BCBC Newsletter - December 2004

The Chat Buchanan County Bird Club Newsletter Editors Roger and Lynda Mayhorn The Buchanan County Bird Club meets the 2^nd Monday of each month at the Buchanan County Public Library at 6:00 PM Volume 3 Issue 12 December 2004
November 8 Meeting A birding outing to the Grundy Airport on Sunday Nov 14 was discussed. The Christmas dinner meeting at Italian Village was on the agenda as well. Available bluebird trail funds from VBS (Virginia Bluebird Society) were discussed. Participation in the Thanksgiving Day Window Watch project was also discussed. Vice President Ed Talbott III presented a comprehensive and informative Power Point program on sparrows.
Upcoming Events The Christmas dinner meeting had been scheduled for December 13, the regular club meeting date, but since the upstairs dining room at Italian Village was not available on that date, the Christmas dinner meeting has been changed to Wednesday, December 15 at Italian Village. Remember that each member is to bring an inexpensive bird related gift. The Breaks Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 18. Those participating should meet at the Visitors Center in the park with park naturalist Terry Owens at 8:00 a.m. The Rhododendron Restaurant will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. That evening participants will meet back at the restaurant for dinner to compile the lists of birds observed that day.
Airport Mountain Birding Four BCBC members participated in birding the mountain near the Grundy Airport on Saturday, November 14. After an early morning stop at the Huddle House Restaurant, Roger & Lynda Mayhorn, Marie Miller and new club member, Paula Young drove up to the mountain, where they were treated to a breathtaking view of morning fog lying in the valley below with the sun rising above it. (Top left photo). As the group birded around the mountain road (Center Photo) they saw Cedar Waxwings and Eastern Bluebirds (Right photo) feeding on multiflora rosehips. The group had a very enjoyable birding day but observed only 22 species. Aside from the feeding birds the other highlights of the day were, a Red-breasted Nuthatch that was feeding on seeds from pine cones, a flock of 7 Rusty Blackbirds, and a Purple Finch.
Henslow’s Sparrow found in the Breaks Community David Raines found a rare Henslow’s Sparrow in a weedy field near his home on Saturday, October 6. David got a short, but good look at the bird, when it flew up and perched on a weed stem. He was able to see the flat head, the white eye-ring and the olive-green head. This is only the third sighting of this species within the county. The other two were on 11/2/02 and 11/1/03 on Guesses Fork of Hurley.
Christmas Bird Count Following is an article by Vice President Ed Talbott: BCBC Members, The "count week" for the Breaks CBC starts on Dec. 15 and lasts until Dec.21. The "count week" is three days before and three days after the actual count day. Any species of bird that we find within the CBC circle during this time that we don't find on the actual count day can be counted as a "count week" species. The actual count day is Saturday Dec. 18 and we will be meeting at the Visitor's Center at the Breaks Park at 8:00 a.m. Here's a map of the Breaks CBC Count circle. Many club members live within this circle and need to be on the lookout for any unusual species during the count week. Breaks CBC Map: http://www.bcplnet.org/birdclub/data/BreaksCBC.htm For example, here are some species that we have missed on previous counts but could have included them if someone had seen then within the circle during the count week: American Kestrel Ruffed Grouse Bobwhite Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Any duck other than Mallard Turkey Vulture Great Blue Heron Wilson's Snipe Killdeer any Owl species (a heard call can be counted) Hairy Woodpecker Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren (and any wren sp. other than Carolina) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Northern Mockingbird Chipping Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Horned Lark Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow The Breaks CBC record was 61 species set back in 1983. We were in the mid-50's last year and missed a lot of species. This year is supposed to be a good year for northern birds moving south and I'm hoping for some rarities to show up. I think we have a good shot at breaking the record. Lets find some birds. Ed Talbott
Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Ducks and Rough-legged Hawk Dave Worley of Rosedale, VA, and a friend, birded Stuart’s Pond at Rosedale on Nov. 4. There they found a Greater Yellowlegs. These wading birds migrate through the area in the spring and fall. Also found were 4 Ruddy Ducks, White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows and an immature Northern Flicker. White-crowned Sparrows are numerous in Russell County during the winter, but seldom spend the winter in Buchanan County. On November 22 just north of Stuart’s Pond on Hwy 19 Dave saw his first Russell County Rough-legged Hawk. This northern species of hawk is commonly seen during the winter in Tazewell County at Burkes Garden.
