A List of Birds Observed at Ashland, Virginia

Vol.XXVII]1910 J E_MBOD¾,Birds observed at Ashland,Virginia. 169

A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT ASHLAND, VIRGINIA.

BY G. C. EMBODY, CornellUniversity.

T•E town of Ashland is situated near the center of Hanover County,about ninety-nine miles south of Washingtonand seventeen milesnorth of Rich,nond. The regionoccupies a positioninter- ,nediatebetween the typicalpiedmont plateau and the coastalplain, the formeroccurring three miles to the west,the latter a so,newhat greaterdistance to the east. Fro,n Ashlandto the southwardthe drainageis into the Chicka- ho,ninyRiver; to the northward,into the SouthAnna and ,nunkeyRivers, the former river tributary to the latter. The range in altitudefor the wholearea is approximatelyfro,n two hundred to two hundredand forty feet abovesea-level. The regionis poorly drainedand in ,nany placesstanding water occursat varying depthsfro,n two to six feet below the surface. Much land is unfit for cultivation because of this excessive amount of water. In suchfields tangles of weedsand briars prevail with scatteredpatches of sedge,berry bushes and sassafras,all of whichfurnish food or shelterfor suchwinter residentsas Song,Field, and Tree Sparrows, Juncos,Cardinals, and CarolinaWrens; and later,nesting sites for Cardinals,Indigo Buntings,Prairie Warblers,Chats, White-eyed Vireos, Catbirds,and Brown Thrashers. The woods,which cover a ratherlarge area, may be conveniently groupedunder three types; the high, dry oak wood,the sandy, rather,noist pine, and the low ,noist,so,netimes swampy wood in which predominatethe tulip-tree (Liriodendrontulipifera), sweet gumand ehn (Ulmusamericana). The pinetype seems to occupy the greatestarea and consistsahnost entirely of treesless than eight inchesin dia,neter. The sweet gum-ehntype ranks secondin extent,while the dry oak woodsoccur in scatteredplaces on the welldrained hills. The sweetgum-ehn woods seem to be the richest in bird life, duringmigrations as well as duringthe breedingseason. There are two bodiesof water, Railroad Pond, two ,niles to the 170 E•o,Y, Birdsobserved at Ashland, Virginia. LAprilF Auk

north,and King'sPond, three miles or lessto the west. Theseare not sufficientlylarge nor do theyfurnish the necessaryconditions for attracting or supportingmore than an occasionalduck or shore-bird. This in a large measureaccounts for the absenceof suchbirds from the list. The singleduck which came to my notice wasin toogreat a hurry to be identifiedwith certainty. The olinroteis freefrom extremesof heat and cold. The range of temperaturebetween normals for Januaryand Julyaverages 42¸ F. There are, however,conspicuous alternations of warm and coldspells in spring,which injure early blooming fruit trees,espe- ciallypeaches, and which doubtless affect in no inconsiderableway the movementsof migratingbirds. The regionlies within the CarolinianFaunal Area but closeto the isothermmarking the northern limit of the Austroriparian. This is indicatedby the followingcomparison of the temperatures taken at Ashlandin 1908, with thosemarking the northernlimits of the Lower Australand Carolinianrespectively:-

Sum of mean daily temperature,above 43 ø F.

Ashland 1908 ...... 16212 Northern limit Austroriparian ...... 18000• Northern limlt Carolinian ...... 11500 t

Mean temperaturefor the six hottestconsecutive weeks.

Ashland 1908 ...... 77.1 F. Northern limit Austroriparian ...... 78.8 • Northern limit Carolinian ...... 71.6 •

From this conditionof affairsa few loweraustral forms might be expectedto invadethe regionabout Ashland, but asidefrom the Black Vultureand Mockingbirdno typicalones were observed. One shouldbe on the lookoutfor suchforms as Chuck-will's-widow, Brown-headedNuthatch, Southern Hairy Woodpecker,Red- cockadedWoodpecker, Blue Grosbeak,Swainsoh's Warbler and ProthonotaryWarbler. In the followinglist onlythose birds are mentionedwhich were observedby the writer withina radiusof fivemiles of Ashlandand duringthe periodfrom September 10, 1907,until June17, 1908.

