While our ornithology class was at the flooded field near Briery
Branch looking at a pair of wigeons, both species of yellowlegs,
Killdeer, etc. one of the students spotted an Osprey flying toward
us from the direction of Shenandoah Mt. That got our attention and
soon we had spotted and watched another Osprey, a female
Northern Harrier, a Cooper's Hawk, and five or six Broad-winged
Hawks moving northeast. We had to leave too soon but it
appeared to be a pretty steady stream of birds flying northeast in
the same general direction. When the students piled out of the van
back at EMU, Matt spotted a Broad-wing flying right over the
science center. So it appears that this might be a good hawk day
in the valley.
Matt also spotted a Double-crested Cormorant on North River in
Bridgewater. We also had our first Chimney Swift today too.
There is still one Snow Goose hanging around on a farm pond west
of Park View. It has been there all winter roaming around the pond
and the farm with the domestic geese. I don't quite understand the
behavior but it has happened here before at other locations.
More later,
Clair Mellinger
Biology Department
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg VA 22802
(540) 432-4409 Fax: (540) 432-4488
mellinac@xxxxxxx
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