We were happy to conduct our annual Christmas Bird Count on the tree farm
(Newport, VA - Giles county) yesterday (our farm and adjacent properties - from
2300' to about 2800') and to be joined by two intrepid birders: Beth Lancaster
and Jennie McCoy. Intrepid because the winds were howling, the temps were
steady and then falling from the mid-20s and the birds - contrary to typical
behavior seemed to keep wanting to be seen in the most exposed windy locations
- thank you to both!!!!
Highlights of the day included a very inquisitive winter wren, 20+ pine
siskins, a hermit thrush, yellow-rumped warblers, purple finches and both types
of kinglets. The full-list for the farm (with some notable absences that we
attribute to the wind and weather) is included below...39 species for the day:
Red-tailed hawk -1
Black Vulture - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 15
Yellow-bellied sapsucker – 3
Downy Woodpecker – 11
Hairy Woodpecker – 5
Northern Flicker – 2
Pileated Woodpecker – 4
Blue Jay – 27
American Crow – 44
Common Raven – 2
Black-capped chickadee – 18
Carolina Chickadee – 14 (min)
Tufted Titmouse – 19 (min)
White-breasted Nuthatch – 15
Brown Creeper – 1
Carolina Wren – 14
Winter Wren – 1
Golden Crowned Kinglet – 7
Ruby Crowned Kinglet – 1
Song Sparrow – 13
White-throated Sparrow – 17
Field Sparrow – 9
Dark-eyed Junco – 50+
Purple Finch – 2
House Finch – 2
Pine Siskin – 21
American Goldfinch – 50+
Wild Turkey – 4
Mourning Dove – 7
Eastern Bluebird - 13
Hermit Thrush – 1
American Robin – 17
Northern Mockingbird – 4
Cedar Waxwing – 46
Starling – 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 14
Northern Cardinal – 22
Eastern Towhee – 13
Week of Birds –
Broad Winged Hawk – 1
American Kestrel – 1
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Tom BrobsonClover Hollow Christmas Tree FarmNewport, VA
