + Vint Hill region of Fauquier [Jeff Clark ] 12 May additional vacant BBS routes [] 12 May dickcissels, white-rumped sandpiper, bobolinks, Westmoreland Co May 11 [Frederick Atwood ] 12 May Highland & Bath Counties -- Big Day 5/10 -- 117 species ["Spahr MD, John" ] 12 May Re: Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblersexcitement ["Lee Adams" ] 11 May Re: Chippokes Plantation State Park 5/10 ["JANICE FRYE" ] 11 May Re: Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblers excitement [] 11 May FW: eBird Report - Appomattox Riverside Park , 5/11/08 ["bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" ] 11 May Great Falls National Park (VA) on 5/11/08 [] 11 May Bobolinks still at Gravelly Point [Kerry O'Brien Gross ] 11 May Re: Whippoorwill at Douthat State Park [Rob Hilton ] 11 May Spotted Sandpiper high count- Piedmont area [] 11 May Chippokes Plantation State Park 5/10 ["bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" ] 11 May Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblers excitement ["Gerco Hoogeweg" ] 12 May Mississippi Kite Returns to Halifax Co, VA ["Jeffrey Blalock" ] 12 May Birds of Halifax Co. ["Jeffrey Blalock" ] 11 May Whippoorwill at Douthat State Park [Bonnie Hughes ] 11 May Hooded Merganser- Southampton 5/10 ["bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" ] 11 May Moorhen at Dutch Gap ["Harry Brown" ] 11 May [va-bird] Leesylvania S.P. - 5/11/08 ["Scott Priebe" ] 11 May 2 Additions for Banshee Reeks [] Subject: Another Back Yard report 5/13/2008 From: "Ulysses A Brooks" <ubrooks AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:25:33 -0400 Hello VA Birders! Fantastic sunshine today even with me stuck, for the most part, in my house! I did not realize it until reviewing images that I had two different Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak's at the feeder yesterday (Monday). Plus, the Great Crested Flycatcher made another appearance. One of the Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks showed up again this morning. I also had a quick look at a Male Common Yellowthroat in the brush between yard and trees in early morning light. There is a new Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak image on the pay web site titled "Attractive Fashions" under Birds Of A Feather Gallery. However. if you wait a day or two, I should have a new Female Rose Breasted Grosbeak, maybe one more Male photo and hopefully a Great Crested Flycatcher image posted as well. I did quick reviews and they look like they are OK to edit and post. If not, they are trashed and hope for better next time. By the way, I need to thank Roger Mayhorn for sending the Grosbeaks my way! (Just a little joke between us.) (;-}). Best of birding and shooting to you, Roger! It is now late. Sorry for the long winded babble. Best of birding to you all! Les Brooks Glen Allen www.natures-finest-photography.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: 42nd Street - James River Park From: <mmitchell60 AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:21:17 -0400 Today I visited James River Park at 42nd Street for the first time. There was plenty to see, to include, Scarlet tanager, Blackpoll warbler, Baltimore oriole, Swainson's thrush, and Indigo bunting. The smell of honeysuckle was delightful, and the James River very inviting; but the currents ran strong, I think perhaps to cover the Sirens call for those tempted to enter her waters. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: College Creek Hawkwatch/1,000th Bird From: Taberzz AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:32:27 EDT Well....it look long enough this season...the 1,000th bird for the College Creek hawkwatch, a Turkey Vulture, passed by today, May 13th. It was with an intense wave of 30 other birds that crossed the river together in about 15 minutes, struggling against a stiff north wind. The group consisted of 5 Bald Eagles, 4 Ospreys and 22 Turkey Vultures. The conditions for migration have been quite poor.....very windy , cool and rainy, for most of the past week. As a comparison, during last year's record-breaking season, the 1,000th bird was recorded on the amazingly early date of April 2nd. For the two previous years, the dates for the 1,000th were April 11th and 19th respectively. With last year's severe drought, we shouldn't complain about the wet weather this year, but it has reduced our coverage considerably and perhaps altered migration routes. We will continue for more days throughout May hoping for Mississippi and Swallow-tailed kites. Bald Eagles generally also make a good showing at this time. Brian Taber College Creek Hawkwatch is a program of Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory and is located on the James River just east of Williamsburg. **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Re: [va-richmond-general] 42nd St - James River Park - Richmond: today From: Arun Bose <arun.bose AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:21:38 -0400 I made a quick visit at lunch time and found quite a bit of activity too. Not so much singing but plenty of birds. Highlights for me were 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS which gave prolonged views. Arun Bose Richmond VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Veery; LOS White-throated Sparrow NOT! From: steveyoung AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:59:38 -0400 This evening at 7 PM I heard a VEERY singing just above the Long Branch Nature Center building. Over several years we have seemed to have a possible breeding pair in the vicinity. Great to hear one again. And this morning, after no hearing or seeing since my LOS many days ago, I heard a White-throated Sparrow singing and a call possibly from at least one other one, coming from my backyard by a favorite brushpile and water spot at 6:15 AM. Yet, based on my observations and those of several other birders who emailed me, I am going to stick with my conjecture that I had one or two local bands that showed considerable site fidelity over the winter and left together by Friday May 2; so then today's would be transients moving through on their way north. Cheers, ??? Steve ??? Glencarlyn, Arlington_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: ADVENTURES IN BOBOLINK LAND ! From: "Donald Sweig" <skybirds.d AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:37:09 -0400 Went out to Harrison Rd. in Fauquier Co, this afternoon with a friend to check on the Bobolinks. There were lot of Bobolinks!! Had excellent views of numbers of birds of both sexes, flying around, sitting on the fence, sitting on the taller plants, often in groups and, as was reported, they do make a GLORIOUS NOISE! All very nice. We also saw lots of the usual suspects, Tree swallows, bluebirds, some Meadowlarks, and an interesting aerial contest between an adult Bald Eagle and an Osprey. We noticed the eagle and the osprey flying in close circles over the field. The eagle was diving on the Osprey again, and again. Finally after about 5 minutes, the Osprey released something from it's talons ( surely a fish) which the eagle immediately caught in mid air. The Osprey them began diving on the eagle, which simply flew off with the prize. A bit later the Osprey flew over us with another large fish. Looks like goods dinner for all. We also had a direct flyover (this is for real folks) of the METLIFE BLIMP, complete with Snoopy on the side. It came right over us parked on the road. You just never know what you'll see in the country! I asked the man mowing the grass along Harrison road about the plants in the Bobolink field. He said they will cut the field in about two weeks. SO, if you want to see the Bobolinks, you might want to go out soon. Donald Sweig Falls Church, Va._______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Broad-winged Hawk From: "Rachel Echols" <rlechols AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:15:02 -0400 I had a BROAD-WINGED HAWK fly over my house this morning. Rachel Echols Chester, VA_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Hog Island From: "Rachel Echols" <rlechols AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:14:27 -0400 I too decided to visit Hog Island today, but didn't arrive until 10am. I left around 2pm and still wish I could have stayed much longer. I'm still learning to ID the warblers--it seemed like every one I got my scope on was a yellow-rump, but I did see a few others. Highlights were all the swallows, brown-headed nuthatches, bobwhite, and a red-headed woodpecker. A surprise was a group of 35 Ruddy ducks. Here's the species list: Bald Eagle - everywhere! The first thing I saw upon entering was 5 juveniles flying together Osprey Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Purple Martin Hooded Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Common Yellowthroat Pine Warbler Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Eastern Kingbird Eastern Wood Pewee Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Orchard Oriole Brown-headed Nuthatch Eastern Bluebird Blue-Grosbeak American Robin Tufted Titmouse Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren Red-winged Blackbird Cardinal Mockingbird Catbird Mourning Dove American Crow Fish Crow Downy WP Red-headed WP Canada Goose Ruddy Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron Great Egret Kingfisher DC Cormorant Bobwhite Rachel Echols Chester, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: 42nd St - James River Park - Richmond: today From: Gwbirds37 AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 18:44:32 EDT _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Hog Island From: Barbara Houston <bhouston AT qmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 16:05:48 -0400 Lynda and I met up early this morning and headed to Hog Island. Is was a gorgeous day and looked like the only one for a while and we wanted to check out the eagles there. The eagles were everywhere. I am guessing we saw no less than 40 while we were there. There were many ospreys, Canada Goose, Herons, Egrets, and others as well. We also saw a raccoon and some deer on one of the trails. The eagles were not very cooperative in having their pics taking, but I got a few. While we were there, we talked to the DGIF agent for the island and asked about it being closed. He said that it was not closed and apparently the wind had shifted the signs. The security guards saw it said closed on their way in and assumed he had changed it. He said that if it does close, they put a notice out through the website about it and all planned closings (Controlled burns or special projects etc). Other than that if the national threat level changed we have been subject to close because of our location to the nuclear plant. He apologized for any inconveinances. If you haven't been there to see the eagles, it is a sight to see. Now is a prime time to go though about June 1st. The later you wait to go, the worse the bugs will be.... As you drive through, drive slow. The eagles are in the trees along the road as well as out in the pond areas. My pics are loaded at: http://public.fotki.com/bhouston/miscellaneous/nature_pics/20080513-hog-island/ Barb _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Thompson WMA, 5/13 From: "Joshua Taylor" <waterwagen AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:51 -0400 At Thompson this morning I birded the Trillium trail. I had 4 KENTUCKY WARBLERS, 1 HOODED WARBLER, 1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, 13+ CERULEAN WARBLERS, 1 WORM-EATING WARBLER, as well as more OVENBIRDS and REDSTARTS than I could count and a handful of BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. Also, had a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO mixed in with a number of the red-eyed variety and one female PURPLE FINCH. *Josh Taylor Round Hill, VA*_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Voice: Greater Washington Area, May 13 From: "Joe Coleman" <joecolem AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:18 -0400 FYI Joe Coleman
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/13/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice AT AudubonNaturalist.org
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: John Bjerke
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle AT capaccess.org)
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice (Individual $40; Family $50; Nature Steward $75; Audubon
Advocate $150). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12; the
address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; and the web
site is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed Tuesday, May 13, at 8:00
a.m.
Top bird this week is WOOD SANDPIPER* in DE.
Other birds of interest include NEOTROPIC CORMORANT*, AMERICAN
BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI and SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, GOLDEN EAGLE, SORA,
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, FRANKLIN'S GULL, COMMON RAVEN,
LE CONTE'S SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
BOBOLINK, PURPLE FINCH, and RED CROSSBILL.
A WOOD SANDPIPER* first found on May 5 along the Broadkill Road in
Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE was seen every day in the last week. The
bird has been in the pools on the north side of the road approximately
2.2 miles past the entrance to Prime Hook.
Migrants continue their annual passage to and through the area. A DE
Big Day on May 7 recorded 26 species of warblers and 25 species of
shorebirds. Other hot spots included Rock Creek Park, Washington DC
with 16 warblers on May 6 and May 8, Rock Run Mill, Harford Co, MD
with 20 warblers on May 6, multiple locations in Harford Co with 19
warblers on May 8, Flag Ponds SP, Calvert Co, MD with 19 warblers on
May 10, Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park, Prince Georges Co, MD
with 18 warblers on May 11, Compton Mt., Buchanan Co, VA with 18
warblers on May 10 and Highland and Bath Cos, VA with 20 warblers on
May 10.
A possible NEOTROPIC CORMORANT* was reported from the Potomac River
near Harper's Ferry on May 9.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at the Hughes Hollow impoundments,
Montgomery Co, MD, on May 12. LEAST BITTERN is again being heard in
the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park, Prince Georges Co, MD.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over the hawkwatch at Cape Henlopen SP,
Sussex Co, DE on May 7. Three MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen near
Petersburg, VA on May 8. MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported to have
returned to Halifax Co, VA on May 10. A single MISSISSIPPI KITE was
spotted at the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park on May 11.
A GOLDEN EAGLE in the roadway near Linden, Warren Co, VA surprised a
birder on May 7.
SORAS were heard at the Jug Bay section of Patuxent River Park this
week and one was seen at the Hughes Hollow impoundments on May 12.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was found near Fishersville, Augusta Co, VA on
May 12.
The golf course at Hains Point, Washington DC has apparently become a
haven for FRANKLIN'S GULL. Two additional birds were seen after the
bird of May 3. One described as a first summer bird was seen on May 9
and May 10. A molting adult was found on May 12.
Two COMMON RAVENS were seen at the Beltsville Agricultural Research
Station, Prince Georges Co, MD on May 7.
A LE CONTE'S SPARROW* was found at Greenbury Point, near Annapolis,
Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 7. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen on the Blue
Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co, MD on May 11.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS decided to postpone migration a bit showing up
in a yards in Bethesda, MD, Havre de Grace, MD, Eldersburg, MD, and
Baltimore, MD.
BOBOLINKS made welcome news at several spots including Gravelly Point
at National Airport, Washington, DC and several hundred in a field on
Harrison Road, Fauquier Co, VA on May 11.
A lingering PURPLE FINCH was in Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD on
May 7.
Up to 15 RED CROSSBILLS are visiting a feeder in Rockingham Co, VA.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey,
VA-Bird, and DE-bird list servers.
Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds is an
excellent source for directions to many birding sites. The ANS
Bookstore (301-652-3606 or
www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent source
for this and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice AT AudubonNaturalist.org or call 301-652-1088 and select menu
option 2. Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the
county as well as state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning
contact, either e-mail or phone.
Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
*Of interest to the records committee.
