I am thinking about trying to find the Dickcissels mentioned below this Friday,
but it's a haul for me (at least 1.5 hrs drive). Before I use precious
autofood, has anyone checked them out since the more recent post that mentioned
mowing in the fields nearby? Also, how early in the morning should I plan on
being there?
Scott Priebe
Springfield, VA
----- Original Message -----
From: Jay Keller<mailto:azure.jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: VA-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:VA-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 11:29 AM
Subject: [Va-bird] Culpeper Co - New Dickcissel pocket, and Broad-winged Hawk
VA-Birders,
I completed my fourth point count survey for the Audubon Culpeper Basin IBA
this morning, this time in the Stevensburg area (just west of Remington).
These surveys force one to bird areas that might go otherwise unbirded, and
to stay in one spot for longer than at least I normally do! Therefore, I
was able to find some interesting birds I'd probably have driven past
without noting.
I found a total of 9 DICKCISSELS just south of the town of Stevensburg along
Blackjack Road. This can be found by taking Batna Rd south from Rte 3, then
making the first right onto Blackjack. The highest concentration of birds
was near the intersection of Blackjack and Alvere Rds, most of them singing
males. I was previously unaware of this pocket of Dickcissels, and not sure
if anyone else is either. It easily rivals Grassdale Rd in nearby Remington
for numbers and ability to get close-up views. It felt like I was in Texas!
There were lots of BOBWHITES, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, and BLUE GROSBEAKS
around as well. Perhaps the best bird was the juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK
that posed nicely in a tree with its gleaming white breast for several
minutes along Greens Corner Rd. Also notable were three well-seen SAVANNAH
SPARROWS I that scattered from the roadside as I walked by, short
non-pumping tails, face pattern, etc. There seem to be small numbers of
them scattered around this Summer, as I have found them in recent weeks in
Nokesville, Remington, and now here.
A brief stop in Remington along Sumerduck following the survey produced
nothing notable. List below is complete for Stevensburg, including point
count data as well as between-points birds observed.
Take Care,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
Location: VA - Culpeper Co, Stevensburg
Number of species: 52
Northern Bobwhite 12
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Killdeer 3
Mourning Dove 35
Chimney Swift 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 5
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 12
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 15
Fish Crow 2
Horned Lark 4
Barn Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 9
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Eastern Bluebird 7
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 22
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 18
Brown Thrasher 6
European Starling 145
Cedar Waxwing 8
Prairie Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 17
Eastern Towhee 8
Chipping Sparrow 7
Field Sparrow 15
Savannah Sparrow 3
Grasshopper Sparrow 21
Song Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 26
Blue Grosbeak 8
Indigo Bunting 35
Dickcissel 9
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Eastern Meadowlark 42
Common Grackle 24
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Orchard Oriole 18
American Goldfinch 19
House Sparrow 35
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