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Recent Postings from
The West Virginia Birding List

Updated on Monday, October 29 at 06:19 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Yesterday, we found a couple swamp sparrows around a pond near Athens, Mercer 
County. We had a red crossbill fly over our house and we saw an immature bald 
eagle over Bluestone Lake, near Hinton, Summers County. 

Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

Brian Hirt reported an eight eagle day at Hanging Rocks, Peters Mt., Monroe 
County yesterday. At least one was a golden eagle. 

Jim Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

Congratulations to the Brooks Bird Club on their 75th Anniversary! Keep up the 
good work!! 

J&J Phillips
Pipestem, WV

We checked for waterfowl on Mountain Valley Lake, Jumping Branch, Summers 
County today. We found 208 Canada geese, 8 mallards, 5 pied-billed grebes, 5 
Amer. black ducks, 1 hooded merganser, 3 buffleheads, 40 ruddy ducks, 7 wood 
ducks, 18 Amer. wigeons & 15 Amer. coots. 

Also had 1 common loon on Bluestone Lake near the mouth of the Bluestone River.
Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

I saw an orange-crowned warbler on the trail to Pipestem Knob in Pipestem S.P. 
on Friday. 

Jim Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

Wendell Argabrite,Mike Griffith and I birded separately this past Thursday at 
the RCB Locks.I apologize for the late entry.The following species were seen: 


Black Scoter-1 male gone on Friday
Ruddy Duck-41
Green-winged Teal-8
Lesser Scaup-20
Pied-billed Grebe-6
Coot-1
Cormorant-50
Mute Swan-2
Snow Goose-4 White Phase
Ring-billed Gull-10
Herring Gull-15
Peregrine Falcon-1
Harrier-1
Osprey-1
Red-tailed Hawk-1
Red-shouldered Hawk-1
Kestrel-1
Cooper's Hawk-1
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1

David Patick,MD
Huntington,WV 25701

While walking at Cheat Lake Park on Thursday AM sans binocs, Emilie saw a large 
number of ducks including Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks. We went to see if they 
were still there this AM, this time fully armed with optics. The only waterfowl 
at the park was a single Pied-billed Grebe. However, we did find about 200 
Ruddies just N of the I-68 bridge, as well as 3 male Bufflehead. Another small 
flock of about 15 Ruddies at Edgewater Marina. Other notables: Red-t. Hawk (4), 
Common Raven, and a small line of probable Common Loons moving south at high 
altitude. 


Bill and Emilie Johnson
Morgantown

Hello All,
    I had a very enjoyable morning of birding the local
patch after the storm. Highlight was an American Golden
Plover (FOY) in a flooded field at Washington High School.

Secondary highlight was a pair of Northern Shovelers at
Altona Marsh.

In all 58 species were recorded which included 7 species
of waterfowl and 4 species of shorebirds.

SR = Shenandoah River    AM = Altona Marsh

Notables + Waterfowl/Raptors/Shorebirds:
  Common Loon                1    SR
  Pied-billed Grebe          2
  Double-crested Cormorant  71    SR
  Wood Duck                 26  
  Gadwall                    5
  Green-winged Teal          5
  Mallard                   49
  American Black Duck       28
  Northern Shoveler          2
  Ruddy Duck                 1
  Northern Harrier           1
  Cooper's Hawk              1
  Red-shouldered Hawk        2
  Red-tailed Hawk            3
  Killdeer                  34
  Wilson's Snipe             1                            
  American Golden Plover     1
  Pectoral Sandpiper         1
  Tree Swallow              12
  Both Kinglets              7 (3 GC, 4 RC)
  Blue-headed Vireo          2
  Yellow-rumped Warbler     15
  Common Yellowthroat        1
  Rusty Blackbird            7    AM


Good Birding and Clear Skies,
Matt Orsie
Jefferson County - Summit Point, WV
http://www.wvbirder.com

Notables in the Reedsville/Masontown area this morning were;
 
Tundra Swan - 3
Blue Goose - mixed in with about 100 Canadas
American Black Duck - several
American Wigeon - 3
Green-winged Teal - several
Ruddy Duck
Wilson�s Snipe
Killdeer - 100, or so
Red-tailed Hawk 
American Kestrel 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-rumped Warbler
 
Green Darner
 
Gary Felton � Kingwood

The pair of pied-billed grebes that were found last week are still in residence 
on the Tygart River in south Elkins (public boat ramp at Scotts Ford, north end 
of Ward Road). Yesterday they were joined by a single immature double-crested 
cormorant, which is another unusual sighting for this stretch of river. 

