Saturday morning, 7 May 2005, the birding trip I led at the Mount Rogers
Naturalist Rally had a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It was just under
3,800 feet elevation in Grindstone Campground, Smyth County, Va. It was
actively moving about the small saplings in the sparse understory. This is
in the historic local breeding population area of Southwest Virginia's
Southern Blue Ridge.
Few trees have leafed out at that elevation.
Also present were about six singing Least Flycatchers. They are also part
of a traditional population and Grindstone has been called the "Least
Flycatcher capitol of Virginia." We saw no nest building, compared to
several years ago (a week later) when we had four or five nest under
construction.
Seperate field parties had Pine Siskins in the campground. My group had
one. Mike Evans' party had at least one in the back of Grindstone.
There were many American Robins -- all males. No combat among males.
Little singing among the robins, suggestings many females may no yet be at
that elevation. However, a male was carrying nesting material so at least
one pair is probably underway.
Some campers had seed trays out and were attracting Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
to temporary feeders.
The weather was awesome. It was one of the largest, if not the largest
turnout in recent years.
Lots of birders and naturlists enjoyed meeting and talking with author
Barbara Kingsolver who was with her husband and daughter. She attended the
Friday night talk and was on a morning field trip.
Let's go birding......
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
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