Taking a break from household chores, Gordy Adamski and I headed to Highland
County for the day. Once we crossed over the county line the temperatures
dipped down to below zero. By the time we headed back late afternoon it had
reached a balmy 26 degrees. Crystal clear skies with westerly breeze
reigned throughout the day.
Along the way we met up with folks from Rockingham Bird Club including John
Irvine, Jr. and Tom Lord and a group from the Virginia Beach area who had
scoped out a distant Rough-legged Hawk along the southern end of Hevener Rd.
near Blue Grass Valley Road.
Gordy and I concentrated efforts in the Blue Grass area in search of eagles
and Rough-legged. One back road leading up to southeastern side of Snowy
Mountain was snow covered and without 4-wheel drive we turned back.
We made several loops around Blue Grass and down Blue Grass Valley Road but
we were unable to locate any eagles.
In the morning we observed a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK that I photographed.
In reviewing images, plumage, including shade-like markings in the flight
feathers, it's a dead-ringer of the Rough-legged that wintered in the same
area the winter of 2005-06. Images of both are posted side-by-side at the
link below.
Around 12:20 we returned back to the same area and instead of the lighter
phased, Gordy spotted a striking dark-phased Rough-legged circling high
overhead.
The third Rough-legged, a mottled version between a dark and intermediate
phase was located circling over the ridge directly behind the Westco lumber
yard along Rt. 220 north of Monterey. It circled for a while before setting
wings and quickly flying north along the ridge.
No crossbills, finches or grosbeak could be found.
Other birds of note:
RED-TAILED HAWK - 3 south of Monterey along Rt. 220
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - 1 adult perched in tree along Jackson River south of
Monterey & Rt. 84
AMERICAN KESTREL- only 2
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
BELTED KINGFISHER - 1
LINK TO ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/Rough-LeggedHawk_link.htm
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Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
Digital Photography, including Birds of Virginia:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com
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