FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Leonard's Pond update as of late 8/31

[JMIrvine@xxxxxxx]

A number of observers were present during the latter part of the afternoon on 
Sunday, August 31.  The day was overcast but at least the gentle rain of 
midday had stopped.  The Baird's Sandpiper was present all day, but was ranging 
farther up the shore away from its corner than it had previously done.  I had 
first become aware of this bird on Thursday, 8/28, but one birder present, Greg 
Moyers, told me he had taken many photos of it on Wednesday, 8/27.  While 
several of us who had been present at noon were away eating lunch, Clair 
Mellinger 
visited the pond and saw the Golden-Plover between one and two o'clock.  When 
we returned, that bird was nowhere to be seen, though observers were present 
until after 5 p.m.
But this surprisingly birdy corner of Virginia continues to amaze us.  That 
morning Brenda Tekin had seen, from the intersection of Faught's Road and VA 
Rt. 276 just 0.2 miles away, a juvenile Northern Goshawk chasing a flock of 
grackles.  Very late in the afternoon, Allen Larner, who had been at the pond 
for 
some time, left to go home to Augusta County.  He too saw the Goshawk on a 
utility wire just south of that intersection, near the dairy barns on the east 
side of the road, and drove back to tell us about it.  Ken Hinkle and I 
immediately left to look for it but could not find it.

During the day, at one time or another, I saw the following species of shore 
birds at Leonard's Pond:

Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 3
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Dowitcher sp. 1

Other observers told me they had observed a Western Sandpiper also. Along 
with the Golden-Plover, that would make 11 species of shorebirds for that one 
little pond in just one day!  That's remarkable for the Valley of Virginia.  
There are surely more shorebirds flying over than many of us had thought.  
What's 
even more remarkable is that on a day of heavy low overcast and poor 
visibility from above, they could find the pond.

Directions, once more, for those who wish to come on Labor Day:

From the south:  I-81 north to the Weyers Cave exit, Exit #235.  Take VA Rt. 
256 east for 1 mile to the stoplight in Weyers Cave.  Turn left onto VA. Rt 
276 northeast, and go across the North River bridge into Rockingham County.  
Proceed to the second numbered road on the left, County Rt. 678, Faught's Road. 
 
(Check for the goshawk around the dairy farm on the right just before you come 
to Faught's Road.)  Turn left on Faught's Road and drive past the first 
farmhouse on your right.  At 0.2 miles you will see Leonard's Pond at the 
bottom of 
a slight hill.

From the north:  I-81 to the third Harrisonburg Exit, Exit # 245, Port 
Republic Road, County Route 659. Turn left off the exit ramp.  Follow Port 
Republic 
Road several miles until--out in open country--you come to the intersection 
with VA Rt. 276, Cross Keys Road.  Turn right on 276.  Proceed southwest for 
several miles until you come to Faught's Road, County Route 678.  At that 
intersection check for the goshawk before turning onto Faught's Road.  Proceed 
0.2 
miles, past farmhouse on right, and you will come to Leonard's Pond.

John Irvine
Harrisonburg, VA


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