Dooley Hollow Birding On November 10 Roger Mayhorn was invited to come and bird the property of Clarence Brown in Hurley. The two birded the heavily wooded Dooley hollow directly behind Clarence’s house, as well as the nearby ridge top. In an area that had been timbered within the last couple of years they found Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Northern Cardinals feeding on poke berries. Also in the flock were a couple of Eastern Bluebirds. Mourning Doves and Juncos were searching for seeds on the dirt banks and open areas. Also found were 5 species of woodpecker: Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy. White-breasted Nuthatches were working the tall trees with Winter Wrens and Carolina Wrens working the downed trees. Other species observed were Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-tailed Hawk, Song Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows.
American Kestrels These small falcons have been sighted recently within Buchanan County. Johnnie & Betty Ratliff had one chasing birds several times at their feeders during the week of November 11. David and Susan Raines saw a male on a wire in their field on December 4. The bird stayed around long enough for David to set up his scope. He and Susan got really close-up looks at this beautiful little raptor.
Late Hummer Johnnie & Betty Ratliff had a late hummingbird pay a brief visit to their feeder on Little Prater on November 11. Johnnie wasn’t able to get close enough to see which species it was. He and Betty were hoping that the Rufous Hummingbird, that spent the month of December at their house last year would return, but so far the bird is a no show. Johnnie & Betty have also had a Red-breasted Nuthatch at their suet feeder and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that likes the orange chunks in one suet feeder.
Pine Siskins Pine Siskins have been visiting feeders this fall and on Nov. 23 Ed and Mary Talbott had their first one at their feeder at Big Rock. David Raines and Roger Mayhorn have had them at their feeders as well.
Purple Finches Since the first Purple Finch arrived on Oct. 17 they have been regular visitors at the Mayhorns’ feeders on Compton Mountain. Like the males in this photo three or four visit the feeders every day.
Red-headed Woodpecker Roger Mayhorn looked out the window and saw this juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker that showed up at the Mayhorns’ platform feeder on Wednesday, November 17. Because the bird is a juvenile it has a brown head . It’s head already has a few red feathers. By next year this bird will have a completely red head. On November 19 the Mayhorns had 4 woodpecker species at their feeders: Red-headed, Northern Flicker, Downy and Red-bellied. The Red-headed visited the feeder every day until November 22. It was not seen after that.
Mourning Dove Numbers Increase Some BCBC members have noticed and increase in the number of Mourning Doves at their feeders this autumn. David Raines reported 34 doves at his Breaks, VA feeders on December 4. The Mayhorns also had 34 that same week at their feeders on Compton Mountain. By December 8 the Mayhorns’ numbers had increased to 50. That was a new record for Compton Mountain. Johnnie Ratliff also reports that he has about that number at his feeders on Little Prater.
Brewer’s Blackbirds in the County While watching his feeders for 1 hour during the Thanksgiving Day Window Watch, Roger Mayhorn saw two immature Brewer’s Blackbirds fly into a tree near his yard pond. The birds stayed only long enough to investigate the pond, then left the area. The Brewer’s Blackbird is a western species that shows up in the Eastern U.S. quite often. The last time they were seen at the Mayhorns’ was December 2, 2003.
Thanksgiving Day Window Watch BCBC president, Roger Mayhorn would like to thank those club members who participated in the Thanksgiving Day Window Watch program. Those who participated watched a 15 foot circle for one hour on Thanksgiving Day. The highest number of any bird species that enters the circle is counted. Several species were counted this year, and the information has been sent to those in charge of the count in Lynchburg, VA.
Sharpie Still Around The small male Sharp-shinned Hawk that was reported at the Mayhorns’ in last month’s newsletter is still there. He makes at least one pass at the bird feeders every day, and sometimes two or three, though he rarely seems to be successful in getting his lunch. This photo was taken just after he had made an unsuccessful pass at the feeder birds, then landed on this large rock, which is part of the small manmade stream that flows through part of the yard and into the pond.
