[va-bird] Kerr Lake -- Ross's Goose and more

Six members of the Augusta Bird Club participated in our 2nd winter trip to
Kerr Lake in Mecklenburg County this past weekend.  This is a very
interesting part of the state that seems to get little reporting attention
from birders.  The area has a nice mix of forests, fields, scrub and water
habitats that, at least to those of us from the western mountains, is a
welcome change.  We tallied 69 species (2 more than last year).  Higlights
included:

15 Bald Eagles in Trailrace Park (below the damn) including 2 adults on
Saturday.  Initially most were seen perching in the trees on the far shore
with 5 eagles in one tree and 4 in another nearby -- almost like a scene
from Alaska.  Sunday only 5 were seen here.

1 Ross's Goose associating with about 15 Canada Geese along the shore by
North Bend Park. The bird was spotted by Liz Reed from the observation
platform by the visitor center.  We drove into the Park to get better views
and to confirm the identification.  3 Tundra Swans were present near the
shore between the dam and the visitor center. 

Complete List:

Pied-billed Grebe (2)
Horned Grebe (3)
Double-creasted Cormorant
Ruddy Duck (1 @ Occoneechee S.P.; found by Nancy Corwin)
Tundra Swan (3)
Mute Swan (4)
Ross's Goose
Canada Goose
American Wigeon (raft of 50+ near dam)
Gadwall (many below dam)
Mallard
American Black Duck
Lesser Scaup (1 male)
Bufflehead (bunches of 'em)
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle 
Northern Harrier (@ Dick Cross WMA)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull (hundreds, mostly adults)
Herring Gull (1 First winter bird)
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker (1 juvenal)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Norhtern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
E. Starling
Brown-headed Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
American Pipit (small flock @ Dick Cross WMA)
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Yellow-rumper Warbler
Pine Warbler
Fox Sparrow (4 or 5)
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-Eyed Junco
Field Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark 
Common Grackle 

Of the species that we recorded last year, there were a number of notable
absences this year, including Bonaparte's Gull, Loggerhead Shrike,
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Palm Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker and
that most remarkable sighting of all, the Yellow Warbler that apparently
spent part of the 2001-2002 winter at Tailrace Park.  

We look forward to returning next winter, hoping for a warmer weekend.

John Spahr
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.

Other related posts: