FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Augusta County Sedge Wren, Connecticut Warbler & Lincoln's Sparrow

[Brenda Tekin <bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Report of Sedge Wren, Connecticut Warbler and Lincoln's Sparrow - Augusta 
County - October 11, 2003

Morning fog and low clouds hugging the ridge north and south of Rockfish 
Gap throughout the day shut down the hawk watch.  Low clouds created a 
thick haze appearance on western side of ridge.

Good excuse as any to check out the lower elevations so Gordy Adamski and I 
took off on an afternoon adventure in search of sparrows.

Connecticut Warbler and Lincoln's Sparrow
By 2 p.m. we reached Rt. 648, west of Stuart's Draft, along the flat river 
bottom, where we pulled off to check out some sparrows we saw flitting 
across the road. (This area is maybe 1/2 mile from the turnoff to 
landfill.) There is a pull off in front of an old concrete-like silo and 
across the road there is a fenced in cow pasture with a dark brown wood 
cattle shute.  Just a little to the right and back up a slight slope from 
the shute there is a large clump of bramble with small tree to the 
right.  In response to pishing, several sparrows popped up, including two 
Field Sparrow, four Song Sparrow, three Chipping Sparrow and one Lincoln's 
Sparrow.   The last to pop up was an unexpected surprise.

A warbler flushed up to a branch about a third of the way down from top of 
the bramble clump, providing a pretty good unobstructed view.  I was 
somewhat surprised at how long it sat on the branch, looking around, 
alert.  With overcast sky, we were pleasantly surprised at how much color 
we could see on this bird.  The yellow underparts could not be missed and 
the yellow extended all the way to the long undertail coverts.  It had a 
gray head giving it a hooded appearance and a very prominent white 
eye-ring.  The bold eye-ring completely encircled the eye and there was 
absolutely no break in the ring.   There appeared to be a slight notch in 
the shortish tail, and we could easily see the legs were pinkish/reddish in 
color.  The bird eventually dropped down and it's possible it was the same 
bird we later saw fly a short distance to another clump of brush and small 
trees.  Attempts to get a better view to try and photograph were unsuccessful.

I jotted down details and then attempted to contact several Augusta Club 
members to alert them to possible Mourning or Connecticut.

Gordy and I then departed and headed over to the boy scout camp in the 
Swoope area. It was near there where we ran into AGAIN Larry Lynch, Lauren 
Scott along with Fenton Day driving down Rt. 705.  Gordy and I provided 
them with description of the Rt. 648 warbler and initial thoughts were a 
Connecticut.  We gave them direction and they in turn gave us directions to 
the Sedge Wren they had found earlier that day.

Attempts to find Lincoln's Sparrow on Rt. 705 were unsuccessful.  In fact, 
none of the sparrows were cooperating, all staying hidden in the thick 
clumps.

Gordy and I headed over to Bell's Lane to search for the Sedge Wren where 
we were successful in relocating it.

 From the main road off I-81, turn onto Bell's Lane and go up the hill and 
take sharp right.  Continue on down Bell's Lane past the stone wall 
driveway entrance on left hand side.  You will come to a very narrow stream 
with weeping willow on side of road.  This is a short distance from a house 
that fronts close to the narrow road and before a second sharp right 
turn.  Need to be attentive on this road as it is very narrow and one 
cannot safely pull completely off the road.  The wren was not the easiest 
thing to observe.  It was on the opposite side of the willow along the 
water's edge and there is very thick vegetation.

I contacted Yulee Larner once I got home and gave her details on warbler 
and again it appeared it was a Connecticut vs Mourning. I had to dash off 
to a dinner engagement and just returned about an hour ago.  Finally got a 
chance to pull out my Peterson's Warbler's book to review with my field 
notes.

Thanks Larry, Lauren and Fenton!  I hope ya'll were successful in finding a 
Lincoln's and relocating the Connecticut Warbler.

Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA

   

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