[va-bird] Shenandoah NP along the Parkway and Highland Co, 4/28-29/05

VA BIRDers,
 

I traveled south along the Shenandoah NP parkway on 4/28 starting at about
0800 to learn about the migration along this corridor.  I drove the road
from where Rt 211 intersects the parkway (Thornton Gap) south to US 33; I
used the vast majority of pull outs as point count stops plus drove through
picnic areas, cabin area, and a few trailheads (such as the Limberlost Trail
- which was better than average for the day), etc.  I continued straight
south to I-64 as I was running late to meet with John Spahr.  The wind was
strong out of the west, it was cool, and nearly all deciduous trees and
bushes were leafless or just barely budding out - note the road traverses an
area that is mostly above 3000 feet.  Highlights were few - migration has
just barely started at this elevation with early migrants making up the
bulk.  Of note was a single Broad-winged Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near
the south end of the tunnel at Thornton Gap, many Blue-headed Vireos (easily
pished in at the Limberlost parking lot), a few Common Ravens, two Winter
Wrens (one near the traditional rocky site near the aforementioned tunnel),
and few Black & White Warblers, a Worm-eating Warbler, and American
Redstarts and Ovenbirds in limited numbers.

 

Below US 33, the southern stretch of the parkway dips under 3000 feet for a
large portion of its length and the vegetation here was much more
leafed-out.  Although late in the morning, I encountered Wild Turkey,
Cerulean Warbler and more of the highlights listed above for the northern
stretch.

 

I finished out the day in Augusta County birding a few locations.  Best
highlight was a Nashville Warbler on the road across from Bell's Lane (the
location may be a potential migrant pocket).  Shorebirds on Bell's Lane were
Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and Wilson's
Snipe.  Late in the day I noted the Warbling Vireo recently mentioned by
John Spahr.

 

The next morning found me heading to Highland Co. It was overcast with occ.
sprinkles as I drove to my start - I spotted some snow under hidden ridges
well above 3000 feet.  I first visited the crossbill location downhill from
the Confederate Breastworks pull out.   I detected a couple of distant
Worm-eating Warblers plus Ovenbirds, Pine Warbler and a low elevation Wood
Thrush.  I headed west to the beginning of gravel road 642 which begins at
the West VA border and heads downhill into Blue Grass Valley.  On the way I
heard a "winged" Warbler on the east side of Lantz Mtn - not a traditional
Golden-winged Warbler location.  I made the gravel road and state line at
0800 and started the point counts from here stopping ca. 3 min. every 0.5
miles unless interesting habitat presented itself in-between points (as well
as driving slowly and carefully listening).  When all the neo-trops are "in"
this is an outstanding road to traverse but, similar to the Shenandoah NP
parkway (yes, it starts well above 3000 feet), it was too early for the bulk
of new migrants (again, the deciduous vegetation was nearly leafless at the
high attitude end).  Nonetheless, a fine time of birding with
representatives of nearly all species showing themselves for diagnostic
looks.  Highlights were Ruffed Grouse drumming at 1.6 mi (nr stone houses at
stream crossing), Cooper's Hawk calling, another accipiter calling - the
call was a single shrieking kre-ahhh! that was either a Cooper's or No.
Goshawk (given the proximity of the calling Cooper's - 0.5 mil beyond - I
tend to think the former is the correct ID), E. Screech Owl nearby in pines
at single shrieker location, YB Sapsucker well downhill, many Blue-headed
Vireos, Black-capped Chickadees, two singing Winter Wrens, a couple of
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, singing Hermit Thrush, a Wood Thrush, many
Black-throated Greens, very limited numbers of  Black & White Warblers,
American Redstarts, Ovenbirds and LA Waterthrush and a dozen DE Juncos.
Notable for this portion of the trip was the absence of any flycatcher.

 

Entering Blue Grass Valley (where it started to drizzle and, yes, it quickly
got worse) I found the Vesper Sparrow pair near the road, met up with E.
Meadowlarks at nearly every corner, many Field Sparrows, and my first
Bobolink.  The latter was a single mixed in with some Red-winged BB.  Later,
I found a few more "Blinks" but all told only tallied 8.  The only
flycatcher found was E. Phoebe.  I visited a yard near a barn that was in W.
VA and noted a Savannah Sparrow on M.O.'s fence but no warblers in the back.
Down the road I found the Cliff Swallows which may be using the
aforementioned barn.  Yellow Warblers were along the road as I drove to Rt
250.  A pond held two Greater Yellowlegs.  Lastly, I visited the Beverage's
feeders in Monterey and noted a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

 

Below is a list of the Shenandoah parkway and Highland Co. counts.

 

Kurt Gaskill

 

Shenandoah Parkway

 

Wild Turkey 1

Turkey Vulture 15

Broad-winged Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 2

YB Sapsucker 1

 

Downy WP 1

Hairy WP 1

No. Flicker 4

E. Phoebe 1

White-eyed Vireo 1

 

Blue-headed Vireo 10

Am. Crow 12

Com. Raven 5

Barn Sw 1

C. Chickadee 1

 

T. Titmouse 5

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

C. Wren 1

W. Wren 3

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 2

 

E. Bluebird 1

Am. Robin 16

Cerulean Warbler 1

Black & White 6

Am. Redstart 7

 

Worm-eating 1

Ovenbird 2

Hooded 1

E. Towhee 34

Chipping Sp 15

 

Field Sp 2

White-throated Sp 5

DE Junco 10

Brown-headed Cowbird 12

Am. Goldfinch 7

 

Highland Co.

 

C. Goose 4

Wood Duck 5

Ruffed Grouse 1

Great Blue Heron 1

Turkey Vulture 2

 

Osprey 1

Bald Eagle 1, adult, chasing the Osprey

Cooper's Hawk 1

accipiter sp. 1

Killdeer 2

Greater Yellowlegs 2

 

Mourning Dove 6

E. Screech Owl 1

Barred Owl 1, crossed the road at the bottom of the switch back fr
breastworks - Am. Crow got on it in 6 seconds

Red-bellied WP 2

YB Sapsucker 1

 

Downy WP 1

Hairy WP 3

No. Flicker 6

PiIeated WP 1

E. Phoebe 2

 

Blue-headed V 7

Blue Jay 4

Am. Crow 6

Com Raven 1

Tree Sw 5

 

Cliff Sw 3

Barn Sw 35

Black-capped Chickadee 4

T. Titmouse 4

White-breasted Nuthatch 3

 

House Wren 5

Winter Wren 2

RC Kinglet 2

E. Bluebird 5

Hermit Thrush 2

 

Wood Thrush 2

Am. Robin 40

Brown Thrasher 8

E. Starling 50

winged warbler sp. 1

 

Yellow 3

Black-throated Green 16

Pine 1

Black & White 2

Am. Redstart 1

 

Worm-eating 2

Ovenbird 7

LA Waterthrush 2

E. Towhee 6

Chipping Sp 15

 

Field Sp 6

Vesper Sp 2

Savannah Sp 3

Song Sp 6

White-thr Sp 6

 

DE Junco 12

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, male

Bobolink 8

Red-winged BB 100

E. Meadowlark 25

 

Com. Grackle 75

Brown-headed Cowbird 4

House Finch 7

Am. Goldfinch 30

House Sparrow 30


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