_______________________________________________
va-bird mailing list
http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird
Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of
Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO.
http://www.virginiabirds.net/
Subject: Seconding the Bobolink SentimentFrom: "Derek Nittle (gmail)" <derek.nittle AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:39:06 -0400 I agree. This was a fun find. I went to see them at lunchtime today, around 12:40, and got several good looks even without my binos. Also, in the last half of my 20 minute visit, some of the boys started singing for me. Derek Nittle ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lori KeelerSubject: Spring migrants at Bear Creek Lake SP, Cumberland County 5/13/08 From: WEalding <wealding AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:59:33 -0400 A very pleasant morning for a visit to Bear Creek Lake SP. The water level was fully restored from when I was last here about a month ago. There were a number of interesting neotropical species - BROAD-WNGED HAWK, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER as well as a well-seen male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and my FOS HOODED WARBLER. According to the Birds of Virginia's South-Central Piedmont Checklist, there are no records for Magnolia and Blackpoll in Cumberland County. Full species list Location: Bear Creek Lake SP Observation date: 5/13/08 Number of species: 38 Wood Duck X Great Blue Heron X Turkey Vulture 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Mourning Dove X Red-bellied Woodpecker X Pileated Woodpecker X Eastern Wood-Pewee X Acadian Flycatcher X Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo X Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay X American Crow 3 Carolina Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch X Carolina Wren 1 gathering nesting material Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Eastern Bluebird X Gray Catbird X Northern Parula X Magnolia Warbler 1 male Black-throated Blue Warbler X Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Pine Warbler X Blackpoll Warbler X Prothonotary Warbler 1 male Ovenbird X Louisiana Waterthrush X Hooded Warbler X Summer Tanager 1 male Scarlet Tanager X Chipping Sparrow X Northern Cardinal X Indigo Bunting X Orchard Oriole 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Wendy Ealding Powhatan County_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Anhinga in Southside From: Birdconsv AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:06:45 EDT This past Saturday, May 10, my wife and I were heading to North Carolina on I-95, and we saw a female Anhinga soaring above a small wetland beside the highway. The location was mile-marker 35.4 just north of Exit 33 (SR 602) between Petersburg and Emporia. The wetland is on the west side of the road, but we noticed on the return trip that there is an interstate rest stop quite close to the location on the east side. [For those of you who are BBQ afficianados, you may know the location as just a few miles north of Stony Creek home of some first-rate East Carolina style pork barbeque at the little "custard stand" on US 301 about half a mile north of the Stony Creek (US 40) exit.] Perhaps Anhingas are common in Southside now, but this is the first one we've seen from I-95 as far south as the US 64 exit at Rocky Mount NC, a trip that we have made several times a year for the past 30 years. Dave Davis Arlington **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Tuesday morning at CF Smith Park From: Bill Bickel <wbdesign AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:12:14 -0400 Missed the cape mays, but around 9:00-9:30 saw flock of cedar waxwings as well as prairie, magnolia, parula, and veery. At nearby Potomac Overlook park heard but could not find Nashville warbler, which was seen by the park naturalist. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Lincoln's plus 10 other sparrows, at Spruce Creek Park From: "Tim Hodge" <tim AT hodgeproductsinc.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:00:15 -0400 This morning at Spruce Creek Park, Nelson County, was sparrow galore. I had 10 species of Sparrows, including 2 Lincoln's, White-crowned, and Vesper. Species List: Canada Goose - 6 Turkey Vulture - 10 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Rock Pigeon - 17 Mourning Dove - 8 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 Pileated Woodpecker - 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 3 Red-eyed Vireo - 2 Blue Jay - 10 American Crow - 28 Tree Swallow - 18 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 15 Bank Swallow - 1 Barn Swallow - 21 Carolina Chickadee - 1 Carolina Wren - 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 9 Eastern Bluebird - 11 American Robin - 6 Gray Catbird - 4 Northern Mockingbird - 1 Brown Thrasher - 1 European Starling - 21 Palm Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Scarlet Tanager - 16 Eastern Towhee - 4 Chipping Sparrow - 12 Field Sparrow - 5 Vesper Sparrow - 1 Savannah Sparrow - 1 Grasshopper Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 2 Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 White-throated Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Northern Cardinal - 5 Blue Grosbeak - 1 Indigo Bunting - 23 Red-winged Blackbird - 4 Eastern Meadowlark - 22 Common Grackle - 23 American Goldfinch - 13 House Sparrow - 2 Total Species - 49 Tim Hodge_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Cape May and Chestnut-sided Warblers at CF Smith Park, Arlington From: "Peter S. Ross" <psross AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 08:32:40 -0400 The warblers came out with the sun this morning. In the trees near the House Wren box at the west end of the "Native Meadow" were one singing Magnolia Warbler, one singing Chestnut-sided, and two Cape Mays (one singing). I'm sure there were other migrants around, but I had to get to work. Peter Ross Arlington_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: International Migration Day - Buchanan County From: "Roger Mayhorn" <mayhorn AT netscope.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 06:52:09 -0400 Hi All, My apologies for this late post. On Saturday, May 10th, four BCBC members, Don Carrier, Mollie McCutcheon, Roger Mayhorn and David Raines birded Compton Mountain and an area just south of it. We logged 81 species for the day with the highlight of the day being a singing Winter Wren found on Harry's Branch, which should have gone north by now. A singing Winter Wren was found in the same area a couple of weeks before. I am going back to that area within the next week to see if the wren is still there. Another great find was a Brown Creeper. We had 18 warbler species including one Swainson's, 4 vireo species and 4 hawk species. Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt Following is the day's complete species list: 81 species Acadian Flycatcher 6 American Crow 8 American Goldfinch 24 American Redstart 7 American Robin 16 Baltimore Oriole 1m Barn Swallow 4 Black-and-white Warbler 10 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 15 Broad-winged Hawk 2 Brown Creeper 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 16 Brown Thrasher 7 Canada Goose 1 Cape May Warbler 2m Carolina Chickadee 5 Carolina Wren 5 Cerulean Warbler 2 Chipping Sparrow 20 (1 building nest 25 feet up in Locust tree under Virginia Creeper vine) Common Grackle 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 Eastern Bluebird 17 Eastern Kingbird 1 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 Eastern Towhee 4 European Starling 8 Gray Catbird 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Hooded Warbler 19 House Finch 2 House Sparrow 1 House Wren 2 singing males Indigo Bunting 13 Kentucky Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Mourning Dove 8 Nashville Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 12 Northern Flicker 2 Northern Mockingbird 1 Northern Parula 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 Orchard Oriole 1 Ovenbird 21 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Pine Siskin 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5 Red-eyed Vireo 15 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Red-winged Blackbird 11 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4 Scarlet Tanager 5 Song Sparrow 11 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Swainson's Warbler 1 Tree Swallow 14 Tufted Titmouse 7 Turkey Vulture 3 Whip-poor-will 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 White-crowned Sparrow 2 White-eyed Vireo 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Winter Wren 1 Wood Duck 10 (2m,2f, 6 ducklings) Wood Thrush 16 Worm-eating Warbler 2 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Yellow-throated Warbler 4 Yellow Warbler _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Chincoteague From: Barbara Houston <bhouston AT qmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 