I spent part of the day birding local ponds and Carvins Cove Reservoir. At
the Cove I saw my first of the season BG GNATCATCHER and a SAVANNAH SPARROW
which was a surprise since there's so little suitable habitat. Also present
were 2
female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS,a pair of WOOD DUCKS and 9 BONAPARTE'S GULLS,
with 2 of them in full black hood. Next I headed for Daleville and
Greenfield Pond and vicinity. As soon as I arrived at Greenfield I spotted 10
DC
CORMORANTS flying over heading North. Present were 2 OSPREY one of which had
just
caught a fish. Both hung around the whole time I was there, once I spotted one
of them sitting in a tree in someone's backyard away from the ponds. Other
highlights were 5 more SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and 3 EASTERN KINGBIRDS. EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS are doing well there as I counted 16, which is conservative. There
was
one BLUE-WINGED TEAL present after 8 being there the day before. On the way
home I stopped at Murray's Pond in Hollins, which almost never disappoints.
Birds
there included a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, a GREAT EGRET and 3 GREEN HERONS.
Also noted were 4 PURPLE MARTINS inspecting a Martin house in the backyard of
one of the residents whose property borders the pond. The only ducks were a
pair of male WOOD DUCKS, a pair of MALLARDS, and a female RING-NECKED DUCK.
There are 4 CANADA GEESE on nests around the pond with several prehistoric size
Snapping Turtles lurking within a few feet of the nests. They must weigh at
least 50 lbs!! Last stop was Lakeview on Williamson Road where one of the
two
male NORTHERN SHOVELERS remains. Also present was another pair of WOOD DUCKS.
Mike Purdy
Roanoke
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