BCBC Newsletter - May 2003

	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 6:30 PM Volume 2 Issue 5 May 2003
April 14 Meeting: Two of our newer club members, Johnnie and Betty Ratliff came to their first club meeting and seemed to enjoy the program. Club President, Roger Mayhorn, welcomed our new members, then gave an update on the county’s first Bluebird Trail. Vice President, Ed Talbott III, then presented a very good warbler slide program, that was prepared by his wife, Michelle. Michelle was not able to attend the meeting. At the next meeting, Monday, May 12, Bob Riggs will present a program on raptors.
Bluebird Trail Update: Roger & Lynda Mayhorn have been making weekly checks on the nest boxes of the Bluebird Trail since April 1 and taking down data from each. They were joined on their walk on May 7 by two other club members, Ed & Barbara Caudill. As of the 7^th in 20 nest boxes there were 7 pairs of nesting Eastern Bluebirds with a total of 22 young and 9 eggs yet to hatch. The first nest of 5 young should fledge around May 15. The Buchanan County Bird Club is now an official member of the VBS (Virginia Bluebird Society) and its data will be sent to the state organization at the end of the breeding season, where, with other data collected throughout the state, it will be sent to the national organization, the NABS (North American Bluebird Society).
First Confirmed Blackpoll in Buchanan County: On the evening of April 30 Ed & Michelle Talbott found the first Blackpoll Warbler ever confirmed within the county, when they were birding at the Mayhorns’ home on Compton Mountain. Ed managed to get some video of the bird. To see video still photos of the bird and Ed’s more detailed description of the sighting, click here http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/birding/hikes/aprhikes/ComptonMt.htm The Mayhorns were not home at the time, but arrived sometime later. After hearing about the warbler Roger Mayhorn was up at dawn the next morning in search of it. Within a half hour or so he heard it then saw it. When it flew to a maple tree nearby he took this photo. He also managed to get some video of the bird. The warbler stayed around for a couple of days. Bravo Ed and Michelle! A great find!
Vesper Sparrow: This strange sparrow with a white eye ring showed up among a small flock of Chipping, Song and Field Sparrows at the home of Ed & Michelle Talbott at Weller Yard on April 14. After getting a good look and some video of the bird, from which this photo was taken, Ed & Michelle decided it was a Vesper Sparrow. Vespers are not known to nest here in the county, but they do pass through here during migration. Vespers usually nest at 2500 feet elevation and above. Most of our mountains are a bit lower. To see more video stills of the bird go to Ed’s web page at: http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/birding/hikes/aprhikes/Sparrow.htm
Interesting Events: Club member Todd Perkins went biking and birding on the Virginia Creeper Trail from Whitetop Station to Damascus on April 13. The birds of note that he saw were Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, a Swamp Sparrow, a Ruffed Grouse, an Osprey, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, Blue-winged Teal, a Great Blue Heron and a Common Raven.
Wallace Coffey, our only club member from Bristol, while birding on April 10, in the driving rain, found 88 Double-crested Cormorants and an Osprey near Musick’s Campground in Sullivan County, TN. On April 14 at Sequoya Cove on South Holston Lake in Washington County, VA Wallace found 8 Red-breasted Mergansers. One was a male in full breeding plumage.
Yellow Warbler Arrives: This male Yellow Warbler arrived right on time last month at the Mayhorns’ home on Compton Mountain. He appeared among the apple blossoms on April 15, the same day of the month that one showed up there last year. Later he appeared in the top of the cherry tree where this photo was taken. There are usually two nesting pairs around the Mayhorns’ yard. Since this photo was taken a pair of these birds have built a nest in a shrub along the driveway and now have 4 eggs. Another pair is nesting somewhere nearby. Later that same day the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up. He was one day earlier than last year.
Friday, April 18, Todd Perkins got a new life bird. He saw a Pine Siskin feeding with some American Goldfinches at his uncle’s feeder on Deskins.
Also on April 18 Roger & Lynda Mayhorn birded the Breaks Park along with their young neighbor, Nicholas Wimmer. Their most important find of the day was a Swainson’s Warbler that was heard several times near the Cold Spring Trail. They also got great looks at a Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Greens, a Northern Parula, a few Ovenbirds, a few Yellow-throated Warblers, a couple of Ravens, a Pileated Woodpecker and a couple of Blue-headed Vireos.
50 species of birds were found by Ed & Michelle Talbott at Camp Creek near the Garden Hole, the Breaks Park and on Bull Mountain on April 19. 11 species were warblers like this Yellow-throated Warbler that Ed video-taped that day. They also found American Redstarts and Black-throated Green Warblers as well as many other species. To see more good photos and Ed’s write-up go to: http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/birding/hikes/aprhikes/Breaks3.htm
Enoch’s Branch was the area birded on April 19 by Roger & Lynda Mayhorn. Near the baseball field they found 5 Savannah Sparrows. These sparrows stand out from the others because of their yellow superciliums (stripe above the eye) and their streaked breasts. Roger & Lynda also found 5 Hooded Warblers, one Black-throated Green Warbler, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Blue-headed Vireo, an Eastern Meadowlark and a Red-shouldered Hawk.
Club member, Mary Talbott got treated to a view of a Blackburnian Warbler at Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky on April 17.
Shirley Justus and her daughter, Michelle, had a great morning of birding on Guesses Fork on April 21 with 11 warbler species and 4 species of vireos. A great view of a Prairie Warbler not 8 feet away was a lifebird for Shirley. The warblers seen were Cerulean Warblers 8, Prairie 4, Blue-winged 4, Yellow-breasted Chat , Yellow-throated Warbler, American Redstart , Worm-eating Warbler , Black-and-white Warbler , Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat. The vireos seen were Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo. Shirley also got the Orchard Oriole, the White-eyed Vireo, and Yellow-throated Vireo as lifebirds that day. Shirley got another lifebird on Easter Sunday when she saw a Yellow Warbler. On May 4 Shirley got 4 more lifebirds while birding a reclaimed strip site near her home on Guesses Fork. That day she got a Solitary Sandpiper, a Black-billed Cuckoo, a Worm-eating Warbler and a Black-throated Green Warbler. Her life list is growing by leaps and bounds.
A Solitary Sandpiper was observed by David Raines at the sewer plant near the old Richlands airport on April 23. The bird was between the plant and the river working a wet area. Also seen were Barn, Tree and Rough-winged Swallows. This area is a good spot to check in April and May when shore birds are moving through. They often come down and search for food in the mudholes in the flat bottomland. On April 28 David saw two Solitary Sandpipers in the same location.
A Spotted Sandpiper was seen in Ed & Michelle Talbot’s yard on April 24. They are also seeing an Osprey daily along the river. A Yellow Warbler is also staying in the area.
A Tricolored Heron, formerly known as the Louisiana Heron, was observed by Wallace Coffey and two other Bristol birders, at South Holston Lake in Sullivan County, TN on April 26. This is the third record of this species for Northeast Tennessee.
This Scarlet Tanager was one of several species found on the reclaimed strip mine site above Poplar Gap Park on April 27 by Ed & Michelle Talbott. They also found Ovenbirds, Black-and-white Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers and several others. One of the best species of the day was Horned Larks found on the strip site. For a look at more of the species seen that day click here: http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/birding/hikes/aprhikes/PoplarGap.htm
On April 28 David Raines saw Tree Swallows in the Breaks. They flew in both Buchanan and Dickenson Counties.
Nine members of the Buchanan County Bird Club birded Keen Mt. Park, Horn Mt. and Compton Mt. on April 26. Despite overcast skies the birding was excellent. 55 species were logged with 14 of those being warblers. Dave Worley of Rosedale got a lifebird when a Blue-winged Warbler came within just a few feet to sit on a weed stalk and sing. Johnnie and Betty Ratliff got several lifebirds as did Ed & Barbara Caudill. Two male Scarlet Tanagers came down to eye level to give members an excellent look. The group saw 6 Cerulean Warblers, 3 American Redstarts, 8 Black-and-white Warblers, 6 Black-throated Green Warblers, 4 Blue-winged Warblers, 3 Chestnut-sided Warblers, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Golden-winged Warbler, 8 Hooded Warblers, 3 Northern Parulas, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 6 Yellow-throated Warblers and 3 Yellow Warblers. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were on hand as well as Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos. It was a great birding day with great birding companions.
A Wild Turkey became a new yard bird for Wallace Coffey, when he drove up to his Bristol home on April 29 and saw a hen turkey walking slowly along. Within a few moments a strutting gobbler walked from behind a tree near one of his feeders to join the hen. It just goes to show that you never know what will show up regarding birds.
A Chestnut-sided Warbler was heard by Todd Perkins near the Grundy High School track on April 30. Todd got 3 lifebirds on May 2, when he birded Compton Mt. and Horn Mt. with Roger & Lynda Mayhorn. The 3 lifebirds were a Cerulean Warbler, a Golden-winged Warbler, and a Yellow-throated Vireo. The group got 41 species in a couple of hours.
Thirteen members of the BCBC birded the Breaks Park on May 4. 50 species were found with 15 being warblers. Two Swainson’s Warblers were a great treat. The group hiked several trails and were ready for hotdogs and hamburgers at Sheldon and Orpha Woods’ motor home in the park campground. David Raines wasn’t aware that he would be treated to a surprise birthday cake there by his wife Susan and his son Holden. After the initial surprise everyone had lunch and was treated to ice cream cake as well as chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was compliments of Orpha Woods. She and Sheldon did a great job of laying out the spread and preparing the hot dogs and hamburgers. After the meal David, Ed & Barbara Caudill, Roger & Lynda Mayhorn, along with Sheldon, drove down to the Garden Hole and hiked the Camp Creek trail. Not very many bird species were seen in that area, but the walk was great with lots of wildflowers and beautiful scenery.