 
Michael Welch
Elkins
_________________________________________________________________
Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You!
http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us

I heard and then saw a small flock of Pine Siskins (6+ birds) in the
tulip poplar tree across the street from our home this morning. This may
be the same group of Siskins that I have seen a couple of times in the
last week. They are feeding at our thistle feeder intermittently. 

 

Gary Rankin

Lavalette, WV

Wayne Co.

 

Gary O. Rankin, Ph.D.

Professor & Chair

Depart.of Pharmacology, Physiology & Toxicology - BBSC

Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Marshall University

One John Marshall Drive

Huntington, WV 25755

TEL:

FAX:

Checked Sun Valley Lake & Long Branch Lake both in Pipestem, Summers County 
yesterday hoping for some fallout from the Lake Stephens waterfowl. Didin't 
find much. Had 7 pid-billed grebes, 6 Amer. coots, 2 blue-winged teals and 6 
green-winged teals. 

Jim Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

The following message is being posted for Margaret and Bill Hank,
Hinton, WV.  Summers County;

Margaret and Bill  had lunch today at Kirk's Restaurant (overlooking
the New River), and observed 2 adult Bald Eagles perched on the
trees on the opposite side of the river.   After lunch they decided to
run the river to Sandstone Falls and observed the following;
Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Ducks, Mallards and 1 Amer. Coot.

Ann McRae
Bluefield, WV--Mercer County
annmcrae AT netscope.net

 This afternoon took a little to bird above and below the Hannibal lock and 
dam.

  * first of season for me
> Canada Goose     X
> Mallard     X
* Northern Shoveler     1
* Bufflehead     6
* Ruddy Duck     1
* Pied-billed Grebe     1
> Great Blue Heron     2
* Great Egret     1   in  river near Ohio shore below bridge

> Red-tailed Hawk     1
> American Kestrel     1
> American Coot     2
> Killdeer     30
> Rock Pigeon     X
> Blue Jay     1
> American Crow     4
> Northern Mockingbird     1
> European Starling     8
* Savannah Sparrow     1  by ball field near weed covered mounds

> Song Sparrow     6
> White-throated Sparrow     1
> Northern Cardinal     2
> House Finch     2
> American Goldfinch     3

  Wilma Jarrell
  Wileyville WV
  Wetzel Co.


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Friends,
Today on the lake there were more ducks/and others.
52 ruddy ducks
27 American coots
3 common loons
6 buffleheads
4 ring-necked ducks
8 am. widgeon
6 pied-billed grebes

Raleigh Co./Lake Stephens
Mindy Waldron
mwaldron AT suddenlink.net

The Leon Wilson Bird Club will host a bird walk this Sunday, October 28 at 
Rotary Park.  The walk is open to the general public, and will begin at the 
trailhead parking area at 8:30 a.m.

Directions: enter the park through the main entrance on U.S. Route 60 East 
between Roby Road and the 29th and 31st Street Bridges/8th Avenue.  Continue 
uphill past the athletic fields and over the stone bridge.  The parking area 
is uphill and to the right.  This is the only entrance to the park that is 
open to vehicular traffic.

Remaining Fall Bird Walks:

Sunday, November 18 at Greenbottom WMA

Additional walks will be announced as scheduled.

Want to host your own walk?  It's easy!  All you need is a good place to 
watch birds, and a general knowledge of what birds you usually see there.  
Simply reply to this message in order to schedule a walk at your favourite 
birding hotspot!

Paul A. Thorn
Huntington

  This morning Eula Elliot, Nina Ott, Jeanie & Gene Hilton and I
birded the McDonough Refuge from 8:00 until 11:15.  After yesterday's
rain, the creek has some water in it. First time in a while.

   Highlights:

   Double-crested Cormorant - 3 - flying over
   Belted Kingfisher - 1
   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
   Hairy Woodpecker - 2
   Blue-headed Vireo - 1
   White-eyed Vireo - 1
   Brown Creeper - 1 - my First of Season
   Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 or 5
   Cedar Waxwing - >30
   Yellow-rumped Warbler - many
   Palm Warbler - 1
   Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
   Dark-eyed Junco - 4

   Other birds:

   Buteo- sp. - 1 - too far and quick to ID
   Mourning Dove
   Red-bellied Woodpecker
   Downy Woodpecker
   Northern Flicker
   Blue Jay
   American Crow
   Carolina Chickadee
   Tufted Titmouse
   Carolina Wren
   American Robin
   Northern Mockingbird
   Eastern Towhee
   Chipping Sparrow
   Field Sparrow
   Song Sparrow
   White-throated Sparrow
   Northern Cardinal
   American Goldfinch

   Conspicuous by their absence - White-breasted Nuthatch

   Jon Benedetti
   Vienna, WV
   Wood County
jon.benedetti AT gmail.com

Friends,
On the way home this evening I drove up to Lake Stephens to see if the rain had 
brought any birds in. There were 53 double-crested cormorants, 3 common loons 
and a large raft of ducks (no. pintails, blue-winged teal, mallard, black 
ducks). It was getting dark (6:00) and there were some birds in the group that 
I couldn't make out. But it was the largest congregation of birds that I had 
seen at the lake this time of year. 


Allen did a banding presentation last week for a school group at Tams Mtn. here 
in Raleigh Co. His first bird was a rufous hummingbird. He believes it was an 
immature male. He didn't have his camera, but the kids had cameras and phones 
and took some pics. They haven't sent him any of the pics yet. 


Mindy Waldron
mwaldron AT suddenlink.net

I was in a workshop last Thursday and the presenter was Dr. Michael  
Little from MU who is presently the chairperson for the Integrated Science 
and Technology Program there.
One of the subjects that has been researched is the velocity of those 
windmills in Tucker and Preston counties.  It was found that while they 
appear to be moving slowly, if you measure the speed using the number of 
rotations of the tips and distance they cover, it comes out to be 140 
mph.  This is also the number provided by the EPA. 
In this study it was also decided that the velocity could be decreased by 
shortening the blades.  If the design holds true, then any new ones built 
will be safer for birds. 

The website for all of the online research and educational resources is   
gis.marshall.edu


Susan Aaron
Huntington, WV
Cabell Co.

And, I prom
First of season Purple Finch (male) here today.

And, I promised someone that I would share this website 
www.laurelmountainpreservationassociation.org 
for anyone interested in the issue of wind turbines and birds in Tucker County. 


 ~Cindy Ellis 

Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
Take a Hike!

Palm Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Swamp Sparrow at the Wetlands* of Winfield today. 

(*this area is really dry...hope those of us who need it get steady rains 
tonight and tomorrow.) 

 ~Cindy Ellis 

Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
Take a Hike!

Greetings,
 I got home yesterday from a weekend trip, and found my first of the season 
Junco in the backyard. I have been wondering when my first one would show up, 
so it was a nice welcome home present. Also had the Red-breasted Nuthatch at 
the sunflower feeder and suet. 

    Happy birding,
      Carol Del-Colle
      Summit Point
      Jefferson County 

A singing Solitary Vireo (take that AOU) was present today from early this 
morning till late this afternoon. Notable flyovers were Northern 
(Yellow-shafted) Flickers, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, 
Yellow-rumped Warblers and Red-winged Blackbirds. A Red-breasted Nuthatch is 
still here. 

Gary Felton - Kingwood
 
 

There were 4 Pine Siskins at my thistle feeder this morning. A male purple 
finch showed up last Thusday, so now we'll just have to wait and see if any 
Evening Grosbeaks or Redpolls show up this winter! 

 
Gary Rankin
Lavalette, WV
Wayne Co.

Judy saw a northern harrier yesterday. It was just north of Hillsboro, 
Pocahontas County along Rt. 219. 

