I stopped by Carvins Cove Reservoir this evening around 5pm. I scanned the
lake and noticed a large number of COMMON LOONS on the water. After counting 60
I called Bill and Katie James. Loons are Katie's favorite birds. A short time
later they arrived and we did another count. It seemed like everywhere we
looked there were rafts of loons at both ends of the lake. We finally came up
with
200 while seeing more coming in from up high. Most were in breeding plumage
with a few still in transition. A few of them were calling. While we were still
counting loons a flock of 250+ DC CORMORANTS flew over in a huge V and
circled the lake, finally landing at the upper end of the lake. As they made
their
first flyover several of the loons called to them. Also present was a flock of
25 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a HERRING GULL, several RING-BILLED GULLS, a dozen
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 3 OSPREY, and 3 or 4 SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS. We heard a RAVEN call several times while we were observing all of
the
water birds.
Before going to Carvins Cove I went by Greenfield in Botetourt where I ran
into Clark and Stephanie Hill. They had already counted 17 BLUE-WINGED TEAL,
3 OSPREY, 6 GREAT BLUE HERONS, several BARN AND TREE SWALLOWS, 8 SNIPE, a
NORTHERN HARRIER and few LESSER YELLOWLEGS. After I arrived we observed a flock
of
70 DC CORMORANTS heading north, a COOPER'S HAWK, an AMERICAN KESTREL and a
COOT. Also present were a dozen or so LESSER SCAUP and a pair of GREEN-WINGED
TEAL.
Back in Roanoke at Lakeview retirement home, at the pond, was a GREAT
EGRET and a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL. I checked Murray's Pond but there were
only
several CANADA GEESE, two on nests, and a couple of ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS.
Mike Purdy
Roanoke, Va.
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