Birders,
This morning, Rosemarie and I birded Reddish Knob in Augusta County and
adjacent areas in Rockingham County. Reddish Knob was reached from
Harrisonburg via Route 257 West onto Route 924 to the crest. FS 85 was
also birded to the rustic rest area. Trees were still leafless and our
expectations for a good birding day were quite low. Along Route 924,
we had heard a couple of Black-throated Green Warblers and a couple of
Ovenbirds. Our luck changed when we pulled into a small parking area
at the reservoir on Route 924. Seven RED CROSSBILLS were in leafless
bushes about 30 feet from our car (4 females, 3 males). They were
singing, as well as, giving their call notes, with 10x binoculars we
were up close and personal. Three other crossbills were singing about
25 yards away.
We proceeded up Rt. 924 for about 1/4 mile and six more flushed from
the gravel on the roadside, a few hundred yards further and three more
were seen in a leafless tree (2,1) for a total of 19! We believe all
the birds had been getting grit from the roadside. Nesting crossbills
have been observed in the same area in 2003 (JS, CM).
Continuing along, we saw/heard five BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.
At the junction of Rt. 924 and FS 85, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was perched
and we had great looks at about 100 feet.
Onward and upward to Reddish Knob (4397 feet), we saw a Ruffed Grouse
and a Wild Turkey.
Other birds of note were: Black-throated Blue Warbler (5),
Black-throated Green Warbler (10), Ovenbird (2), Black and White
Warbler (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3), Louisiana Waterthrush (2),
Hooded Warbler (1), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Red-eyed Vireos,
Blue-headed Vireos, Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern Kingbird,
Red-breasted Nuthatch and others for a trip total of 30 species.
Common Ravens (flying frogs) were almost constantly croaking overhead.
Off of FS 85 at an open area and quarry, we saw an Eastern Meadowlark,
seemingly out of place so far from a meadow.
Happy trails,
George Harris
Orange County
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