Buchanan County Bird Club Newsletter

Editors Roger & Lynda Mayhorn

(photos by Roger Mayhorn)

Strange Christmas Visitor to Buchanan County

 Ed Bailey of the Breaks community noticed this strange bird in a field on his farm on December 21, 2008. Later he contacted Buchanan County Bird Club member and neighbor, David Raines. David went to investigate and found this unusual shorebird, which he correctly identified as a juvenile Long-billed Curlew.

The Long-billed Curlew is the largest of the shorebirds, measuring anywhere from 20 to 26 inches long depending on the length of the bill, which can measure from 4 to 8 inches long. Juvenile birds have shorter bills than do adults. With wings extended the Long-billed curlew has a wingspan of 35 inches. This species was once a common nester in the grassland prairies and fields in the mid-west, but due to extensive hunting during the 1800s and the changing of its habitat from open fields to farmland in the early 1900s, its numbers have greatly been reduced. The curlew is now one of the most threatened shorebirds on the continent. According to VIRGINIA'S BIRDLIFE, or "GOLD BOOK", an annotated checklist of Virgina's birding records, this is the first bird of its species to be found anywhere in the mountains and valleys section of Virginia.

As soon as David realized how unusual the bird was, he contacted me (Roger Mayhorn) and my wife, Lynda, and Ed & Michelle Talbott, all fellow bird club members. Ed Talbott took video of the bird and I took several still photographs (two above) to document the unusual event. Soon other BCBC members, Don Carrier, Tom Hunter, Dave Worley and Travis Ratliff came to view this rare spectacle.

When the video and photos were posted to the Buchanan County Bird Club listserve and to VA-Birds, an internet listserve for Virginia birders, e-mails began pouring in from many birders in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Tennessee requesting permission and directions to come to see this unusual visitor. With generous permission given by Ed Bailey and his neighbor, David Looney, numerous birders came to marvel at, to scope and to photograph this unlikely avian guest. Cars along the highway on Happy Hollow were often seen slowing, as the drivers tried to figure out why groups of people were gathered in Ed Bailey’s long driveway or at the edge of  his field with binoculars, cameras or spotting scopes on tripods. Sometimes David and I led visiting birders to see the curlew or met them there to answer their questions, or just to enjoy conversation with fellow birders about this strange and interesting oddity.

The many birders who came watched as the curlew moved about the field, probing the earth with its long down-curved bill in search of insects and earthworms. Its long bill is better suited to probing for small crabs, and shrimp in tidal mudflats, where the species often spends the winter along the coasts of Texas and California. Occasionally this bird would be spooked into the air by a circling hawk where it too would circle until the hawk moved on, then glide back into the field, all the while giving a loud two-note call.

Why this bird chose the Breaks area of Buchanan County to visit is not known, but it is known that often juvenile birds of many different species get confused during their first migration and end up in places they normally do not go. This may be the case with this curlew.

The curlew was last seen in the area on January 21, 2009, a month to the day from its arrival. The last two or three days of its stay were very cold and snowy. According to Ed Bailey, the curlew stayed humped up in one spot, probably because the ground was frozen too hard to allow it to find food, and also to preserve its energy. 

Hopefully, this Christmas visitor moved on to warmer climes where food was more abundant. In any case this young bird, perhaps lost, has provided those who enjoy the natural world, a chance to experience another of the marvelous wonders of nature. 

Ed Talbott's video of the bird can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSRuMru5hrY&feature=channel_page

More still photos can seen on my web site at http://www.pbase.com/mayhorn/lb_curlew  

A New Book

Birdwatcher, The Life of Roger Tory Peterson by Elizabeth J. Rosenthal, is an in depth look into the life of this great ornithologist, who as a young man in the 1930's, created the first field guide to birds that was designed for the average birder. This was a field guide he illustrated with his own color plates. Ms Rosenthal's biography of Peterson takes the reader from his early life as a shy, working class youth in Jamestown, NY to his later life, when he travels all over the world as a renowned birder. One learns of the man's phenomenal genius, his aptitude for identifying birds by sound alone, and his ability to focus on whatever he was doing to the exclusion of all else.

The author allows the reader to get to know the man, as well as the legend who had so much influence on the ornithological world. One understands his great influence on younger birders who will follow after him, as well as understanding the man, one who had to have help keeping up with schedules, plane tickets or photographic equipment. Later the reader sees the frustration of the ageing Peterson because he had so much he still wanted to accomplish and felt he did not have enough time.

For those who enjoy the birding world and would like to get to know one of its giants, this is a must read.

                                                                  Roger Mayhorn

(photos by Roger Mayhorn)                                                  Birding the Western U.S.