This morning, our feeders were visited by a Cooper's hawk and then about 30 
minutes later we had a sharp-shinned hawk make a pass through the yard. 

Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

I spent some time this afternoon at Greenbottom, not the best time to be 
birding but there were sparrows feeding along the road to the boardwalk 
and getting water from a small puddle. I also walked the fields and around 
the back of the station.
White-Crowned 3
White-throated  1
Field Sparrows 2
Song Sparrows  3

Wren sounded like a carolina scolding me. When it appeared, it didn't have 
the distinctive eyestripe and appeared to be smaller (??)

Saw a thrush fly into the other side of the area of shrubs I was watching 
and heard it call once but wasn't something I recognized.  Do thrushes 
have flight songs?

I think I got a peek at a Marsh Wren.  As I watched the sparrows in the 
road, I saw another bird fly into a thick shrub near them.  I watched it 
through my binoculars but it sat with its back to me in a shady spot.  At 
first I thought it was another white crowned sparrow because I saw a white 
stripe but its dark back had thin white stripes.  I looked in the Peterson 
Guide I had with me and saw the White-crowned appeared to have some white 
stripes on its back but nothing as clear as these. It never did turn 
around enough for me to get a profile and after a couple of minutes, flew 
away.  I don't have a marsh wren and don't know what it looks like.  It 
wasn't until I got home and reread Gary's sightings, and looked through 
some more books that I added it to my "possible" list.

A gorgeous day to be outdoors.

Susan Aaron
Huntington, WV
Cabell Co.

Notables in the Reedsville/Masontown area this morning were;
 
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture � 2
Red-tailed Hawk � 3
Northern Harrier � 2
Cooper�s Hawk 
American Kestrel 
Yellow-rumped Warbler - few
Lincoln�s Sparrow 
Field Sparrow � few
White-crowned Sparrow � several
Swamp Sparrow � several
Chipping Sparrow � few
White-throated Sparrow � several
 
Red-breasted Nuthatch and Purple Finch at the house this morning and a 
Sharp-shinned Hawk this afternoon. 

 
Gary Felton - Kingwood

Today the first Junco of the season showed up in my yard. The White-crowns 
appeared on Monday and have been here all week along with White-throated 
sparrows, Song sparrows, Blue jays, Robins, Cardinals, Gold & House finches, 
Bluebirds and a sprinkling of Field sparrows . 


Sadly, when I got home this afternoon I found dead Waxwing on the patio; it had 
apparently hit the door and broken its neck. It appears to be a first year bird 
with an orange tipped tail instead of the more often seen yellow. 


Bruni Haydl
Charles Town

Several white-throated sparrows were singing in our yard this morning. We had a 
pine warbler at our feeder yesterday. We also heard a winter wren along the 
Cottage Trail in Pipestem State Park yesterday. 

Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

The "bird walk" scheduled for the morning of Sunday, October 21 at Rotary 
Park has been cancelled due to a funeral.  Attempts were made to obtain a 
substitute to lead the walk, but were unsuccessful.  Should anybody wish to 
proceed with the walk anyway, they are encouraged to do so, and the best of 
luck be with them.

The next scheduled walk, also at Rotary Park on Sunday, October 28, will 
proceed as planned.  A separate announcement will be sent this week, but the 
arrangements will be the same, and the walk will begin at the trailhead 
parking area at 8:30 a.m.

The most sincere apologies to those disappointed,

Paul A. Thorn
Huntington

I live in parsons, and work at Canaan Valley Resort & State Park. While
driving to work on what we call the river road, I look over and there is
a bald eagle soaring beside my car (in the field next to me). I have
seen one almost every morning for the past few weeks. Has anyone else
seen them? Just curious .....

 

 Destiny Phillips

Route 72 (river road) 

 

 

 

 

 

Noon Friday: Pied-billed grebe pair on the Tygart River in south Elkins. They 
were hanging around the public boat ramp at Scotts Ford, at the north end of 
Ward Road. 

First time I have seen this bird in more than a year of living in the area. 
Nice change from the regular domestic mallards and tame Canada geese. 