20:47:34 -0400 My family and I headed to Chincoteague on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend on the eastern shore. Despite some really yucky weather, we had a good time and saw some great sites. The 14th Annual International Migratory Bird Celebration was held on Saturday and drew a large crowd of birders to the island. I don't think I have ever seen so many people walking and driving the wildlife loop. The highlight of the trip was my encounter with a BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON on the beach road. He posed so nicely and the sun even came out for the pic: http://public.fotki.com/bhouston/miscellaneous/nature_pics/20080511-chincoteague/img9456.html The bald eagle nest was busy and they have one young now in the nest after three had hatched. You can barely make out the nest in the tress and one of the adults came out for a bit on Saturday night. During our walks and bike rides, we met many birders and photogrpahers and had a great trip despite the rain. We are looking forward to returning soon when the sun is out. Barbara _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Thanks for posting Bobolinks at Gravelly Pt. From: Lori Keeler <dol_kee AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 19:58:50 -0400 Starting with Val Kitchens, who found them, I want to extend a big "thank you" to everyone who posted their subsequent sightings of these birds. Since my first attempt to find them failed I thought they were gone, but I finally saw the large flock on Sat. after a friend called to alert me to that morning's sighting by Gerco Hoogeweg. I watched them for over a half hour Sat. evening, starting around 7:30 pm. Lori Keeler Arlington, VA dol_kee AT msn.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: birding in Martinsville, Va From: "Carol Laing" <cplaing AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:19:07 -0400 Does anyone know of any good birding in Martinsville, VA. Never been there - probably going in July sometime. Thanks for all your help. Carol Laing Front Royal, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Indigo Buntings at Bell's Mill Park, Chesapeake From: <mmitchell60 AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:47:29 -0400 Greetings, I had a very enjoyable time walking my haunt Mother's Day. The treasures for the day were the thirteen Indigo buntings, three Blackpole warblers, and a Worm-eating warbler. Earlier that week I was blessed to see a Wilson's snipe and Great horned owl. Headed to Richmond tomorrow for work and more birding. Take it easy, Maryella Mitchell Chesapeake _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Red - necked Phalarope in Augusta County From: "Allen & Pat" <larnersky AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:19:19 -0400 Hello all Did a little birding in & around Augusta County today & the high light bird for today was a Red - necked Phalarope on McCune's pond in the Fishersville area . The birds were far & few today . The list of migrating waterfowl today are as follows . Flooded field on Clay China Rd. ( Lyndhurst area ) Great Blue Heron -- looked like a hatched year bird Great Egret -- 1 Green Heron -- 1 Quillen's Horned Grebe -- 1 Spotted Sandpiper -- 1 McCune's Greater Yellowlegs -- 2 Spotted -- 2 Red -- necked Phalarope -- 1 2nd spring record STP Stuarts Draft Spotted Sandpiper -- 5 Bells Lane Ruddy Duck -- 1 Smith's Spotted Sandpiper -- 3 Allen Larner Staunton _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk From: "Harry & Melitta Glasgow" <aglasgow AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:04:46 -0400 This morning, 4 birders braved the unrelenting rain to tally 29 species in a shortened Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk. I have had the good fortune to be able to bird St Paul Island in the Pribilofs twice. The weather this morning at Huntley was very reminiscent of those trips. While walking in the woods in the rain has a beautiful quality to it, I have to say that the highlight this morning was the coffee waiting for us at Denny's. Canada Goose 8 Wood Duck 2 Mallard 4 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 White-eyed Vireo 1 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 12 Carolina Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 American Robin 12 Gray Catbird 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 9 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Common Grackle 8 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 House Finch 5 The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since 1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7 AM, is free of charge, requires no reservation, and is open to all. Birders meet in the parking lot at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA. For questions call the Park during normal business hours at (703) 768-2525. Harry Glasgow Friends of Huntley Meadows Park_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Ferry Farm Birding Tour - Fredericksburg 10 May From: <nasca AT gwffoundation.org> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 11:47:10 -0400 Seven dedicated birders braved the rain and cool temperatures on Saturday morning to participate in a birding tour of George Washington's Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg. They were rewarded for their effort, tallying 65 species, including 11 warbler species, 7 sparrow species, and Eastern Kingbirds at nearly every turn. Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-throated Sparrow were both found. A complete list follows. More information on Ferry Farm birding tours can be found at http://www.kenmore.org/foundation/events.html. Great Blue Heron Green Heron Wood Duck Mallard Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-shouldered Hawk Spotted Sandpiper (5) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Acadian Flycatcher (1) Least Flycatcher (1) Eastern Wood-Pewee (1) Eastern Kingbird (high count 7 at a single scan of the meadow) Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow N. Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing N. Parula (2) Yellow Warbler (1) Magnolia Warbler (4) Yellow-rumped Warbler (2) Black-throated Blue Warbler (1) Pine Warbler (1) Prairie Warbler (4) Blackpoll Warbler (2) Prothonotary Warbler (2) Common Yellowthroat (2) Wilson's Warbler (2) Scarlet Tanager (1) N. Cardinal Blue Grosbeak (2) Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (1) White-throated Sparrow (3) Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Best, Paul Nasca Fredericksburg, VA nasca AT gwffoundation.org _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Scarlet Tanager From: "Rachel Echols" <rlechols AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 11:41:13 -0400 Saturday's bird walk at James River Park, led by Arun Bose, was a wonderful opportunity to see at close range some birds that are often in the canopy. Here's a link to a picture I took of a scarlet tanager, for anyone who is interested. Thanks to Meredith Bell for previously reporting the species seen that day. http://flickr.com/photos/rlechols/2486092815/ Rachel Echols Chester, VA_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Back yard view...again! From: "Ulysses A Brooks" <ubrooks AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:33:52 -0400 Hi Birders, Hope every one is not floating away with all the rain. It's a good thing and we needed it. Well, I'm now stuck in this house with an ear infection. Started Friday and brought this old paratrooper to his worn out knees. Anyway, doing a bit better today. And to the subject at hand! For the last two days, in addition to the normal bird mix, I have had a Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak at the sunflower feeder. I finally got an image away from the feeder yesterday. The image can be seen on my pay web site under Birds Of A Feather Gallery, titled "Colorful Visitor". Hopefully, more to follow! Stay safe and great birding! Les Brooks Glen Allen www.natures-finest-photography.com_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Powhatan County, 5/12/08 From: WEalding <wealding AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:15:46 -0400 Despite the cold, blustery weather, I managed to find a female BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER along with a male AMERICAN REDSTART, a male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and a RED-EYED VIREO all in a single tree in a neighborhood yard this morning. Just up the street, I spooked a pair of Eastern Bluebirds that are nesting in a newspaper box - I could hear the babies cheeping from the nest. Observation date: 5/12/08 Notes: cold and windy Number of species: 28 Mallard 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Spotted Sandpiper 3 Chimney Swift 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker X Eastern Phoebe 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 3 Bank Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 1 Carolina