Late Brown Thrasher Even though most Brown Thrashers have moved farther south for the winter, one seems to have decided to stay for awhile at the Raines home in the Breaks. The one bird has been regularly visiting the feeders there, according to David. This species does occasionally remain in the county during mild winters. CBC participants hope the bird will still be around for the Christmas Bird Count.
Horned Larks and a Mystery Bird While checking out Poplar Gap Park with the Talbotts’ dog Chazzy, Ed Talbott III found 21 Horned Larks feeding there. These are resident birds, as it is believed that they nest there or close by, and are seen there year round. As Ed walked through the tall grass at one end of the field a small, light colored bird was flushed into the air only to drop again into the tall grass. This happened twice more, and Ed was unable to make a positive ID of the bird. It may be some unusual species hanging around the area.
Daytime Screech Owl On December 6 Johnnie Ratliff walked outside and heard his cat hissing. Going to investigate, he found an Eastern Screech Owl sitting on the fence at the edge of the yard. The owl seemed unperturbed by the hissing cat and remained there until later in the day. Why the owl was out during daylight hours Johnnie didn’t know. Perhaps something had disturbed it and caused it to leave its normal roosting place.
New Bluebird Trail At the last club meeting a discussion was held about funds being available from the (VBS) Virginia Bluebird Society for materials for new bluebird trails established on public lands. Club President, Roger Mayhorn contacted the VBS about the funds and was told that the Buchanan County Bird Club could receive money for establishing a new trail. Roger then contacted a lady at Keen Mountain Park to ask about establishing a trail there. She told him that she would get back to him about the request. So far she has not contacted him, but Roger will continue to pursue the matter.
Compton Mountain Fall Totals Roger Mayhorn recently compiled the lists of bird sightings in or around his yard for the fall of 2004, starting from August 23 and going through October 30. Following is the complete list. Mayhorn Yard - Compton Mountain – Buchanan County VA Autumn 2004 8/23 - 10/30 Those in green are species that leave the area during winter. Their totals are cumulative totals throughout the period. Those in brown are birds that can be seen here year round or are here during winter. Those numbers represent the highest number of that species observed at one time. 95 Species Total
Warblers 25 Species American Redstart 12 Bay-breasted Warbler 6 Black-and-white Warbler 13 Blackburnian Warbler 13 Blackpoll 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 7 Black-throated Green Warbler 20 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Cape May Warbler 8 Chestnut-sided Warbler 22 Common Yellowthroat 1 Hooded Warbler 10 Kentucky Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 17 Nashville Warbler 2 Northern Parula 3 Ovenbird 5 Palm Warbler 2 Pine Warbler 2 Prairie Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 46 Worm-eating Warbler 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler 65 Yellow-throated Warbler 15 Yellow Warbler 1 Sparrows 10 Species Chipping Sparrow 204 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Field Sparrow 3 Eastern Towhee 7 House Sparrow 4 Lincoln’s Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 8 White-throated Sparrow 12	Hawks and Owls 4 Species Barred Owl 1 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Woodpeckers 6 Species Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 38 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Red-headed Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Flycatchers 5 Species Eastern Kingbird 2 Eastern Phoebe 3 Eastern Wood Pewee 12 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Vireos 4 Species Blue-headed Vireo 8 Red-eyed Vireo 40 White-eyed Vireo 14 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Thrushes 5 Species American Robin 59 Eastern Bluebird 17 Gray-cheeked Thrush 2 Swainson’s Thrush 15 Wood Thrush 12 Mimids 3 Species Brown Thrasher 18 Northern Mockingbird 1 Gray Catbird 48 Finches 4 Species American Goldfinch 14 House Finch 9 Pine Siskin 22 Purple Finch 8	Nuthatches 2 Species Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Game Birds 2 Species American Woodcock 1 Wild Turkey 2 Corvids 2 Species American Crow 10 Common Raven 4 Blackbirds 2 Species Brown-headed Cowbird 2 European Starling 29 Others Baltimore Oriole 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9 Blue Jay 7 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Chickadee 4 Carolina Wren 6 Cedar Waxwing 50 Chimney Swift 12 Common Nighthawk 25 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Indigo Bunting 14 Mourning Dove 13 Northern Cardinal 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 16 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 16 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 48 Scarlet Tanager 29 Tree Swallow 1 Tufted Titmouse 5 Turkey Vulture 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!

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