 
Michael Welch
Elkins
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook � together at last. �Get it 
now. 


http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033 

Hello, all,

 

The wonderful news around here, of course, is finding Jacob Allen alive and
well.  We were about a mile away from him when my search team heard over the
CB that he'd been found yesterday around 2:30 in the afternoon.  In case any
of you hasn't heard, Jacob is 18 & autistic and was lost since last Sunday
when he was seen on the Boar's Nest trail in the South Fork of Red Creek
area in the Monongahela National Forest.  The turnout for the search effort
was amazing and faith-renewing, and the result couldn't have been better.

 

During my time out there this week, sans binocs, I did run across a flock of
Red Crossbills (flyover on Roaring Plains, Wed.), Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush
and White-crowned Sparrow.

 

This morning I heard my first White-throated Sparrow in the backyard, and my
finch numbers at the feeders are still up.

 

Last Saturday, our bird walk at Canaan Valley NWR found lots of
White-crowned Sparrows everywhere we stopped, more Palm Warblers, and a
veritable raptor-fest:

 

Cooper's Hawk - Freeland Road

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Rt 32 near Timberline turnoff

Red-Shouldered Hawk - Freeland boardwalk

Red-Tailed Hawk - Freeland Road

Am. Kestrel - Cortland Road

pr. Merlin. - Freeland boardwalk.

 

Cheers,

 

Casey Rucker

Dry Fork, WV

 

 

Heard a Blue Bird and White Throated Sparrow this morning.

-Ron

Observed one vesper sparrow this morning while walking. In between the welcomed 
showers. 

Yesterday saw two brown creepers first this fall.

Wilma Jarrell
Wileyville WV
Wetzel Co.

Saw two R. -thr. Hummingbirds today - one at Hazel Ruby McQuain park in 
downtown Morgantown, one at home, both feeding at flowers. 


Yesterday, a N. Harrier flew over the house fairly high, initially soaring with 
our local imm. Cooper's Hawk, then headed due west. The flight pattern was 
quite unusual. It would flap 3 or 4 times, then tuck its wings into a "stoop" 
profile briefly, then resume flapping - continued doing this until it went out 
of sight. I can't recall ever seeing this type of behavior in hundreds of 
harriers seen over the years. 


R.-br. Nuthatches have been regular feeder visitors for several weeks. We have 
seen as many as 4 at one time in one pine tree in the yard. 


Bill and Emilie Johnson
Morgantown

A red crossbill flew over our house this morning at about 8:30.
Jim Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

Greetings,
 About 5:30 this evening I had a female Purple Finch at one of my black-oil 
sunflower seed feeders. I also had a Red-breasted Nuthatch at the suet, and 2 
White-throated Sparrows at the ground seed. There was a convention of mourning 
doves around this evening too. I had at least a dozen of them. 

    Happy birding,
        Carol Del-Colle
        Summit Point
        Jefferson County     

----- Original Message ----- 
From: reports AT hawkcount.org 
To: cne01663 AT mail.wvnet.edu 
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 10:10 PM
Subject: HSR: Hanging Rock Tower (13 Oct  Raptors


Hanging Rock Tower
Waiteville, West Virginia, USA

      Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 13, 2007 
      Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total 
      Black Vulture 0 0 0 
      Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 
      Osprey 1 2 29 
      Bald Eagle 5 7 28 
      Northern Harrier 3 3 9 
      Sharp-shinned Hawk  
      Cooper's Hawk  
      Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 
      Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 7 
      Broad-winged Hawk  
      Red-tailed Hawk  
      Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 1 
      Golden Eagle 0 0 1 
      American Kestrel 1 7 38 
      Merlin 0 1 3 
      Peregrine Falcon 0 1 2 
      Unknown  5 15 
      Total: 


      Observation start time:  09:45:00  
      Observation end time:  17:00:00  
      Total observation time:  7.25 hours 
      Official Counter Jim Phillips 
      Observers:  Duane Fillingame, Josh Lipton, Rodney Davis 


Weather:


Raptor Observations:
Krider's Hawk

Non-raptor Observations:




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Report submitted by Jim Phillips (cne01663 AT mail.wvnet.edu)

  Here this morning, a harrier was harrying over our northwest field.