Chickadee X Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren X Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X Eastern Bluebird 5 plus an unknown number of babies calling from a nest in a newspaper box Northern Mockingbird 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Ovenbird X Summer Tanager X Chipping Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 2 Brown-headed Cowbird X American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Wendy Ealding Powhatan County_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Thompson WMA, 5/11 From: "Joshua Taylor" <waterwagen AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:55:57 -0400 Hey everyone, Birded Thompson WMA for a couple of hours on Sunday morning and, as other have noted, the birding was disappointing due to cool, breezy conditions. However, I was able to find one male HOODED WARBLER and a WORM-EATING WARBLER on the Upper Ted Lake trail. The Trillium trail had a KENTUCKY WARBLER, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, not to mention a PINE SISKIN which out of the blue landed 8 feet away at eye level. Both trails had REDSTARTS and OVENBIRDS. And the fields near the Leeds Manor Rd./Rt. 17 intersection still held BOBOLINKS. *Josh Taylor Round Hill, VA *_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Buckets of Bobolinks, Harrison Road, Fauquier County, 5/11 + Thompson WMA + Vint Hill region of Fauquier From: Jeff Clark <jeffc666 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:41:24 -0400 A friend of mine and I went to Harrison Rd on our way back from Thompson WMA on Sunday (5/11) morning. There were HUNDREDS!!! of Bobolinks. Both the males and the females were perching for all to see. Some close to the road some far from the road and many others everywhere in between. The crazy, but wonderful, Bobolink song was made all the more impressive by the sheer volume of birds singing (a chaotic round of Bobolink song). Truly an amazing sight and sound. In the farm pond off of Belvoir Rd, just off of Rt 17 there was a mama WOOD DUCK with ~3 chicks. At Thompson things were a bit slow due to the high winds. Most interesting was a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on the fire road portion of the Trillium Trail, maybe half a dozen singing CERULEANs a few singing ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs and all the other usual suspects. It was too windy up on the ridge for great birding, though the flowers were impressively beautiful. We also quickly birded the Vint Hill region in Fauquier County where we saw and heard a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, lots of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs (including great looks at them! a rare treat indeed), and both ORIOLE species. Very few raptors all day, though we did catch sight of an AMERICAN KESTREL winging it over I-66 just East of the Gainesville exit. Good Birds, ------------------------- Jeff Clark Fairfax City, VA On May 10, 2008, at 11:35 , blkvulture AT aol.com wrote: > Hola, > > On Monday, there were a few Bobolinks along Harrison Road near The > Plains, in Fauquier County. I visited the same spot Friday > afternoon and there were well over 100 males, seen just about > everywhere. Great viewing, and many were singing for only ten yards > away. Only a handful of females were seen. Mostly they were seen > in the portion of Harrison closest to Route 245, though I saw them > along the whole length of the road. There is a lush alfalfa field > that they seem partial to, however history shows that all the fields > out there are likely to be cut before any of these birds can breed > successfully. > > Harrison Road is Route 751 I think, but runs east just off of Route > 245 about a mile south of the intersection of I-66. > > Cheers, > > Todd > > --------------------------------- > Todd Michael Day > Jeffersonton, VA, USA > blkvulture AT aol.com > --------------------------------- _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Buckets of Bobolinks, Harrison Road, Fauquier County, 5/11 + Thompson WMA + Vint Hill region of Fauquier From: Jeff Clark <jeffc666 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:41:24 -0400 A friend of mine and I went to Harrison Rd on our way back from Thompson WMA on Sunday (5/11) morning. There were HUNDREDS!!! of Bobolinks. Both the males and the females were perching for all to see. Some close to the road some far from the road and many others everywhere in between. The crazy, but wonderful, Bobolink song was made all the more impressive by the sheer volume of birds singing (a chaotic round of Bobolink song). Truly an amazing sight and sound. In the farm pond off of Belvoir Rd, just off of Rt 17 there was a mama WOOD DUCK with ~3 chicks. At Thompson things were a bit slow due to the high winds. Most interesting was a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on the fire road portion of the Trillium Trail, maybe half a dozen singing CERULEANs a few singing ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs and all the other usual suspects. It was too windy up on the ridge for great birding, though the flowers were impressively beautiful. We also quickly birded the Vint Hill region in Fauquier County where we saw and heard a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, lots of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs (including great looks at them! a rare treat indeed), and both ORIOLE species. Very few raptors all day, though we did catch sight of an AMERICAN KESTREL winging it over I-66 just East of the Gainesville exit. Good Birds, ------------------------- Jeff Clark Fairfax City, VA On May 10, 2008, at 11:35 , blkvulture AT aol.com wrote: > Hola, > > On Monday, there were a few Bobolinks along Harrison Road near The > Plains, in Fauquier County. I visited the same spot Friday > afternoon and there were well over 100 males, seen just about > everywhere. Great viewing, and many were singing for only ten yards > away. Only a handful of females were seen. Mostly they were seen > in the portion of Harrison closest to Route 245, though I saw them > along the whole length of the road. There is a lush alfalfa field > that they seem partial to, however history shows that all the fields > out there are likely to be cut before any of these birds can breed > successfully. > > Harrison Road is Route 751 I think, but runs east just off of Route > 245 about a mile south of the intersection of I-66. > > Cheers, > > Todd > > --------------------------------- > Todd Michael Day > Jeffersonton, VA, USA > blkvulture AT aol.com > --------------------------------- _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: additional vacant BBS routes From: <Sergio.Harding AT dgif.virginia.gov> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:13:10 -0400 Virginia Birders, Since my last posting on the subject, 3 new BBS routes have become vacant, bringing the total number of currently vacant routes to an unprecedented 10. The 3 new routes are 015 Covington, 040 Ringgold and 135 Rural Retreat. The BBS is the longest-running North American breeding landbird survey. Through the efforts of volunteers such as you, it has amassed over 40 years of data on breeding birds. These data are actively used to determine species status and trends and are heavily relied upon by the bird conservation community for planning and prioritization. The importance of the BBS to bird conservation can not be overstated. In VA, volunteers have been running BBS routes since 1966. If you have access to a vehicle, have good hearing and eyesight, are able to identify the birds in your area by both sight and sound, and can commit to running a route for at least 2 years, please consider volunteering. You can find the complete list of vacant routes and a map of their location at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/results/routemaps/virginia.cfm?CountryNum=8 40&StateNumber=88 The VA BBS needs you - if you have an interest in participating, please contact me at the phone number/e-mail address below. Thanks. Sergio Sergio Harding Nongame Bird Conservation Biologist Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 4010 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 (804)367-0143 fax (804)367-2427 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: dickcissels, white-rumped sandpiper, bobolinks, Westmoreland Co May 11 From: Frederick Atwood <fredatwood AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 06:09:40 -0700 (PDT) On Sunday May 11, I made a brief stop at LaGrange Lane (off route 3, King George Co)around 8 AM and then spent most of the day in the vicinity of Leedstown (upper Westmoreland County). Both locations had purple martins along with cliff, rough-winged, barn, bank, and tree swallows. Bank and tree swallows were the most abundant, over 150 of each, and 40-50 bank swallows at LaGrange La were checking out nesting cavities in the banks of one of the sand pits. Each location had 3 cliff swallows. In Leedstown, along Leedstown Rd just after