FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Loggerhead Shrike at Chilhowie

["Ed Talbott" <etalbott@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bristol Birders,

Michelle and I birded several different spots in SW Virginia this weekend - 
finding some
good birds.  On Friday night we found a Common Nighthawk working the lights at 
the
Kroger's in Pulaski, Va.  On Saturday, I made a trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway 
to the
Peaks of Otter spotting Blackpoll, Yellow-throated, Worm-eating, Hooded, and 
Cerulean
Warblers.  On the loop hike up Harkening Hill (elevation 3,364 feet) I found 
American
Redstarts (everywhere), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo (heard only), 
Cerulean
Warblers, RB Grosbeaks, Blue-headed Vireos, Wild Turkeys, and a lone DE Junco 
on top.

Today we stopped at the Rt. 672 bridge over Claytor Lake to see the Cliff 
Swallows and
also spotted a couple of Green Herons and well as many Mallard ducklings around 
the
bridge.  At Rural Retreat Lake we found a Common Loon feeding among the many 
fishing boats
on the lake.  On the way out to Saltville from Chilhowie, I decided to stop at 
the old
Sulphur Springs Cemetery on Rt. 107.  While reading the stones (I'm also into 
genealogy)
we got some great looks at a Loggerhead Shrike hawking insects from the tops of 
the grave
markers.   There was not much at the Saltville Salt Ponds (1 scaup sp?) so we 
decided to
try Hidden Valley Lake in Washington Co., VA.  The birding around the lake was 
slow but we
did manage Canada, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Black-throated Green, and 
Black-throated Blue
Warblers as well as Blue-headed Vireo, Veery, Wild Turkey, and a single 
Sharp-shinned
Hawk.  The highlight of the day was a singing Winter Wren.  Overall a good 
weekend of
birding - and I still have a day off to get some work done around the house!

Ed Talbott
Buchanan County Bird Club



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