This morning, I led a field trip for the West Virginia Science Teachers Conference at Stauffer’s Marsh in Berkeley County.
Here is our bird list:
Continue reading
Ducks – Wood, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy at Stauffer’s Marsh
Reply
Category Archives: Local Trip
FollowDucks,Loons,Shorebirds,Snow and Flooding
I went out on 10-29 and 10-30 visiting Lake Shannondale, Shenandoah River, Stauffer’s Marsh, Archer’s Rock and the 901 pond at Spring Mills. I attempted to go to Sleepy Creek Lake but the roads didn’t look too promising. It was snowing up there at 1,600 feet with a temp of 35 degrees. I came down off the mountain.
NOTE: I also found out that Bob Dean and Stan Roach located a Brant at the 901 pond at approx 3pm on Weds.
Continue reading
PVAS Raptor class visits Snickers Gap
Today, 11 participants visited the Snickers Gap,VA hawk watch site. Eight species of raptors were observed at various heights and distances. A late Broad-winged Hawk was a surprise. Also, a few Bald Eagles were seen, one of which flew right across the gap providing excellent views. Cooper’s Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks were well represented.
Snickers Gap welcomes one an all to visit and experience one of the specticles of fall migration. The site is in operation from Sept 1st through early December. Both volunteers with experience and those willing to learn are welcome.
If you are interested, contact Joan Boudreau or Bob Abrams at 703-734-1238 or icepeep@aol.com Continue reading
Huntfield Sparrows
Seven species of sparrows were seen in 1 1/2 hrs yesterday in the fields in back of the pond at the Huntfield sub-division just south of Charles Town. Highlight was a Lincoln’s Sparrow. This boreal breeder (Also breeds in the Rocky and Cascades/Sierra Nevada Mtns) is making its way towards the south central U.S. and Mexico to winter.
Continue reading
Great Merlin Day at Washington Monument Hawk Watch
PVAS sponsored a trip to the Washington Monument Hawk Watch. Beautiful weather, with light winds from the southeast. We had the following raptors, not counting the vultures:
38 Sharp-shinned Hawks
4 Coopers Hawks
1 Northern Harrier
2 Red-shouldered Hawks
6 migrating Red-tailed Hawks
4 Merlins
Three of the Merlins hung around the monument for 10-15 minutes, thrilling us with their acrobatics and stooping behavior. Their usual harassing behavior was on display. They also perched for long periods, allowing everyone to have great opportunities to observe this powerful raptor both in the air and on the perch. At one point, a perched Merlin was chased off perch by 2 Common Ravens.
Our observations belied the saying that if you have a good look at a Merlin, it probably was not a Merlin.
Sandy Sagalkin
Sharpsburg, MD
Washington H.S. Shorebirds
The main pond at Huntfield is pretty much dry but now the pond at Washington HS is getting low enough to support some mud flats. A check yesterday revealed to following:
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 7
Huntfield Pond Shorebirds
I visited the pond at Huntfield a couple of days ago. The water is almost gone but a few shorebirds where still hanging around:
Killdeer
Solitary Sandpiper 8
Least Sandpiper 2
Location directions: Huntfield Pond