[va-bird] NVBC Highland Co. Weekend, Feb. 23-25

 VA Birders, The 13 Northern Virginia Bird Club members who took part in our
Winter Highland Co. weekend, Feb. 23-25, found at least 48 species of birds.
On Friday afternoon, Feb. 23, we birded in Staunton and Augusta Co. with
Allen Larner. Highlights there were 13 species of waterfowl, including
CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, and a TUNDRA SWAN. On Saturday, Feb. 24, we drove to
Highland Co. Soon after reaching the bottom of the mountains, near
Headwaters, we found a group of WILD TURKEYS in a field on the right side of
the road, At McDowell, we found at least 2 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES at some
feeders. When we reached Monterey, 6 local birders from the Highland-Bath
Bird Club joined us. After picking up sandwiches which we had ordered in
advance from the Frosty Bun Shoppe in town, we carpooled to the Blue Grass
area. Along the way, we stopped and saw a BALD EAGLE on a nest, and then we
continued up to the Snowy Mountain area. The road to the top had not been
plowed, and it still had some snow on it, so one of the local birders with
anSUV kindly drove some of us who didn't have an SUV up to the top. We
barelygot out of the car when 2 immature GOLDEN EAGLES flew up and circled
overhead, giving us excellent views. They were followed by a pair of COMMON
RAVENS, the first of many ravens we saw and heard that day. After lunch, we
went back to Blue Grass to look for the ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK we had missed in
the morning. Thanks to a pair of ROCK PIGEONS, which we stopped to check
because we weren't sure at first what they were, we saw a hawk fly into a
tree out in the center of the field on Rt. 642. At first, we could only see
its back, and it took us some time and several field guides before we
decidedit had to be the ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK which had been reported in the
area. Only then did it make a short flight and let us see its front--letting
us know that we had indeed made the correct ID! I must add that Saturday was
a glorious day to be out in Highland Co., where we observed many newborn
lambs and calves in addition to the birds, even if we didn't find all of the
birds we had hoped to see. On Sunday, Feb. 25, we awoke to a snowstorm,
whichbrought 5-6 inches of new snow to the area, and cancelled our birding
trip for that morning. Good birding, Val Kitchens Arlington, VA

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