Mothershead Tract of Rappahannock RVNWR, there is a wheat field where there were 3 male dickcissels singing, my first in this location. (I could not find any at Mothershead which has suitable habitat that will not be harvested, unlike the wheatfields). The dickcissels seemed territorial, stationed a hundred yards or so apart, singing on utility poles, wires, and fence-line bushes. One of them chased away a lingering savannah sparrow and a singing blue grosbeak. When he was displaced by a mockingbird, he held his ground and continued singing from about 1 foot away, and the mockingbird left. I could not find them later in the day when it was raining. Though I found very few warbler migrants in Leedstown (redstart, blackpoll, northern waterthrush, yellow-rumped) a lot of probable-resident warblers were singing throughout the nice assortment of habitats along Leedstown Rd (prothonotary, chat, prairie, yellow-throated, hooded, ovenbird, pine, black-and-white, yellowthroat, and yellow). A Rose-breasted grosbeak, several blue grosbeaks, both tanager species, and many indigo buntings added some bright color to this gray day. I also saw 4 harriers today, but no kestrels. One of the harriers was seen from Muse Rd way out out over the Potomac River flying very low above the white-caps). There was a very good variety of shorebirds present in Leedstown. Visible from Leedstown Rd at Parker Farm where the road makes a huge turn near the river, were 14 semipalmated plovers (the most I have seen in the county) and 7 least sandpipers. The shallow, marshy duckpond with muddy shores on a private farm managed for wildlife (Trader) off of Leedstown Rd had my first VA white-rumped sandpiper, as well as 3 semipalmated sandpipers, 3 semipalmated plovers, 15 least sandpipers, a brilliant dunlin, a killdeer, a lesser yellowlegs, and several spotted and solitary sandpipers. A greater yellowlegs and 4 spotted sandpipers were also at LaGrange Lane. Flycatchers in Leedstown included acadian, wood pewee, phoebe, kingbird, and great crested. On PeeDee Creek where it goes under Layton Landing Rd (Leedstown) a wood duck hen with at least ten pudgy chicks splatter-splashed across a swamp pool to the shelter of the flooded forest. The only other waterfowl seen today were a pied-billed grebe (Lagrange), two drake mallards and two groups of Canada geese (15 each). 6 Bobwhites were singing in the Leedstown area, (2 at Mothershead). There was also a smattering of grasshopper sparrows, meadowlarks and bobolinks (30 LaGrange Lane, 50+ Leedstown). Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood AT yahoo.com Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124 703-242-1675 http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood http://www.flinthill.org http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Highland & Bath Counties -- Big Day 5/10 -- 117 species From: "Spahr MD, John" <Jspahr AT AugustaMed.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 08:19:23 -0400 Allen Larner and I did a 24 hour Big Day this past weekend, covering Highland and Bath Counties (the latter limited mostly to the Lake Moomaw area). We attempted to keep count tallies for each species. Start time was 7 PM Friday, May 9. Night birding that evening and the next morning was a bust with cool weather, rain and wind confounded our efforts -- No nighjars and only 1 owl. Saturday morning it rained off and on until early afternoon, which added to the challenge. Nevertheless, we managed to find all 7 resident woodpeckers, all 5 resident vireos and 20 warblers, including most of the residents -- notable misses were Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Warbler (both seen/heard the previous day during scouting) Prairie and Kentucky Warblers (both uncommon and local) and Mourning Warbler (did not make it to Paddy Knob). Migrant warblers were almost absent, save for the Tennessee. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks seemed ubiquitous, present at most feeders with seed. Other species seen during scouting but missed during our 24 hour window include Wild Turkey, Merlin (5/8), Rock Pigeon (hard to believe, I know), Least Flycatcher, Nashville and Blue-winged Warblers. Other expected birds include Purple Finch and Pine Siskin, both of which were seen by Patti Reum at her feeder the previous day, but not while we were there at 7 AM in the cold drizzle! Other species that could have padded our list but didn't include Black Vulture (actually uncommon), Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern Screech-Owl, Grasshopper Sparrow (a bit early perhaps), Horned Lark (don't know where they are this spring; could not find a one and we checked all the known locations!), and Blue Grosbeak (never easy over thar). Some species represent possible records (early/late dates, high counts, etc.) and are marked (*) below. H = encountered in Highland Co. only B = Bath Co. only. Number of species: 117 Canada Goose 22 Wood Duck 6 Mallard 3 Bufflehead 1 B * Red-breasted Merganser 7 B * Common Loon 15 B * Double-crested Cormorant 25 B * Great Egret 2 B * Great Blue Heron 2 H Green Heron 2 H Turkey Vulture 55 Osprey 1 B Bald Eagle 8 Broad-winged Hawk 3 B Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 1 B Killdeer 8 Spotted Sandpiper 5 Solitary Sandpiper 4 H Least Sandpiper 3 H Greater Yellowlegs 1 B * Ring-billed Gull 7 B Caspian Tern 3 B * Common Tern 2 B * Mourning Dove 64 Barred Owl 1 H Chimney Swift 11 H Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5 Belted Kingfisher 1 B Red-headed Woodpecker 1 H Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 H Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 2 H Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 B Willow Flycatcher 1 B Eastern Phoebe 13 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Eastern Kingbird 3 White-eyed Vireo 1 B Yellow-throated Vireo 1 H Blue-headed Vireo 8 H Warbling Vireo 1 H Red-eyed Vireo 20 Blue Jay 35 American Crow 14 Common Raven 4 Tree Swallow 55 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 19 Cliff Swallow 1 H Barn Swallow 500 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 H White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 H Carolina Wren 3 House Wren 10 Winter Wren 1 H Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 H Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 H Eastern Bluebird 14 Veery 3 H Hermit Thrush 15 H Wood Thrush 8 American Robin 79 Gray Catbird 10 Northern Mockingbird 3 Brown Thrasher 13 European Starling 212 Golden-winged Warbler 1 H Tennessee Warbler 1 B Northern Parula 6 Yellow Warbler 9 Chestnut-sided Warbler 16 Magnolia Warbler 17 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 H Black-throated Green Warbler 40 * Blackburnian Warbler 8 Pine Warbler 2 B Cerulean Warbler 2 B Black-and-white Warbler 8 American Redstart 34 Worm-eating Warbler 2 B Ovenbird 10 Common Yellowthroat 6 Hooded Warbler 2 B Canada Warbler 3 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 B Scarlet Tanager 18 Eastern Towhee 35 Chipping Sparrow 40 Field Sparrow 3 Vesper Sparrow 3 H Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 19 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 H *(Bear Mt. Farm) White-crowned Sparrow 3 H Dark-eyed Junco 8 H Northern Cardinal 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 27 *(12 at Beverages Feeder, Monterey) Indigo Bunting 42 Bobolink 18 H Red-winged Blackbird 220 Eastern Meadowlark 35 Common Grackle 130 Brown-headed Cowbird 33 Orchard Oriole 10 Baltimore Oriole 9 House Finch 5 H American Goldfinch 151 Evening Grosbeak 1 H *(Beverages Feeder, Monterey) House Sparrow 30 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Re: Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblersexcitement From: "Lee Adams" <ladams42 AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 08:15:55 -0400 Larry, and all, Two years ago at the VSO annual meeting at the Breaks Interstate Park, I watched with a group of folks as a chipmunk ate a Chipping Sparrow nestling. The parents were frantically flying about. I confess when the chipmunk started to climb the three foot conifer for another snack I discouraged it with a stick. I realize it was only a momentary victory. Lee Loudenslager Adams Fredericksburg, VA ladams42 AT cox.net _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Re: Chippokes Plantation State Park 5/10 From: "JANICE FRYE" <jjfdc AT clearwire.