Hi all,
Andrew Rapp, My mom, and I headed to the mountains of northwestern Augusta and
western Rockingham Counties today in hopes of finding 2 life birds for Andrew
(Red Crossbill and Ruffed Grouse).
Arriving at the 4-way intersection below Reddish Knob just after 7am we failed
to find Red Crossbills on our first try. We did find 1 RT Hummingbird, 1 Hairy
Woodpecker, 1 BH Vireo, and a Cedar Waxwing nest active with a pair of adult
birds about 15-20 feet off the ground in a small tree on the WV side of the
road that goes toward Bother Knob. Working our way up the road to Reddish
Knob, in Augusta County we spotted 1 Ruffed Grouse (Andrew's lifer #1 for the
day), 5 BC Chickadees, 1 Winter Wren, 1 BG Gnatcatcher, 1 Veery, and Warblers
(Ovenbird, B&W, Chestnut-sided, BT Blue, and BT Green). The Winter Wren was
the surprise of the day, about half way from the 4-way intersection to the top
of Reddish Knob. After consulting with Google Maps, the road does mark the
state line in this area, and the wren flew back and forth across the road so
can be claimed for both Augusta, VA, and Pendleton, WV. We heard it singing,
saw, and photographed it. The GPS
coordinates are: N38.46920,W79.24022. Link to a set of photos of the wren:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabrielmapel/sets/72157634580145649/ If anyone ;
wants an audio recording of the wren singing, let me know and I'll be happy to
send it along.
Back at the 4-way intersection we successfully found 3 Red Crossbills (Andrew's
second lifer of the day) after a bit of waiting, along with a Yellow-rumped
Warbler. Along the road between the 4-way intersection and Briery Branch Dam
we found Tom Mizell and 3 Northern Flickers, 1 Acadian Flycatchers, and
warblers (C. Yellowthroats, Hooded, No. Parula, and Yellow-rumped).
Next we were Switzer Dam bound in hopes of snagging Andrew's Blackburnian
Warbler for the year. At the Switzer Area we were successful in finding the
Blackburnian and also found another Ruffed Grouse, RT Hummingbird, Acadian
Flycatcher, BC Chickadee, BG Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, and warblers
(Worm-eating, La. Waterthrush, Redstart, Parula, Blackburnian, ant BT Green).
Upon arrival back at my house we heard and then spotted a Vesper Sparrow in the
fields adjacent to my house, a new yard bird! Thanks to Andrew and my mom for
a fun day of birding and good birding to all,
Gabriel Mapel
New Hope, Va
