Buchanan County Bird Club Newsletter
Editors Roger & Lynda Mayhorn
Just as we will soon welcome this blue fellow back into our yards and nestboxes, and the rise of the spirits his presence will bring, we would like to welcome some new birders to our BCBC group. They are Bob Riggs and Annie Spicer and family, Larry Pinson, Frank Stiltner, Steve Sweeney and Nick Wimmer. We also welcome back those members who have renewed their memberships this year. We have very good people in our club, and it is always enjoyable to have friendly interaction with each other while pursuing such a rewarding pastime as birding.
Roger Mayhorn - BCBC President
Great Egret On Blackford CBC
On January 1, 2011 Jerry Thornhill and Dave Worley found a Great Egret on the Blackford (Russell County) Christmas Bird Count. They found it on US Hwy 18 between the Elk Garden School and Rosedale. Great Egrets are seen in the area occasionally during the summer months but not during the winter months.
Buchanan County Falcon Makes Mag Cover
In July of 2010 a baby American Kestrel, was found on a mining road between Belcher's Fork and Convict Hollow near Harman. This young bird was the first proof that American Kestrels nest here in the county. I photographed the young bird and later submitted the photo and information about the bird to the Virginia Society of Ornithology's quarterly publication VIRGINIA BIRDS. The editors of the publication decided to use the photo as the cover photo for the June - July issue. The young kestrel was successfully raised and released into the wild.
Roger Mayhorn
Raven Researcher Returns to the Area
Josh Felch, a graduate student from the University of KY doing research on Common Ravens, returned to check on ravens in the Breaks Park on January 20th. Since I had helped Josh in the past with his research in this area he contacted me by phone, and David Raines and I met Josh (left) and his assistant, Clint (center) in the park. That's me on the right. David took the photo. The two guys checked on the raven nest within the park. The nest looked to be in good shape for the spring's nesting season.
Since that meeting David has since found a new raven nest site at Elkhorn City, KY. Josh is coming back to get some data on that site very soon.
Roger Mayhorn
Sora Found During Bristol CBC
BCBC members Tom Hunter and Dave Worley, along with BC member Larry McDaniel, found a Sora during the Bristol CBC Janurary 3rd. The bird was in a swampy area at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol. Larry saw a bird fly up and back down and thought it looked like a Sora. The bird was heard calling from the marsh, but was not seen again.
New Yard Birds
When BCBC member Mike Sanders in Bristol gets a new yard bird, he doesn't get just one; he gets 5 of them at once. At least that was the way it went on January 9th when he had his first yard Fox Sparrow. He found the birds feeding under his feeders. If he ever gets a really unusual species there I think we should all head his way and look for the flock of Evening Grosbeaks, Blue-footed Boobies or Ivory-billed Woodpeckers.
Juncos Galore
The word must have gone out on January 12th to the avian world that Jerry and Jane Thornhill's house In Lebanon, VA was the place for free food. Seventy, yes SEVENTY Dark-eyed Juncos (photo) came to the Thornhills' yard that day. There were also 20 American Goldfinches, 19 Purple Finches, 18 Mourning Doves, 17 White-throated Sparrows, 4 Northern Cardinals, 3 Fox Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Carolina Wren and 1 White-breasted Nuthatch. The only thing missing was a Partridge in a pear tree, and it was probably on the other side of the house out of sight.
Rough-legged Hawk
Tom and Laverne Hunter of Lebanon found a light-colored, juvenile, Rough-legged Hawk in the Elk Garden area of Russell County on January 12th. The two were birding along Rt 80 and saw the bird kiting (hovering in one spot) over a field. This was the same spot where Bob Riggs and Annie Spicer found a Rough-legged during the Blackford CBC on January 1st.
Winter Thrashers
On January 14th Don and Dawn Carrier had a Brown Thrasher at their feeder in Bristol,TN. Another Thrasher had shown up three days earlier at the home of David and Susan Raines in Breaks, VA. Brown Thrashers usually leave the area during winter, but occasionally a few do remain in the area throughout the cold months..
The Harris's Sparrow, a Midwestern bird that came to the Raines' yard on December 28th remained there until February 1st.
Russell County Bird Club Outing
Members of the Russell County Bird Club, some of whom are also members of the BCBC , birded a good portion of Russell County on January 15th. They birded Big Cedar Creek, the Mudhole, Corn Valley, Mountain Road and Clifton Farm. A Red-shouldered Hawk like this one was among the 37 species they found. They also found three Golden Eagles, four Cooper's Hawks, 8 Red-tailed Hawks, four American Kestrels and a Loggerhead Shrike.
Black Ducks at Elk Garden
On January 18th Jerry Thornhill found six American Black Ducks at the "Mudhole" in Elk Garden in Russell County. The Mudhole, a depression in a cattle pasture, gets its name from the fact it only has water in it after some rain. Ducks like these seem to find food there, since the Mudhole rarely goes for any length of time without waterfowl.
Bald Eagles in WV
BCBC member Diane Holsinger found two Bald Eagles near Minnehaha Springs in Pochahontas County WV on January 25th. One was an adult eagle, and the other was an immature bird. Other BCBC members are seeing Bald Eagles year round in Summers County WV along the New River and Bluestone Lake near Hinton. At least 3 nests have also been found in that area.
Golden Eagle in Breaks Park
David Raines found a Golden Eagle flying over the park on January 29th. David was teaching boy scouts how to identify birds when the eagle came sailing by. What a great way to introduce the boys to birding and what a great teaching tool.
Cackling Geese in Rosedale VA
Tom and Laverne Hunter found Cackling Geese among larger Canada Geese and some Mallards at Stuart's Pond on January 31st. The Cackling Goose is not a separate species but a subspecies of the Canada Goose. Tom and Laverne identified them by their smaller size, short necks, rounded heads and short bills.