[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Spring Bird Count



Greetings from the mountains of NW NC and SW VA.  This is a report on the
Spring Bird Count for the New River count circle located in Alleghany Co.,
NC and Grayson Co., VA.

Highlights follow:
Total species count was 80.  The day started out with a stop at my favorite
clearcut.  We got a great look at a singing Kentucky warbler in perfect
light.  He posed for us in a bare tree and sang in the open for five
minutes.  Usually even getting to see one of these birds is an all morning
project, but this one was very cooperative.  Also, in the same area,
Yellow-breasted chat, White-eyed vireo, Chestnut-sided and Prairie warblers.
We then went to some farmland in search of "hayfield" species.  We finally
found Bobolinks after several years of searching!  A flock of 15.  Also
Savannah sparrows and the usual Grasshopper sparrows.  The Solitary
sandpipers that I had been watching for over a week were missing but showed
up again on Sunday.....darn!  We did manage to find a Spotted sandpiper.
Took us most of the day.  Flycatchers included one Willow and two Least.
Highlights of the New River area were the usual abundance of Baltimore and
Orchard orioles, Yellow warblers, Warbling and Yellow-throated vireos.  Also
found two male Wood ducks!  The woodland highlight was two Ruffed grouse,
always hard to find when you need one for a count.  A complete list follows.
Please skip if you find these boring.

Harrol Blevins
Independence,VA
kestrel@valink.com

1.   Canada goose    22
2.   Wood duck        2
3.    Mallard        5
4.   Green heron        1
5.   Spotted sandpiper
6.   Solitary sandpiper    3 (w)
7.   Black vulture
8.   Turkey vulture
9.   Red-tailed hawk        6
10. Wild turkey        11
11. Ruffed grouse        2
12. Northern bobwhite    1
13. Rock dove        4
14. Mourning dove        21
15. Red-bellied woodpecker        6
16. Downy woodpecker           6
17. Pileated woodpecker        8
18. Northern flicker        2
19. Eastern phoebe        19
20. Eastern wood pewee        5
21. Least flycatcher        2
22. Willow flycatcher        1
23. Acadian flycatcher        11
24. Eastern kingbird        16
25. Great-creasted flycatcher        2
26. Blue jay        9
27. American crow    66
28. Ruby-throated hummingbird        8
29. Blue-gray gnatcatcher        8
30. Carolina chickadee        16
31. Tufted titmouse        5
32. White-breasted nuthatch        3
33. Carolina wren        23
34. House wren        4
35. Eastern bluebird        35
36. Wood thrush        12
37. American robin    38
38. Gray catbird        3
39. Northern mockingbird        19
40. Brown thrasher        7
41. European starling        106
42. Red-eyed vireo        56
43. Yellow-throated vireo        9
44. White-eyed vireo        4
45. Warbling vireo        8
46. Yellow-rumped warbler        2
47. Yellow-breasted chat        4
48. Common yellowthroat        4
49. Yellow warbler           26
50. Hooded warbler        16
51. Black-and-white warbler        1
52. Kentucky warbler        2
53. Prairie warbler        1
54. Chestnut-sided warbler    1
55. Northern parula        3
56. Ovenbird        18
57. Indigo bunting        72
58. Northern cardinal        19
59. Eastern towhee    32
60. Chipping sparrow        21
61. Field sparrow        21
62. Savannah sparrow        6
63. Song sparrow        47
64. Grasshopper sparrow        4
65. Red-winged blackbird        99
66. Eastern meadowlark        30
67. Bobolink        15
68. Common grackle        25
69. Brown-headed cowbird        8
70. House finch        15
71. American goldfinch        56
72. House sparrow        19
73. Baltimore oriole        23
74. Orchard oriole        9
75. Scarlet tanager        12
76. Tree swallow        9
77. Northern rough-winged swallow        8
78. Barn swallow        61
79. Purple martin        16
80. Chimney swift        19