[Bristol-Birds] Scott Co., VA Bald Eagle nest appears to be downstream from Hiltons, VA
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:31:51 -0400
During the past two months, Roger Lamaster and I have been
working to establish a nesting record for the Bald Eagle in
Scott County, VA. The results are now fairly certain but the
actual eyes-on-the-nest have not materialized.
A landowner along the North Fork Holston River, upstream
from the Wadlow Gap Bridge north of Kingsport TN, has
told Roger that he personally has seen the nest.
In late spring of 2013, the landowner and a friend came
upon the nest and two adults were at the nest. Two eaglets
could be seen in the nest. This spring the landowner says
he saw two adults at the nest early on but did not get a
chance to follow up on nesting success.
A Kingsport, TN hunter is reported to have a photograph
of the nest. He was out in the field when he found it and
was able to get a photo at that time. One of our birders
knows the hunter and has seen the photo.
The challenge is that this location may be six miles or more
up the river from Wadlow Gap Rd. bridge and downstream
from Hiltons, VA where US421/US58 crosses the river. It
appears the property owner lives at a Hiltons, VA address.
The nest is on private land with no easy access. The owner says
it is a very long walk thru difficult conditions to reach the nest.
However, the nest is said to be at the river's edge.
Due to various problems, the owner has canceled planned hikes
to guide Roger to the nest.
In the last four or five years, Dan Long, former biology faculty
member at Virginia Highlands Community College at Abingdon,
VA called in a few bird reports of interest in that area.
He saw an adult Bald Eagle flying down stream on the North
Fork Holston River about two miles above Hiltons in Scott Co.,
VA. He was fishing by boat on the river, 6 July 2010, when
an eagle was seen at low and close range.
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
Other related posts:
- » [Bristol-Birds] Scott Co., VA Bald Eagle nest appears to be downstream from Hiltons, VA - Wallace Coffey
