The leading edge of a very strong cold front barrelled its way through
central Virginia last night, producing strong thunderstorms with torrential
downpours and very strong winds. Strong NW winds prevailed throughout most
of today and even this evening strong gusts coming across the mountaintop
rocked my van.
Instead of checking out the hawk watch this evening, I decided to take a
quick drive after work and headed over to the Boy Scout camp near Swoope in
Augusta County.
Arrived by 5:45 p.m. and glad there was still sufficient light to check out
the lake. American Bittern was located in "cove" directly across from dock
as you're viewing from the road near entrance to the camp. I probably
would have missed it had it not been for the fact I was watching a male
Wood Duck swim along the far shore close to the shoreline and it went
around the bittern.
Back near the dam I pulled onto the grassy pull off to check out the far
shore. Found several Wood Duck. I then heard what sounded like the single
note of a Red-Shouldered Hawk, only softer. I looked around and saw
neither hawk nor Blue Jay. It called again, again very similar to a short,
single note of a Red-Shouldered. Curiosity set in. I got out and began
scanning the water. There was a single Pied-billed Grebe but I felt
certain it had not come from that one. Across the way was a single male
Wood Duck. Couldn't have been the duck. I heard the call again but it was
coming closer to shore. I finally spotted another grebe a short distance
from the Pied-Grebe directly in front of where I was standing, just beyond
the row of shrubs lining the bank.
I telephoned Allen Larner, interrupting his dinner, to help me verify the
identification, an adult nonbreeding Horned Grebe looking very dapper in
its crisp plumage. And while talking to Allen, as I observed the grebe
through the scope, I was able to verify the Horned Grebe was making the
Red-shouldered Hawk-like single call note.
I believe this is my personal earliest record of a Horned Grebe.
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
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