Merriam, Life Zones and Crop Zones of the United States, 1898, p. 55. VohXXVII]1910 J EMBODY, Birds observed at Ashland, Virginia. 171

I am indebted to Mr. E. A. Evans, Director of the Richmond Experiment Station, for the climatologicaldata here used. For more detailedinformation regarding the physiography,drainage, and soils the reader is referredto the 'Soil Survey of Hanover County,Virginia' by H. H. Bennettand W. E. McLendon,U.S. Departmentof Agriculture,1906. It is with the hope that someonemay continuethe work and furnishus with a reasonablycomplete catalogue of the birdsof HanoverCounty, that thispreliminary affair is put forth.

Annotated List.

1. Podilymbus podiceps. PIED-BILLED GREBE.-- Occurs in open watersfrom about November20 until April 9. Occasionalpairs were seen on Railroad and King's Ponds. 2. Botaurus lentiginosus. BITTERN.--A rare winter visitant seen but once, November 2, 1907. 3. Butorides virescens. LITTLE GREEN I-IERoN.-- A summer resident, not common. One or more may usuallybe foundat King's Pond or in the swamptwo milessouth of Ashland. 4. Actiris macularia. SPOTTED SANDPIPER.-- Found in small numbers during April, May, June and September. It may breed but a nest has not yet been discovered. 5. 0xyechus vociferus. I41ILLDEER.--A few were seen during the latter part of March, during April and October. All were feedingin wet meadowsor ploughedfields. 6. Colinus virginianus. BOB-WHITE.--A fairly abundant resident, more in evidence during the period of song, from the middle of April throughthe greaterpart of July. 7. Meleagrisgallopavo silvestris. WILD TURKEY.--Turkeysstill exist in somenumbers in the more unsettledparts of Hanover County. One was brought in by a farmer who had killed several during the fall, five miles to the northwest of Ashland. 8. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. ß •OURNING DOVE.-- Rather common from March 15 until late in November. Occasionallyseen in winter. 9. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. TURKEY VULTURE.--Common throughoutthe year. Breeds. 10. Catharista urubu. BLACK VULTURE.--The "Carrion Crow"seems to be nearlyas abundant as the precedingspecies and may breed. 11. Accipiter ¾•1oat. SHARP-SHINNEDHAwK.-- Recorded but twice duringthe period,October 20 and November5, 1907. 12. A½½ipitercooperi. COOPER'SHAW•:.--One only was identified with certainty, January 16, 1908. 172 EMBODY,Birds observed at Ashland,Virginia. i'[April Auk

13. Buteo lineatus. RED-SaOULDERED HAWK.--Not uncommon as a summer resident. A nest with half-grown young found May 11, 1908. Occasionallyseen in winter. 14. Buteo platypterus. BROAD-W•NGEDItxwK.--Apparently rare; one recordonly, March 15, 1908. 15. Falco sparverius. SPARROWItAWK.--Not uncommonduring the fall migTations. Occasionallyseen in winter, and in spring as late as April 28. 16. 8trix varia. BARRED OWn.--Several observed at different times in a swamp about two miles south of Ashland. A young female just out of the nest was capturedMay 14, 1908. An adult male capturedMay 11, 1908, was smaller and considerablydarker underneath than specimens from New York. 17. 0tus asio. SCREECa OWn.-- An uncommon resident. Breeds. 18. Coceyzus americanus. YEnnOW-B•nnF•DC•CKOO.--A tolerably common summer resident and breeder, arriving from the south about May first. 19. Ceryle aleyon. BELTEDI4[INGF•SHER.--A summer resident occurring in smallnumbers and restrictedto the pondsand largerstreams. 20. Dryobates¾il10SUS. HAIRY WOODPECKER.--A resident,apparently not common. A nest with young ready to leave was locatedin a dead burned pine, May 4, 1908. 21. Dryobates pubescensmedianus. DowNY WOODPECKER.--Rather commonthroughout the year. Breeds. 22. Melanerpeserythrocephalus. RE•-aEA•ED WOODPECKEa.--Afew were seen in September and October, 1907. I cannot account for its absenceor rarenessin the late springof 1908. 23. Cenmrus catolinus. i•ED-BEI•LIEDWOODPECKER.--Very uncommon in spring,becoming common in late summerand fall. 24. Colapresaurams luteus. Fn•CKER.--Commonfrom May 15 until the middle of November. Rare in winter. 25. Ant.rostomus vociferus. WHIP-POOR-WILL.--A very commonsummer residentand breeder,arriving about the middle of April. 26. Choraletiesvirginianus. Nm•T•AWK.-- A rather common summer resident,becoming abundant during the Septembermigrations. 27. Cha•tura pelagica. CI•MNEY SW•FT.--Arrlves about April 21, from wkich time it is abundant until October 1. 28. Archilochus colubris. RUBY-THROATEDHUMMINGBIRD.--A common summerresident, arriving about May 4. 29. Tyrannustyrannus. K•NrBmD.--Common from about April 28 until the latter part of September. 30. Myiarrhus crinitus. CRESTroDFL¾CATCI-IE•t.--Arrives the latter part of April, from which time it is cormnonin every wood of the sweet gum-elmtype until the middleof September. 31. 8ayornisphoebe. PamBE.--Not uncommon•as a breeder. The earliest record for 1908 was March 2. Vol.1910XXVII] J E•BODY,Birds observed at Ashland, Virginia. 173

32. Myiochanesvirens. WOODPEWEE.-- A very commonsumm, er resident and breeder, appearing about May I and departing the middle of September. 33. Empidonax virescens. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.--Breeds rather commonlyin the swampsouth of Ashland. It arrives from the south the fore part of May. 34.. EmpidonaxmAnlinus. LEASTFLYCATCHER.--An apparently rare transient. Its characteristiccall was heard hut once,May 10, 1908. 35. Cyanocitta cristata. BLUE JAY.-- Uncommon in summer. A few were seenduring the winter of 1907-08. 36. Corvus.brachyrhynchos. CROW.-- Abundant at all times. 37. Corvusossifragus. FISH CROW.--A fairly commonresident. 38. Molothrus ater. COWBIRD.--Fairly common in spring but rather rare during the breedingseason. The eggswere not observed. 39. Agelaius phmniceus. i•ED-WINGEDBLACKBIRD.-- Arrives early in March, and is uncommon as a breeder. The absenceof cat-tail marshes makesnecessary the use of low bushcsalong streams for nestingplaces. 40. Sturnella magna. MEADOWLARK.--A resident, abundant from the middle of March until about November20; fairly commonduring winter. 41. Icterus spurius. ORCHARDORIOLE.--A rather common summer resident,arriving ahout May 5. Breeds. 42. Icterus galbilla. BALTIMOREORIOLE.--A transient, apparently uncommon. A few were seenon two occasionsonly, May 1 and 4, 1908. 43. Euphagus carolAnus. RUSTY BLACKBIRD.--They appeared in large numbers March 15, 1908, but none were seen after Mareh 18. This probably doesnot representtheir true status. 44. Quiscalusquiscula. PURPLEGRACKLE.--An uncommon summer resident, arriving early in March. 45. Passer domesticus. ENGLISH SPARROW.-- Abundant at all seasons. 46. Carpodacus purpureus. PURPLE FINCH.--Occurs in small flocks throughout the winter. Very commonduring April and the fore part of May; last seenMay 11, 1908. 47. Astragalinustristis. GOLDFINCH.--Commonin flocks during the winter months. Abundant during April and May. Breeds. 48. SpinIls pinIls. PINE S•SKIN.--Seven were seen with a flock of Goldfinches,January 16, 1908, two of which were collected. 49. Poeecetesgramineus. VESPERStARROW.-- An uncommonmigrant which remainsfor a few days only. OhservedMarch 22 and 24, 1908. 50. Passerculussandwichensis savanna. S.•VANNAHStARROW.-- Only one individual observed, March 24, 1908. 51. Ammodramus savannarum australis. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.-- A commonsummer resident. Arrives early in April. Breeds. 52. Passerherbulus hensIowA. HENSLOW'S SPARROW.-- I saw but one specimenwhich was collectedMay 11, 1908. 174 EMBODY,Birds observed at Ashland, Virginia. [[April Auk

53. Zonotrichia leucophrys. WHITE-CROWNEDSPARROW.-- An uncommon transient and rare winter visitant. May usually be found about March 15. 54. Zonotrichia albicoliis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.--A common winter visitant, occurringas late as May 1I, 1908. Abundant during April and November. 55. 8pizelia monti½ola. TREE SPARROW.--Occursduring the winter months but is not common. 56. 8pizelia passerina. CHIPPINGSPARROW.--An abundant summer resident, arriving about March 15. 57. 8pizelia pusilia. FIELD SPARROW.--Occurs abundantly at all seasonsof the year. 58. Junco byemalls. SLATE-COLOREDJUNCO.--A winter visitant, occurringin large numbersuntil about April 6. 59. Melospiza melodia. SONG SPARROW.--A very common winter visitant. None were seenlater than April 6; howeverat Fredericksburg, fifty miles to the northward, I heard them singingas late as June I0. 60. Melospiza georgiana. SWAMPSPARROW.-- Apparently very uncommon. