FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Tazewell County - Rough-legged Hawk, Shrike, and N. Pintails

["Ed Talbott" <etalbott@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bristol Area Birders,

Michelle and I spent the day birding in Tazewell County, VA
yesterday.  The weatherman promised partly cloudy skies and
milder temperatures - neither of which we found as snow
squalls and freezing temperatures continued all day and into
the evening.

Our first stop was at the Kirby Farm at Doran near
Richlands, VA.  Here we had great looks at a kiting American
Kestrel.  The field next to the Clinch River contained
several Killdeer, 2 Green-winged Teal, 12 Black Ducks, 16
Canada Geese, 50+ Mallards, and one Great Blue Heron.

We then drove out to Lake Whitten just north of the town of
Tazewell on Rt. 643.  The lake was frozen over and no
waterfowl were seen - although this looks like a great spot
for birding when the water is open.  We then made our way
out to the Whitten Mill Pond area and got some great scope
looks at 13 Gadwall on the pond.  On the way east on Rt.
460, near the community of Springville, Michelle noted a
hawk being harassed by two crows.  We stopped the truck and
got some good looks at our first Rough-legged Hawk of the
season.

Our next stop was Falls Mill Lake near Bluefield, VA.  Again
this lake was almost completely frozen over and a spot of
open water not 50 feet in diameter was being used by 83
Canada Geese and around 25 American Coots.

Finally we decided the weather was not going to get better
and that we had better head up to Burke's Garden before
dark - arriving there around 3:00 p.m.  The Gose Mill Pond
was open but contained no ducks of any type.  As we drove
around the valley we noted several flocks of Starlings and
groups of Meadowlarks but did not find the flock of Horned
Larks we were hoping for.  We got our best ever look at a
Loggerhead Shrike at the eastern end of the valley.  The
ducks were found feeding on the streams and in the fields -
we noted over 200 Mallards, 12 Green-winged Teal, 4 Black
Ducks, 2 Northern Pintails (a life bird for us), and
scattered groups of Canada Geese.  The marshy areas revealed
several Wilson's Snipe.  The low lying clouds made looking
for eagles on the ridgelines impossible.  We noted the usual
Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels while driving the
valley.

Overall, we had a great day of birding despite the weather
conditions.

Ed Talbott
Buchanan County Bird Club
http://www.bcplnet.org/birdclub/birdclub.htm





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