 At the Winfield Locks this afternoon, there were White-throated Sparrows and, 
despite very low water levels, these: Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, 
Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Coot, and Greater Yellowlegs. 
The 3rd pond was so dry that you could walk on the crusted mud flat to the two 
very small islands. 

   So I did.
 ~Cindy Ellis 


Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
"...he goes forever toward the long restful evening and the croak of the night 
herons over the river..." ~Wendell Berry 

Hi All,
   I had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird stop at the feeders
this morning. A new late date. In other news, A Greater and
Lesser Yellowlegs were at the ponds in the Archer's Rock
sub division NW of Martinsburg.


Good Birding and Clear Skies,
Matt Orsie
Jefferson County - Summit Point, WV
http://www.wvbirder.com

Pine siskins have shown up at our office feeders in Parsons (Tucker
County).
Also, we have a crow that visits the fields here whose primary feathers are
all white  - a handsome guy.

Jane L. Rodrigue
USDA Forest Service
Timber and Watershed Lab
P.O. Box 404
Parsons, WV  26287
, ex. 122
fax 
email: jrodrigue AT fs.fed.us

 Hi All! This cool, misty (Keyser) Mineral County morning is a morning of 
firsts for me: my first post to this wonderful list that I have been "lurking" 
on for several weeks, my first junco and first white-throat of the fall season! 
I am off work today and just enjoying my feeders and among my usual faithful 
birds I had these two little guys! Nice way to start the day and officially 
kick off my Fall! I always feel that all is right with the world when the 
juncos appear! 

 While I'm posting, I'll give a shout out to two Preston County fellows I know 
on the list...Gary Felton and LeJay Graffious (I'm a former Preston County 
gal...Rowlesburg to be exact...think you gentlemen will recognize my maiden 
name and know my folks!). I have been enjoying all the great posts and only 
wish I had more time to get out and bird! Thanks to all for the great 
information and inspiration! Good birding! 

 
Shannon Halterman Burner 
_________________________________________________________________
Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You!
http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us

Yesterday saw 2 swamp sparrows with the usual field and song sparrows. At least 
a dozen white throated sparrows. 

 Also the first of season  junco (8)

Wilma Jarrell
Wileyville, WV
Wetzel Co.

On Sunday(10/14), I took a walk near Athens, Mercer County. I observed a female 
common yellowthroat. At our feeders in Pipestem, we had red-breasted nuthatch 
and purple finch. We are still having rose-breasted grosbeaks at the feeder. A 
female ruby-throated hummingbird was still present at a feeder in Princeton, 
Mercer County on 10/12. 

Several double-crested cormorants are being seen on New River and Bluestone 
Lake, Summers County. 

Jim Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV

Hi all,
 
I just returned from vacation on Friday night, and after spending yesterday 
catching up at home, I decided to check Green Bottom WMA this morning. From 
about 8 am to a little after 12 noon, I birded the area around the road from 
the headquarters building to the boardwalk and the fields on either side of the 
headquarter's road past the turnoff to the boardwalk parking area. It was a 
good foggy fall morning for sparrows (6 species), warblers (4 species), wrens 
(3 species) and others. Wendell Argabrite (looking for Lincoln's sparrows) 
joined me about 11:30 am and we birded together for about 45 min. Overall, I 
saw 42 bird species. 

 
Highlights included:
 
Yellow-rumped warbler (4)
Blackburnian warbler (1)
Magnolia wabler(1)
Common Yellowthroat (1)
 
Carolina wren
House wren (1)
Marsh wren (1)
 
Chipping sparrow
Field sparrow
Song sparrow
Fox sparrow (1)
Lincoln's sparrow (2)
Swamp sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
White-throated sparrow
 
Northern Harrier (1 female)
Gray-cheeked thrush (1)
Purple finch (6)
 
Gary Rankin
Lavalette, WV

 A small, very informal version of the Bird Watcher's Digest-sponsored "Big 
Sit" was held here today. Among frustrating no-shows were Palm Warbler (last 
seen here Thursday), and 2 seen yesterday as first-of-season: White-Crowned 
Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. So here is the short list of 38 species 
tallied from the 17 foot diameter circle during a beautiful day: 


Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (first of season for here, today)
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch



Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
"...he goes forever toward the long restful evening and the croak of the night 
herons over the river..." ~Wendell Berry 

 A small, very informal version of the Bird Watcher's Digest-sponsored "Big 
Sit" was held here today. Among frustrating no-shows were Palm Warbler (last 
seen here Thursday), and 2 seen yesterday as first-of-season: White-Crowned 
Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. So here is the short list of 38 species 
tallied from the 17 foot diameter circle during a beautiful day: 


Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (first of season for here, today)
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch



Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
"...he goes forever toward the long restful evening and the croak of the night 
herons over the river..." ~Wendell Berry 

Greetings,
 I was in the Canaan Valley area yesterday for a Master Naturalist class. I did 
have time to do a little birding yesterday and this morning before heading 
home. I had a couple of "first for the season" birds while I was there. Purple 
finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-crowned Kinglet and Northern Harrier were 
FOS for me. The following is a list of birds heard or seen. 

   Turkey vulture
   Canada goose
   American Black duck (female)
   Mallard
   Northern Flicker
   Downy Woodpecker  
   Sharp-shinned hawk
   Northern Flicker
   Blue jay
   American Crow
   Common raven
   Black-capped Chickadee
   Red-breasted Nuthatch
   White-breasted Nuthatch
   Golden-crowned Kinglet
   Starlings
   Yellow-rumped Warbler
   Black-throated Green
   Palm Warbler
   Savannah Sparrow
   Song Sparrow
   Swamp Sparrow
   White-crowned Sparrow
   Eastern Meadowlark
   American Goldfinch
 Purple Finch (a small flock at Canaan Valley State Park visitor center 
feeders) 

 Upon returning home this afternoon around 3:00, I found a Red-breasted 
nuthatch at the Sunflower feeder and a Yellow-rumped Warbler checking out the 
pond. Also been having quite a few Blue Jays hanging around. 

    Happy birding,
      Carol Del-Colle
      Summit Point
      Jefferson County

    

Short note,
Red-winged Blackbirds- 2 at the feeder this morning
Robins in continuous flight over the neighborhood this evening, around 400 or 
more 


I think it was on Thursday, should have posted the day I saw them. One Wood 
Pewee in yard and one Kingfisher flying over the yard. Was surprised to see the 
Pewee in the yard. 


Kim Kazmierski
Hurricane,WV

Joey and All,

I heard at least one out here yesterday at about 4:45 AM in Virginia in 
southern Prince William County near Dumfries, and another one was banded just 
west of Richmond the same night. One more was reported from Point Lookout SP in 
Maryland, so they have already made it to points south and west of you in 
numbers and are likely all over the place where you are. This will be a fun 
year! 


The Winter Finch Forecast (linked below) mentions that it will likely be a good 
irruption year for Saw-whets and other boreal owls because of a likely crash in 
populations of a specific vole. 

http://www.ofo.ca/2007-8winterfinchforecast.htm

Jay Keller,
Arlington, VA


-----Original Message-----
>From: Joey Herron 
>Sent: Oct 14, 2007 8:23 PM
>To: WV-BIRD AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
>Subject: WV Saw-whets
>
>Just a note to let all know that this year appears to be turning
>into a banner year for Saw-whet Owl migration.
>
>I've already caught 4 this year in two nights, topping 3 that I caught
>in 10 nights last year at Valley Falls State Park on the Marion/Taylor Co 
line. 

>
>These little furballs are crossing our state as we sleep and probably roosting
>during the day as they make their way south!
>
>Amazing!
>
>Joey Herron
>Fairmont WV
>Marion Co
>birdman AT citynet.net

Oops...sorry for wrong message!  


Cynthia D. Ellis
RR 1, Box 163
Red House, WV 25168
ellis_6511 AT msn.com
ph/fax 
"...he goes forever toward the long restful evening and the croak of the night 
herons over the river..." ~Wendell Berry