[va-bird] Highland County Oct 21-22, 2006

VA BIRDers,

 

As part of a larger effort to learn more about birds in Highland County,
Heidi Herd and I ventured to the county tallying birds mainly in the Back
Creek Valley/Bear Mountain area and also assisting Patti Reum's newly
established Hawk Watch on Bear Mountain (elevation 4400 feet); at the latter
Bev Leeuwenberg and Jen Folts joined in.  Top highlight of the trip was a
Clay-colored Sparrow mixed in with a flock of Chipping Sparrows on Back
Creek Valley Rd (600).  Other highlights of the trip were: Ruffed Grouse
(Bear Mtn), Golden Eagles (Hawk Watch), American Woodcock (Bear Mtn),
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Bear Mtn), Red-breasted Nuthatch (Back Creek), Hermit
Thrush (Bear Mtn, unusual for elevation), Gray Catbirds, large numbers of
Cedar Waxwings, Cape May Warbler (Back Creek), large numbers of Chipping
Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows (Bear Mtn), Fox Sparrow (NE of Monterey, Rt 631),
Lincoln's Sparrow (Back Creek), and Rusty Blackbirds (Bear Mtn, unusual for
elevation).  A total of 69 species representing 1238 individuals were
observed.

 

Kurt Gaskill

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