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 23:13:12 -0400 Before I went to Hog Island I always called. Tried my old number and it was disconnected, went online and called information with no luck, then called Surry PD and they had the new one. The direct line to Surry Security is 757-365-2346 (I tried it out). In the past they recommended that you call the day of departure, not just the night before. That is what I will do if I ever find time to go! Hope this saves a little gas for someone--program it in your cell phones. Take care! Jan Richmond -----Original Message----- From: va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com [mailto:va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com] On Behalf Of bigadfromlb AT vcu.org Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:00 PM To: va-bird AT listserve.com Subject: [Va-bird] Chippokes Plantation State Park 5/10 Yesterday morning, Tina Trice and I had hoped to go to Hog Island WMA in Surry County to look for shorebirds. However, it was closed to public access. Not sure why? The Fish and Game web site says it's open from sunrise to sunset daily at this time of year. Anyway, we hit plan B and went to nearby Chippokes Plantation State Park. It was our first time there and it was nice. Highlights included 7 CATTLE EGRETS, single GRASSHOPPER and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, ROYAL TERN on the James River and a nice flock of about 50 BOBOLINKS. A complete list follows. Good birding. Adam D'Onofrio Dinwiddie County Canada Goose 2 Wild turkey 1 Northern Bobwhite 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Cattle Egret 7 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 5 Osprey 4 Bald Eagle 2 Killdeer 1 Laughing Gull 1 Royal Tern 1 Mourning Dove 3 Chimney Swift 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great-crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 2 White-eyed Vireo 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 1 Fish Crow 2 Tree Swallow 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 6 Carolina Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Eastern Bluebird 6 Northern Mockingbird 4 Brown Thrasher 4 European Starling 10 Cedar Waxwing 6 Northern Parula 6 Yellow Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Pine Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 2 American Redstart 1 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Summer Tanager 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 8 Field Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 6 Blue Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 8 Bobolink 50 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Eastern Meadowlark 6 Brown-headed Cowbird 8 Orchard Oriole 4 House Finch 6 American Goldfinch 6 House Sparrow 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on MicrosoftR Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Re: Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblers excitement From: uberlarry AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:36:57 -0400 I have one decent photo of the Prothonotary along with some other recent bird photos at: http://www.uberlarry.smugmug.com/gallery/1398269_iJSYP#293600344_Rv9eL I also have an unusual shot of a chipmunk carrying a dead mouse. Does anyone know what's going on here? Are chipmunks ever carnivorous? Maybe the chipmunk is planning to line his nest with mouse fur? http://uberlarry.smugmug.com/gallery/2968729_ogXjH#293608594_bT3Si Larry Meade Vienna, VA -----Original Message----- From: Gerco HoogewegSubject: FW: eBird Report - Appomattox Riverside Park , 5/11/08 From: "bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" <bigadfromlb@vcu.org> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:07:47 -0400 The following is a list from this morning's walk at Appomattox Riverside Park in Dinwiddie. Good birding. Adam D'Onofrio Dinwiddie Co. Original Message: ----------------- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:39:17 -0400 (EDT) To: bigadfromlb AT vcu.org Subject: eBird Report - Appomattox Riverside Park , 5/11/08 Location: Appomattox Riverside Park Observation date: 5/11/08 Number of species: 52 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 1 Mourning Dove 3 Chimney Swift 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Acadian Flycatcher 6 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 1 White-eyed Vireo 4 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 20 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 3 Carolina Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 4 Carolina Wren 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Wood Thrush 3 Gray Catbird 4 Northern Parula 10 Yellow Warbler 6 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 15 Yellow-throated Warbler 4 Pine Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 10 Black-and-white Warbler 4 American Redstart 8 Prothonotary Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 4 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Summer Tanager 2 Scarlet Tanager 5 Northern Cardinal 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Blue Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 6 Common Grackle 2 Orchard Oriole 4 American Goldfinch 6 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/VA) -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Great Falls National Park (VA) on 5/11/08 From: MNR2 AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:48:52 EDT Our group of eleven celebrated Mother's Day by spotting 62 species. The Sunday walk meets at 8:00 am in the visitor's center courtyard. All are welcome. -- Marshall Rawson, McLean VA Canada Goose 24 Mallard 6 Double-crested Cormorant 8 Great Blue Heron 8 Black Vulture 15 Turkey Vulture 10 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 4 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Chimney Swift 150 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 10 Eastern Kingbird 6 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 10 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 4 Purple Martin 4 Tree Swallow 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 12 Barn Swallow 7 Carolina Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 10 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Carolina Wren 5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12 Eastern Bluebird 2 Veery 1 Wood Thrush 6 American Robin 12 European Starling 5 Northern Parula 12 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Worm-eating Warbler 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 5 Scarlet Tanager 10 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 14 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 3 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 10 Baltimore Oriole 10 American Goldfinch 10 **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Bobolinks still at Gravelly Point From: Kerry O'Brien Gross <kogross18 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:42:28 -0700 (PDT) Visited Gravelly Point in light rain around 3pm this afternoon. Saw a flock of
20 or so Bobolinks occasionally fly up above the tall grasses. For a picture of
the location (but not a great picture of the bird!) you can visit my blog:
www.xedodog.blogspot.com
Kerry Gross
Alexandria, VA
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Subject: Re: Whippoorwill at Douthat State ParkFrom: Rob Hilton <aimophila10 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:59:16 -0700 (PDT) Bonnie, Where is Douthat State Park located? Rob Hilton Silver Spring, Md. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Spotted Sandpiper high count- Piedmont area From: markjohnson27 AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 23:41:49 +0000 Hello, I went to Mill Creek Lake this morning 5-11-08. There wasn't anything on the water but I did have 70 Spotted Sandpipers out on the point. That was the most I've ever seen at the lake. There was also a Northern Waterthrush at the point singing. I had good looks at it. There was a Great Egret too. Mark Johnson Mad. Hgts,Va P.S. I looked through the S Sandpipers for something different but couldn't. Darn. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Chippokes Plantation State Park 5/10 From: "bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" <bigadfromlb@vcu.org> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 19:00:16 -0400 Yesterday morning, Tina Trice and I had hoped to go to Hog Island WMA in Surry County to look for shorebirds. However, it was closed to public access. Not sure why? The Fish and Game web site says it's open from sunrise to sunset daily at this time of year. Anyway, we hit plan B and went to nearby Chippokes Plantation State Park. It was our first time there and it was nice. Highlights included 7 CATTLE EGRETS, single GRASSHOPPER and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, ROYAL TERN on the James River and a nice flock of about 50 BOBOLINKS. A complete list follows. Good birding. Adam D'Onofrio Dinwiddie County Canada Goose 2 Wild turkey 1 Northern Bobwhite 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Cattle Egret 7 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 5 Osprey 4 Bald Eagle 2 Killdeer 1 Laughing Gull 1 Royal Tern 1 Mourning Dove 3 Chimney Swift 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great-crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 2 White-eyed Vireo 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 1 Fish Crow 2 Tree Swallow 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 6 Carolina Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Eastern Bluebird 6 Northern Mockingbird 4 Brown Thrasher 4 European Starling 10 Cedar Waxwing 6 Northern Parula 6 Yellow Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Pine Warbler 2 Blackpoll Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 2 American Redstart 1 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Summer Tanager 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 8 Field Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 6 Blue Grosbeak 3 Indigo Bunting 8 Bobolink 50 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Eastern Meadowlark 6 Brown-headed Cowbird 8 Orchard Oriole 4 House Finch 6 American Goldfinch 6 House Sparrow 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Friends of Dyke Marsh - Prothonotary warblers excitement From: "Gerco Hoogeweg" <gercoh AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 19:01:47 -0400 The regular Sunday morning (8am) Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh for the last 18 yrs or so and open to all participants met today at the picnic area under an overcast sky. The trip was led by Larry Meade and myself. 