VA BIRDERS,
I thought some of you would be interested to know that Bill James and I
have started a Spring hawkwatch at Carvins Cove Reservoir. Carvins Cove
consists
of a medium sized lake surrounded by forest covered mountains and serves as
one of Roanoke's reservoirs. It lies just to the north of Roanoke and is in
both Botetourt Co. and Roanoke Co. It is about a mile west of Interstate 81.
Our
inspiration for trying a hawkwatch here goes back to last year when on two
consecutive days in late April we counted 49 migrating OSPREY at this site. The
dates were Apr. 22 and 23. This year we started March 1 and up until today we
had only counted 5 raptors. With warm SW winds today we managed to count 23
raptors, including an adult GOLDEN EAGLE and a MERLIN. Also counted today were
12 REDTAILS, 2 KESTRELS, a NORTHERN HARRIER, 3 SHARPSHINS, a COOPER'S HAWK plus
2 unidentified raptors.
We really don't know what to expect but I think we may get a fair number
of Osprey based on last years 2 day count. We're expecting our first Osprey any
day now.
Other birds of interest at the cove today were a flock of 80+ SCAUP,
probably LESSER, heading north, a flock of 27 male RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on
the
water, a flock of 200+ RING-BILLED GULLS moving north plus several much smaller
flocks, a flock of 130+ blackbirds going north, and a first of the season
PINE WARBLER singing a few notes.
I will keep the list-serve up to date as the season progresses.
Raptor totals to date
Bald Eagle 1
N. Harrier 1
Sharpshin 3
Cooper's 3
Redtail 14
Golden Eagle 1
Kestrel 2
Merlin 1
Unid. 2
Total 28
Mike Purdy
Roanoke, Va.
