All,
I birded the Swoope area in Western Augusta county this afternoon. After a
30 - 40 minute wait I was able to relocate the Loggerhead Shrike along
Cattleman Road (route 876) today. Bird was seen about a .2 mile from
intersection of 876 and 707 or Levick road. For better directions see
earlier post by Allen Larner. Anyway this bird was actively hunting in area
with tall grass and large brush pile between metal gates one set of gates
are green and the other Red and Silver. Also seen at the same spot and prior
to the sighting of the Loggerhead there was a Peregrine Falcon attacking an
adult Red-tail Hawk and then swooping over the fields in a strong glide. 2
Savanah Sparrows seen along Levick Road 707 heading left at T with Cattleman
road. A local birder reports Short-eared Owls and a female pheasant in areas
adjacent to the Shrike spot. A lone shorebird was noted in a grassy wet area
but I could not identify it due to distance and the interference of a group
of very curious cows who kept placing themselves betwixt me and the line of
sight for the shorebird. It was kind of funny and then too there was
something about those curious cows that stole my resolve to identify the
distant bird.... ...... .....
Additionally there was an accipiter also seen at the Shrike area so all told
that was 3 raptors and two honorary raptors (Shrike and Raven) in ~ hour
of birding.
William Leigh
Bridgewater VA
leightern@xxxxxxx
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