[va-bird] Augusta County -- Elliott Knob birding

Saturday morning, May 26 -- Lisa Hamilton, Allen Larner and I birded Elliott
Knob.  We did the summit and the eastern ascent from the Rt 42.  Elliott
Knob, at 4463 feet, is the highest peak in Augusta County.  It is located
west of Buffalo Gap and is accessible by foot from several directions via
trails.  Vehicle access requires a high-clearance 4 WD vehicle plus special
permission and a key to the gate for the only road to the top.  The purpose
of this trip was to search for breeding evidence of some high elevation
species, which was accomplished for several.  

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER --  Our prime target.  This species has been seen
and/or heard up there during past breeding seasons by multiple parties.  We
saw 5 singing males and Lisa saw one female associated with two fledged
young.  This represents, I believe, the first confirmed breeding at this
location for this species.  An adult male carrying food was also seen (JS).
These were all seen on or near the summit in spruce or pine groves.

CANADA WARBLER -- Quite a few were encountered in the various rhododendron
and mixed shrubbery thickets, including one juvenile bird.  In one of the
thickets under the power cut Allen and I flushed a bird out of a low shrub.
That bird stayed nearby and uttered alarm chips and seemed to feign a broken
wing.  It appeared to want to lure us away.  I'm not sure if Canada Warblers
are known for such a distraction display, if that is what it was.  Its mate
also joined the fray, chipping away from another shrub.  Anyway, we were
convinced that a nest was in the vicinity and spent a few minutes in search
of it to no avail.  We did not persist, not wanting to prolong our
disturbance of the birds.

MOURNING WARBLER -- No dice.  Stephen Rottenborn had reported this species
during the breeding season up here in the past.  Indeed there are adequate
habitats for it.  We visited some of these open areas with raspberry canes
and low bordering trees, but without success.  

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE -- Approximately 10 birds were identified by call,
song and good visual detail.  A family group of 4 or 5 was seen along the
road and power cut near the top.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET -- This may be the first recorded sighting of this
species in this location.  At least two and probably three adults were heard
singing or seen, all within stands of spruce.  One stand is near the very
top where the dirt road ends and the other is near the small pond.

Other birds for which we found breeding evidence included:
American Robin (fledged young)
Veery (at least 3 singing males on territory)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (many singing males in appropriate territory)
Ovenbird (1 fledged young)
Dark-eyed Junco (multiple fledged young)
Eastern Towhee (1 fledged young)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female carrying food with calling young nearby)

Also seen or heard on or near the summit were Cedar Waxwings (many; all
adults), Chimney Swifts, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Brown
Thrasher, Gray Catbird and Carolina Wren.  On the way down (below 3000 ft)
we heard a few Ovenbirds, some Red-eyed Vireos and one Hooded Warbler.

Other hoped for birds that were not found included Winter Wren,
Black-throated Green, Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers, and Red-Breasted
Nuthatch.

On the way home we swung through the Swoope area to search for Northern
Harrier and Loggerhead Shrike, both of which had been seen here recently.
We found the female harrier perched on a fence post on Livick Road.  The
shrike eluded us.  Other birds of interest in these open fields and pastures
included American Kestrel (one adult male and one juvenile), several
Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Bobwhite, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak and
Grasshopper Sparrow.  No Dickcissels -- drat.

I might check out some other higher points in Augusta County (e.g. Ramsey's
Draft and Reddish Knob) later this week.  I'd also appreciated hearing form
anyone in this part of the Shenandoah Valley regarding special avian finds
during the months of June and July for possible inclusion in the new
Virginia Birding publication.

John Spahr

  
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