18 participants showed up for a nice, but wet walk. Well, at least my feet were soaking wet by the time we made it to the marina. Our highlight was "rescue the Prothonotary Warbler" at the marina. Initially we found a single Prothonotary Warbler at the trailers right at the beginning of the marina. The bird kept flying from boat trailer to boat trailer and at one point in time disappeared in to an open hole in one of the front boat supports on a trailer. Nesting?? was the big question. We never were able to confirm this. We studied the bird for a while and noticed that the bird remained in the area, despite that 18 of us were watching it from close distance. One of the participants suddenly noticed a second Prothonotary Warbler trying to get out of an old boat!!! This bird kept flying into the windows. Obviously the bird had not figured out what glass was. Fortunately the door to cabin was unlocked was and one of us opened all the windows so the bird could escape. It was very nice to see these warblers at close distance. Deciding to give the warblers a little break we moved on. We saw plenty of Orioles, both Orchard and Baltimore, got some good looks of a Warbling Vireo and listened to a Chestnut-sided Warbler. We briefly spotted a late Ruby-crowned Kinglet. A pair of Eastern Kingbird was bringing nesting materials to a tree along the river and the first ducklings were seen. Both Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers were seen. A pair of Spotted Sandpipers was foraging in the wet area next to the parking lot. A single male Lesser Scaup was briefly seen at the Potomac river. A pair of Woodducks was reported just upstream of the picnic area but we did not see them. We ended up seeing close to 60 species. Larry or I will post some pictures from the Prothonotary Warblers later. Gerco Vienna, VA Number of species: 58 Canada Goose 15 Mallard 30 (with young) Lesser Scaup 1 Red-breasted Merganser 3 Double-crested Cormorant 13 Great Blue Heron 9 Osprey 10 (4 on 2 nests) Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Killdeer 1 Spotted Sandpiper 4 Solitary Sandpiper 3 Laughing Gull 5 Ring-billed Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 7 Mourning Dove 12 Chimney Swift 32 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 2 (with nesting materials) Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 7 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 4 Fish Crow 1 Purple Martin 2 Tree Swallow 10 Barn Swallow 10 Carolina Chickadee 2 (with some food in bill) Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 12 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 15 American Robin 6 Gray Catbird 8 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling 15 Cedar Waxwing 5 Northern Parula 4 Yellow Warbler 7 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 Prothonotary Warbler 2 (nesting or just curious??? by disappearing in first trailer on the right in the marina). Common Yellowthroat 3 Song Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 9 Northern Cardinal 14 Red-winged Blackbird 23 Common Grackle 16 Brown-headed Cowbird 12 Orchard Oriole 6 Baltimore Oriole 10 House Finch 4 American Goldfinch 10 House Sparrow 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/VA)_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Mississippi Kite Returns to Halifax Co, VA From: "Jeffrey Blalock" <jcbabirder AT gcronline.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 18:50:50 -0400 Greetings to all: The Mississippi Kites returned to Halifax Co. VA on May 10, 2008. This was the 10th year anniversary since the kites were first seen in Halifax Co. One was seen again from Runt Powell's farm and it was in the same area as last year. Jeffrey Blalock South Boston, VA 24592 434-470-8071 jcbabirder AT gcronline.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Birds of Halifax Co. From: "Jeffrey Blalock" <jcbabirder AT gcronline.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 18:43:21 -0400 Greetings to all: I haven't posted anything for the last several months due to computer problems. I purchased a new laptop in February but haven't completely changed everything over. I did want to post my sightings for the past few weeks. April 7 heard an American Bittern at the Banister River WMA. The warblers coming through have been spoty, but I have seen Yellow Warbler, Common-yellow throat, Yellowthroated Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Pine, Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, Praire and Magnolia. On May 4, I had both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles (males & females) along with a Summer Tanager all in one tree. Good Birding Always Jeffrey Blalock South Boston, VA 24592 434-470-8071 jcbabirder AT gcronline.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Whippoorwill at Douthat State Park From: Bonnie Hughes <bephughes AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:32:13 -0700 (PDT) While camping at Douthat State Park in Campground A on the waterfront, a very loud, realitvely fearless, whippoorwill landed on our campsite right behind our tent, calling loudly. I actually was able to see it well enough to determine that it was a male. Earlier (right at dusk) it landed among the beached boats on the lakefront and successfully called in another whippoorwill. Those of us watching heard the low-pitched drumming sound several times. Other than the volume while we were trying to sleep, this was a terrific treat! _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Hooded Merganser- Southampton 5/10 From: "bigadfromlb AT vcu.org" <bigadfromlb@vcu.org> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:26:16 -0400 Yesterday, while paddling down a portion of the Nottoway River in Southampton County, Tina Trice and I came across a late female HOODED MERGANSER. Adam D'Onofrio Dinwiddie Co. -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: Moorhen at Dutch Gap From: "Harry Brown" <hbrown187534 AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:35:51 -0400 COMMON MOORHEN at Dutch Gap sighted Saturday, May 10. Just swimming around (head bobbing) alone at the first observation deck. Photo can be seen here .... http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlelloyd/2483003405/sizes/m/ Harry Brown Henrico Co. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: [va-bird] Leesylvania S.P. - 5/11/08 From: "Scott Priebe" <falco57 AT msn.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:44:09 -0400 Leesylvania S.P. was again transient migrant poor, but not as much as last weekend. Most of what I found, was found from 6 - 8:30 AM. As the clouds thickened, the pickings became slim. There were a large number of warblers (~50-70 seen), but most were Yellow-rumped. I did end up with 10 species though, about a half dozen of which were Blackpoll, moving along with the Y.-rumps. At one point, a flock of Laughing Gulls went overhead laughing at my efforts to pick out something other than a Yellow-rump among a group of about 20 warblers. It appears that a pair of Yellow Warblers may be taking up residence in the picnic area near the rest rooms down by the pier. Second weekend in a row one was singing there, and I saw both a male and female this morning in that area. There were quite a few Orioles about, both Orchard and Baltimore. I saw/heard five male and one female Scarlet Tanagers, and the dim light was perfect to bring out their color. The Cedar Waxwings were also gorgeous in the dim light. Scott Priebe Springfield, VA Canada Goose Mallard Great Blue Heron Osprey Spotted Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Blackpoll Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/Subject: 2 Additions for Banshee Reeks From: Ntrlst1 AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:22:29 EDT Stuart Merrell Northern Parula 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)_______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ |