This morning I visited two ponds, recently created at the King Family Vineyards
www.kingfamilyvineyards.com in Crozet, Western Albemarle County. Two Solitary
and one Spotted Sandpiper, Rusty and Red-winged Blackbirds, Killdeer, 6 Snipes,
Blue-winged Teals, Osprey, Great Blue Heron overhead, Wood Ducks, Rough-winged
and Tree Swallows and yes, Canada Geese. The son of the owners, Carrington
King, who oversees the operation of the winery and will be owner in time,
introduced himself to me and said that he is developing intermittent wetlands
specifically to attract waterfowl. He is also creating warm season grass areas
around the ponds and in time expects to extend them further. In addition there
is a 6 acre lake on the property. He is very keen about birds and birders and
welcomes people to come to see the birds. In fact, soon there will be a sign
saying so.
Other birds reported there this month by other members of the Monticello Bird
Club are Pectoral Sandpipers, large numbers of Yellowlegs, Barn and Bank
Swallows, Green-winged Teals, Coots. Carrington says he as had other waterfowl
including Shovelers, Pintails, Black Ducks, Cormorants, Canvasback once,
Scaups. This place should be interesting in late summer when the ponds have
been partially drained to encourage new grass growth. There will be more
shoreline exposed which I expect will attract shorebirds going south.
To support this noble effort I went into the winery (very beautiful with
terraces looking out at the Blue Ridge, surrounded by the lovely rural Piedmont
countyside - tables set up for guests who come to taste the wine) and bought a
bottle of viognier (a white wine). The April issue of Saveur (a gourmet food
magazine) said, "It may well be America's best viognier." Haven't tried it
yet.
Jennifer Gaden, Albemarle County
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