For two weeks in August BCBC members, David Raines, Dan Kendrick and I, along with Neil Smith and three Amish friends, birded by van from Adams county OH to Sierra Vista Arizona, then along the coast of  Texas, into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, then north to Virginia. While in Arizona we participated in the Southwest Wings Birding Festival, which was an enjoyable experience. We then struck out on our own with Dan Kendrick as our trip leader. Dan and Neil had birded these areas before and their knowledge was a great help in finding the best birding spots. We logged 237 species, and everyone on the trip got lifebirds. It was a great trip with good companions and one we will always remember.

 (photos by Lynda Mayhorn)                       Compton Mountain Warbler Day - September 13, 2008

Twenty-five birders from Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio arrived at our house (the Mayhorns) to watch the warblers and other migrants pass through the area on a beautiful, fall day. Even though the number of species for the day was down (50 species) from past years, it was still a very enjoyable day of birdwatching. Twelve warbler species were found on and around our property. They were Am. Redstart, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Magnolia, Nashville, Prairie, Yellow-throated and Worm-eating. 

Lynda's (my wife) hard work produced a nice lunch for the group which was complimented by great desserts brought by BCBC members.

The evening before some of those who had arrived early for Warbler Day joined club members to watch the spectacle of some 6,000 Chimney Swifts going to roost in the chimney of Grundy High School in Grundy. The full moon was rising by the time all of the birds got inside the chimney for the night. BCBC Vice-President Ed Talbott III video taped the thousands of birds as they swirled around the chimney forming a vortex. The two minute video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn92pFcmjB8   

Michelle Talbott - Sept Birder of the Month

Ernest and David Raines - Oct Birders of the Month

(photos by Lynda Mayhorn)

Michelle Talbott was awarded the Birder of the Month Award for September for her first record sighting of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Buchanan County. Michelle found the bird during the fall migration on Caney Island Branch, an area near her house west of Grundy. Congratulations Michelle!

Ernest Raines and son David won the Birder of the Month award for the October sighting of a Peregrine Falcon in the Breaks Interstate Park as they hiked the loop trail there. Peregrines had not been observed in the area since the 1960's when the chemical DDT destroyed the populations of those and other raptors in the Eastern U.S. Recently, young Peregrines have been reintroduced into the park, but this bird was an adult probably migrating southward. Congratulations Ernest and David! 

  Great Raptor Day at Mendota in September

Tom Hunter, Bob Riggs and Ken Turner had a spectacular day of hawk watching on September 17, 2008. They counted 1600 Broad-winged Hawks flying by their observation point at the Mendota Fire Tower on Clinch Mountain. The birds were making their annual migration southward to their wintering grounds in Southern Florida, Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. Migrating  along the same route were 5 Bald Eagles,1 Northern Harrier, 1 Osprey, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 1 unknown falcon. The cherry on top of the near perfect raptor day was a flock of 176 Broad-wings that kettled (circled in a column of rising air) on one side of the ridge, then flew across the ridge and kettled again low enough for breathtaking views. 

(photo by Roger Mayhorn)

(photo by Roger Mayhorn)                   

             Philadelphia Vireos on Compton Mt

Among the 42 species of birds found in our yard on September 18, 2008 were two Philadelphia Vireos.(The gray back, the white supercillium (eye-brow) and the soft yellow chest are good field marks). This is a species that we rarely see on the mountain, even during fall migration. These two birds stayed together and came down to our yard stream to drink and bathe.

I was even more surprised to see more Philadelphias show up as the month progressed. At least five separate birds made appearances in or around our yard during the migration. Fantastic!

                                                                       First Winter Sparrows Appeared

I found my first of the season White-throated Sparrow here on Compton Mt on September 29, 2008.

Ed Talbott III found a White-crowned Sparrow in a hollow near his home at Weller Yard on Oct 10, 2008. Beautiful photos of Ed's hike can be seen on his site at http://www.pbase.com/aquilaet/caney22  

Bald Eagle in Russell County

Jerry and Jane Thornhill found a Bald Eagle near the Blackford trash dumpster site in Russell County,VA on Oct 7, 2008

That would certainly give me more incentive to take out the trash.

Seventeen birders attended Sparrow Day at David and Susan Raines' home in the Breaks on October 25. The weather started out a bit wet, but the rain soon stopped, and everyone had a very enjoyable day of birding, chatting, and eating. David and Susan's family provided some great food; guests also brought some delicious dishes to add to the table. The group found 47 bird species for the day including 6 first of the season Pine Siskins and 2 first of the season Purple Finches. More photos of the day by Lynda and me can be found at my site at http://www.pbase.com/mayhorn/breaks_sparrow_day_2008 and at Ed Talbott's site at http://www.pbase.com/aquilaet/sparrow3 

                       The Talbotts' Annual Sparrow Day

Ed and Michelle Talbotts' Sparrow Day on November 1 was great for all involved. Eleven birders joined Ed and Michelle and her parents for the great birding on Guesses Fork at Hurley. Thirty-eight species were ferreted out of the Autumn Olive, Sumac, weedy fields and deciduous trees on the reclaimed strip site. A Blue-headed Vireo matching the area's late date for that species was found. One Cooper's Hawk was sighted and 133 Cedar Waxwings seemed to be everywhere. For lunch the group had its annual wiener roast in Michelle's parents pasture.

(photo by Roger Mayhorn)

                                   Birding Hinton, WV

Eight members of the Bibbee Nature Club of Bluefield, WV joined nine members of the Buchanan County Bird Club at Bluestone Lake near Hinton November 8 for a day of birding. The group birded Bluestone Lake, Bellepoint Park and Mountain Valley Lake. After lunch at the Dairy Queen in Hinton the birders then birded along the New River downstream to Sandstone Falls. Forty-two species was the count of the day with one Bald Eagle and One Golden Eagle being found.

Members of the BCBC always have a great time when they get together with members of the Bibbee Club.

More photos of the trip can be found at

http://www.pbase.com/mayhorn/hinton_2008

                                                                 (photo by Lynda Mayhorn)

                 FOS Golden Eagles in Russell County

Tom Hunter saw his First Of the Season Golden Eagles in Russell County, VA on November 7, 2008. Two were sighted on Corn Valley Road. Tom does a good job of keeping everyone up to date on the eagles that winter in that area. He took this beautiful shot of an immature Golden Eagle on December 13. This one was also in Russell County.

Well done Tom!

(photo by Tom Hunter)

                        Sandhill Cranes at Osceola

While birding Osceola Island near the South Holston Dam on November 22, 2008 Don Carrier looked up to see these three Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. He was fast enough with his camera to capture this shot. Though Sandhills are not common to that area, they sometimes show up in the vicinity of the lake.

The Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge farther south in Tennessee is the wintering grounds for thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

(photo by Don Carrier)

                          Great Egrets in Russell County

Great Egrets are birds that are not commonly seen in Russell County, especially during the late fall and winter, but around Thanksgiving Jane Thornhill saw 5 of them at Stuart's Pond at Rosedale. The species continued to be seen there regularly by several birders up into mid-December. Perhaps it was the draining of the pond that exposed an easy food source that brought them in and kept them there.

(photo by Tom Hunter)

                              Extraordinary Christmas Gift

(photo by Don Carrier)

On Christmas morning, while everyone else at his house was still sleeping, Don Carrier took a short trip out to Osceola Island to check out the waterfowl. There he saw the Buffleheads, the very small ducks, that use that area as a wintering spot.

Catching the perfect lighting and adding to that his expertise as a photographer, Don caught this amazing shot of  one of the male Buffleheads. Because of the contrast of the very white coloring and the very dark coloring on these birds, it is extremely difficult to get a really good shot. As can be seen from this photo, Don has overcome that problem.

Excellent Don!

First Buchanan County CBC

On December 20, 2008 the first Buchanan County Christmas Bird Count was held with twelve birders participating. The birders covered separate sections of a fifteen mile diameter circle within the county in search of as many different bird species as they could find in one day. This count becomes a part of the thousands of Christmas Birds Counts performed in North, Central and South America each year. This was the 109th year since the count began. The count is sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Fifty-six species were reported for the Buchanan County count. The most unusual species found were Rusty Blackbird, Brown Thrasher, Brown Creeper, Common Raven and a high count of 196 Pine Siskins and 36 Golden-crowned Kinglets. This count was the culmination of a lot of work over many months before the count date by several BCBC members, who helped scout the area of the circle (Don Carrier, David Raines, Lynda Mayhorn and myself), who helped decide which area the circle should encompass (Ed Talbott III, Don Carrier, David Raines, Lynda Mayhorn and myself), who spent many hours building the best digital maps possible of the area (Don Carrier).

On the count date some of the birders started before daylight hoping for owls. Lynda and I were lucky enough to have a Barred Owl in our yard at 5:00 a.m. Other birders in the group found 2 Eastern Screech Owls.

At the end of the day the birders gathered at the Peking Restaurant in the Grundy Plaza to have dinner, discuss their day of birding and compile their lists of species found. Michelle Talbott, our Buchanan County CBC compiler, was in charge of the compilation; she called out each species and the birders in turn gave her the species found and the numbers of birds of each species, each in friendly competition, hoping to have the highest numbers of the different species.  

Tom Hunter and Bob Riggs of Lebanon, whose help was greatly appreciated during the count, participated in the count but were unable to attend the dinner. In the left photo above those in attendance were (front row -left to right) - Don Carrier and David Raines. Second Row - Jane Thornhill, Lynda Mayhorn, Mary Talbott and Michelle Talbott. Back Row - Jerry Thornhill, (me- Roger Mayhorn), Ed Talbott II and Ed Talbott III.

As the BCBC President, I would personally like to thank all of these people, who took part in our first CBC and made it such a great success. The list of species found on the count can be seen at http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html

Members of the BCBC also help out with the Breaks Park CBC and the Russell County CBC.