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.
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I posted this note on the old PVAS blog, but am reposting it on the new site.
PVAS sponsored a hawk watch trip October 12-15 to Cape May, NJ, my favorite hawk watching venue. Most of us rolled into Cape May late Friday. Friday had very favorable winds pushing over 1800 Sharpies, 1000 American Kestrels and 400 Merlins past the lighthouse. By Saturday, the wind shifted to the south. Nonetheless, although nothing like Friday, we had good numbers of all of the expected species, including:
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Had Pine Siskins at my feeders all today today with the max count being 24. Also had a rare Field Sparrow (for my yard). Looks like it might be a siskin irruption winter. Typically I may see one or two during the first week of November as they are passing through and that’s it for the fall and winter. Apparently, not this season.
2012-2013 Winter Finch Forecast
At my feeder today:
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
The feeders have been humming with activity that last few days. A gorgeous male Red-breasted Nuthatch has been visiting regularly. I am hoping that it is the same male that spent the winter here last year. We haven’t had any Pine siskins or Juncos yet this season. There are Tufted Titmouse, Carolina and Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Mourning Dove, and American Goldfinch.
This is an image that I took of last years visiting male Red-breasted Nuthatch.
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.
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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
I found a pair of juvemile Western Sandpipers at the Archer’s Rock ponds. Water level are up due to recent rains. Others species seen were Killdeer and 3 Solitary Sandpipers.
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
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
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