Trip Reports
Skyline Drive - Eight members of the RBC made the trip to Skyline Drive on Thursday, August 14. Our first stop was the Pocosin Cabin Trail where we found our first good pocket of activity just past the cabin. In this group we found Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Baltimore Oriole, American Redstart and Canada, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Kentucky and Blackburnian Warblers. Elsewhere along the path we found several Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds, an Ovenbird, and a Veery. We also found a Cedar Waxwing nest overhanging the trail. One bird was perched beside the nest and a second was bringing leaves to the nest as if in the
process of construction. We were surprised to see this as it would seem to be late in the season for nest building. (Greg verified a bird sitting on the nest on August 24).
We continued on to the South River Picnic Area and found another mixed flock along the Appalachian Trail. This group of birds included American Redstarts, Black-and-White, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers along with a Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. After enjoying a picnic lunch William Leigh found another mixed flock in approximately the same area as he found one the previous Sunday. The trees beside the picnic area were alive with male and female Cerulean, Worm-eating, Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided, and Blackburnian Warblers and Redstarts, Scarlet Tanagers and Red-eyed Vireos. After following the flock into the picnic area we discovered another interesting group of birds on the far side near the entrance. In a low bush we found multiple Eastern Wood Pewees, Eastern Phoebes, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The trip concluded in the early afternoon with a total of 35 species including 10 warblers._ Greg Moyers
Hillandale Park - Eight members of the RBC showed up on August 15 for our last summer walk finding 27 species. The morning started out with glimpses of yellow flashes in one of the cedar trees near the cabin that got our attention. The bird was very evasive and we did not get good looks, so we had to move on with a question mark in our notes. It was a very quiet walk but several White-breasted Nuthatches positioned themselves along much of the trail and cheered us on for most of the walk. American Redstarts and Black-and-White Warblers fed near the golf course. We enjoyed several colorful looks at Indigo Buntings and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. The Gnatcatchers were in the field to the south of the cabin and they repeatedly flew from low tree perches to the grasses to glean insects. Very entertaining. After two hours of wondering what that yellow bird was at the beginning of the walk, and thanks to Greg Moyer's perseverance we got a second chance. We saw more yellow flashes back where the walk started, and this time Greg identified a Hooded Warbler in the same cedar tree to solve the early mystery. _ Tom Mizell
Bird Sightings – Ken Hinkle
Over the summer break both Greg Moyers and William Leigh have done an excellent job of keeping us posted on bird activity in the county. Greg is still making his alternating by-weekly trips to the Switzer Dam area to the west and Skyline Drive to the east. Greg found 11 species of warblers at Switzer Dam on June 28 that was a high for the year up to that time. He also recorded a Spotted Sandpiper at Leonard’s Pond on June 29.
Greg continues to have good success finding Canada Warblers on the trail below Pocosin Cabin observing as many as six there on July 19. In the first part of the summer he regularly saw the Yellow-breasted Chat at Eaton Hollow Overlook where chats have been for the last few years.
On the 4th of July William Leigh saw Blue Grosbeaks and heard Grasshopper Sparrows along the Spring Creek Road in sight of my place, but alas, I have been shut out on both of these species this summer. Everett Shank also saw a Blue Grosbeak in the same spot, and Karen Shank reported a
family of Red-headed Woodpeckers further out the Spring Creek Road where it crosses North River. Karen recently reported Common Nighthawks at Spring Creek.
Tom Lord saw a family of Cooper’s Hawks, two adults and four immature ones at Vista Heights in Bridgewater in early July. Kay and Ralph Gibson found another hot spot for Whip-poor-wills along Ore Bank Road in June.
Probably one of the more exciting finds over the summer was an American Avocet at Leonard’s Pond on July 19 which both Greg and William were lucky enough to see. Shore bird activity has been picking up at Leonard’s Pond in recent weeks with Spotted, Solitary, Pectoral and Least Sandpipers among the sightings. On August 10 an Eurasian Collared Dove was seen on the road to Leonard’s Pond.
A remarkable variety of birds totaling 40 some species were found on July 26 at Switzer Dam by four members of the RBC including 12 warbler species. Most of the birds were concentrated in two major flocks with one including Redstart, Blackburnian, Hooded, Chestnut-sided, Canada, Black-throated Green and Worm-eating Warblers. The second flock featured Cedar Waxwings, a Scarlet Tanager, and a Goldfinch bathing together. Another bunch of warblers was also present including a Louisiana Waterthrush devouring a moth.
On August 12 Greg Moyers reported a Cape May Warbler on Shenandoah Mountain at the stone wall going toward Flagpole Knob, and on August 19 he saw a flock of turkeys both adults and juveniles on Bother Knob.
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