VA Birders,
A group of 8 Northern Virginia Bird Club members birded Highland Co. this
past weekend, June 10-12. We found 60 species of birds. Highlights on
Friday afternoon included a dozen or more BOBOLINKS in the Blue Grass Valley
and
both BALTIMORE & ORCHARD ORIOLES at the Potomac River near Rts. 220 & 642.
On Saturday morning, we went up on Forest Road 55 and found Brenda Tekin
looking at a MOURNING WARBLER about 3.5 mi. south of Rt. 84. Thanks Brenda!
We all had outstanding looks at 1 or 2 of these birds, and we also found LEAST
FLYCATCHERS, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, & ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS in the same
area. Another member of our club and her family joined us on Saturday morning
and then invited us to have lunch and do some birding on their Highland Co.
farm.
On Sunday morning, we went to another private farm (with permission),
this one in the Blue Grass Valley, where we had stunning looks at a
GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLER; we saw at least 3 of these birds. We also found CLIFF SWALLOWS at
the farm. Our last best bird was a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Rt. 644 in Blue
Grass.
In spite of diligent searching, we couldn't find a Ruffed Grouse anywhere
in the county for the second year in a row. Has anyone seen any grouse there
lately? If so, where did you see it/them?
For those who might be interested, we ordered sandwiches in advance from
the Frosty Bun Shoppe on Rt. 220 in Monterey (540-468-2253) and picked them up
Saturday morning. The bread is homemade and the sandwiches were great. We
also enjoyed dinners at both the Highland Inn, where we stayed, and the Stone
Hearth Restaurant.
Good birding,
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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