Correction for web link. It's case sensitive. Sorry.
There have been recent sightings of Sandhill Crane in Virginia that raises
the question on their fall migration through the Commonwealth.
Migrating Sandhill Crane can and do fly at great heights, sometimes too
high to be seen from the ground. I strongly suspect quite a few are going
undetected for this very reason as they pass over Virginia. Quite possibly
they are coming down from Northern Ontario or the upper peninsula of
Michigan on their way to Florida.
On Oct. 3, 1999, at Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch several individuals (5+)
observed two very large birds with broad plank-like wings that were flying
so high they were small gray specs. Only with the aid of binoculars could
we see full head/neck extension and long legs trailing behind. The two
remained close together, almost wing-tip to wing-tip as they tracked SW. A
report documenting these two Sandhill Crane has been submitted to VARCOM
and is currently under review.
On Oct. 6, 2002, again from Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, I was the only one to
witness the early morning liftoff from the quarry area east of downtown
Waynesboro of five very large birds. I posted this sighting to VA-Bird but
did not confirm ID until slides were developed. A detailed report along
with slide and print have been submitted to VARCOM.
Below is link to our web site. Go to the Sandhill Crane link for
picture. It's not the best quality but it shows flight pattern and pale
neck/head extension against dark wings and long trailing legs, ascending
after taking off from Waynesboro, VA. They were a good distance to west
when photo was taken.
Brenda Tekin, Co-cordinator
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, VA
http://home.ntelos.net/~btkin/rockfish_gap_hawk_watch/
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