FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Fw: [bcbirdclub] Burkes Garden Outing

["trooper" <trooper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hope the BBC does as well next Saturday.

Dave Worley
Rosedale, Va.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Roger Mayhorn 
To: BCBC Listserve 
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 11:08 PM
Subject: [bcbirdclub] Burkes Garden Outing


Hi All,
Today, the 9th, twenty-two members and friends of Buchanan County Bird Club 
gathered to bird Burkes Garden in Tazewell County. The day's weather began with 
a crisp 37 degrees and beautiful sunshine. Black Ducks and Mallards were the 
first waterfowl encounters of the day at the entrance pond to the Garden. 
The first surprising bird of the day was an adult Bald Eagle found perched on a 
dead snag near the stream not far from the pond. Eagle-eyed Tom Hunter spotted 
the bird, and within seconds another Bald Eagle was spotted on the ground 
nearby. The second eagle flew up to perch near the first, giving everyone great 
views with binoculars and scopes.

As the day progressed Golden Eagles were spotted. At one time four Golden 
Eagles were observed in the air at once. Two of them were doing aerial 
courtship displays with diving and attempts at locking talons. The group 
finished the day with 10 Golden Eagles.

Red-tailed Hawks seemed to be everywhere with everyone hoping for a 
Rough-legged Hawk. Finally Tom Hunter got a look at one, as it quickly 
disappeared. Later Mollie McCutcheon spotted a beautiful adult Rough-legged 
playing on the wind. With the bird flying and kiting with the mountain as a 
backdrop the gray and white really stood out, especially the white undersides 
where the bold black patches were in sharp contrast to the white under body and 
wings. Four Rough-leggs was the high count for that species by the end of the 
day.

As the day advanced the wind began to pick up, and by noon some of the gusts 
were strong enough to cause birders to stagger around as if they had been 
partaking of the grape a bit too much. Then again it may not have been the wind 
at all. It may have been the amusing antics of Don Carrier, Jerry Thornhill and 
Mollie McCutcheon as they did a lifebird dance in the middle of the road, after 
having just gotten great looks at their first Rough-legged Hawk. There are 
photos to prove it.

After having lunch at the Garden's country store the group braved the wind and 
went in search of waterfowl. It wasn't long before several Teal and Mallards 
were found along a section of stream. Everyone got good scope views.

The BCBC was not the only group birding Burkes Garden today. Members of the New 
River Valley Bird Club and the Watauga Bird Club of North Carolina were also 
present to enjoy the scenery, the great birding and the great fun. It was a day 
to remember.

Below is the complete list of 40 species found in the Garden today.

Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mt     

Golden Eagle 10

Bald Eagle 2

Rough-legged Hawk 4

Red-tailed Hawk 17

Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Cooper's Hawk 2

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

American Kestrel 6

Northern Harrier 1

Common Raven 27

American Crow 200+

Canada Goose 2

Green-winged Teal 17

American Black Duck 14

Mallard 49

Hooded Merganser 1

Great Blue Heron 5

Belted Kingfisher 2

Killdeer 8

Wild Turkey 2

Turkey Vulture 1

Black Vulture 2

Mourning Dove 10

Rock Pigeon 49

Northern Cardinal 1

Blue Jay 2

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 5

Carolina Wren 1

American Goldfinch 21

Eastern Meadowlark 7

Horned Lark 55

American Robin 1

Eastern Bluebird 6

Song Sparrow 3

Dark-eyed Junco 1

House Sparrow 30

Red-winged Blackbird 10

European Starling 800

 

 


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