While returning from the state meeting of the Tennessee Ornithological Society on May 3, Wallace Coffey and Rick Knight, well known TN birder and author, saw a Northern Harrier. (Roger & Lynda Mayhorn saw a Harrier on Compton Mt. on April 21). Later Coffey and Knight stopped by an area of Washington County, TN where Dicksissels have been regularly seen. They found two of that species. They also saw a Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least and a Solitary Sandpipers and a Wild Turkey.
On May 6, an Orange-crowned Warbler made an appearance in a cherry tree outside of the Mayhorn's kitchen window. It stayed for only a short time then moved on.
Purple Martins arrived at club member Johnnie Ratliff’s house on May 7 and looked over his empty martin houses. One young bird went in the house and stayed inside for about 30 minutes. Possibly the same bird returned late in the evening and sat on the same house for about an hour. Hopefully the birds will return to nest in the houses. Roger Mayhorn has also put up a new martin house, and is hoping that he will have Purple Martins move into his new martin residence. So far he hasn’t seen any visiting martins.
Both Roger Mayhorn and David Raines have had Orchard Orioles in their yards this week. David has been hearing one for the last few days. An immature 1^st year male showed up in the Mayhorn yard on May 8. David also had a Yellow Warbler in his yard on Sunday, May 4. Johnnie & Betty Rattlif had an Orchard Oriole in their yard a few weeks ago, but it has since left.
Several BCBC members have been seeing these beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at their feeders recently. David Raines has seen them at his feeders in the Breaks. Roger & Lynda Mayhorn have had 5 or 6 at their feeders on Compton Mt., where this picture was made. Sheldon and Orpha Woods had 3 males and a female at their feeder on Prater. Ed and Barbara Caudill have one male at their feeder on Elkins Branch.
This Black-billed Cuckoo, video-taped by Ed Talbott on Guesses Fork of Hurley on May 4, is not nearly as common in the area as is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. This bird eats mainly large insects and does occasionally, like its European cousins, lay its eggs in other birds’ nests such as the Wood Thrush, the Gray Catbird, and even that of the small Yellow Warbler. On the other hand the Audubon Society’s Encyclopedia of North American Birds says nothing about the Yellow-billed Cuckoo depositing its eggs in other birds’ nests. Ed & Michelle with Shirley Justus got over 50 species that day. Click here for more about the outing: http://www.grundynet.net/talbott/birding/hikes/May03/Guesses.htm
More Migrant Arrival Dates: April 15th – Eastern Kingbird – Wallace Coffey – Washington County, VA April 15^{th -}Yellow Warbler – Roger Mayhorn – Compton Mt. - Buchanan County April 15^{th -}Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County April 16^th – Northern Parula – Wallace Coffey – Shady Valley – Johnson County, TN April 16^th – Ovenbird – Roger & Lynda Mayhorn – Mt. Top Golf Course – Buchanan County April 16^{th –}Wood Thrush – Todd Perkins – Buchanan County April 17^th – Northern Parula – Todd Perkins – Buchanan County April 17^th – Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Todd Perkins – Buchanan County April 19^th – Am. Redstart – Ed & Michelle Talbott – Breaks Park – Dickenson County April 20^th – House Wren – Wallace Coffey – South Holston Lake – Washington County, VA\| April 20^th – White-eyed Vireo – Roger Mayhorn – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County April 20^th – Scarlet Tanager – Todd Perkins – Buchanan County April 20^th – Scarlet Tanager – Wallace Coffey – South Holston Lake – Washington County, VA April 21^st – Warbling Vireo – Wallace Coffey – Holston Valley – Sullivan County, TN April 22^nd – Chimney Swift – Todd Perkins – Grundy, VA – Buchanan County April 23^rd – Osprey - Michelle Talbott – Weller Yard – Buchanan County April 25^th – Gray Catbird – Roger Mayhorn – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County April 27^th – Pine Warbler – Roger & Lynda Mayhorn – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County April 27^th – Indigo Bunting – Roger Mayhorn – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County April 28^th – Tree Swallow – David Raines – Breaks community – Buchanan County April 28^th – Eastern Kingbird – Todd Perkins – Russell County April 28^th – Acadian Flycatcher – Roger Mayhorn – Right Fork, Home Crk. – Buchanan County May 3^rd – Great Crested Flycatcher – BCBC – Breaks Park – Dickenson County May 6^th – Orange-crowned Warbler – Roger Mayhorn – Compton Mt. – Buchanan County May 7^th – Great Crested Flycatcher – Todd Perkins – Buchanan County
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