[Bristol-Birds] New Species for Buchanan County

Area Birders,
Buchanan county VA is a nearly dry county when it comes to having water used
by migrating waterfowl. Only occasionally is some species of waterfowl other
than Mallards or Wood Ducks found on the Levisa River. One reason for this
is probably due to the numerous houses built along the river. Another is
probably the coal mining that has been on going for a century. So it was
with some interest that we listened, when a lady that works with Ed Talbott
at the Buchanan County Public Library, told Ed about a duck she and her
husband had seen on a beaver pond near their home. The pond was in a very
remote wooded area.

Ed Talbott III and his father Ed Talbott II, along with myself (Roger
Mayhorn) went to investigate on the morning of March 3rd. The duck was still
there and it was found to be a female Bufflehead. As strange as it may sound
to those of you living near South Holston Lake or the weir dam, this is the
first recorded sighting of this species within Buchanan county. The bird was
video taped and photographed. A member of this species has probably not
received so much attention in years.
For those interested photos have been posted at
http://www.bcplnet.org/birdclub/gallery/Bufflehead.htm

After finding the Bufflehead we spent a few hours birding the area. A large
part of the area was grassland and overgrown strip mining sites.
Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks were found. The Red-shouldereds really
put on a show for us as they circled, called, then suddenly folded their
wings and dropped like a stone into the valley.

Enjoy the birds,

Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County Bird Club

Following is a complete list of birds observed:

Accipter sp?  1
American Crow  2
American Robin  3
Barred Owl  1
Belted Kingfisher  2
Blue Jay  1
Bufflehead  1 female ? 1st recorded sighting within Buchanan County
Carolina Wren  2
Common Raven  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
Eastern Meadowlark  1
Eastern Towhee  3
Field Sparrow  1
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ruffed Grouse  2
Song Sparrow  7
Swamp Sparrow  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Turkey Vulture  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-throated Sparrow  6


Cottontail Rabbit  1






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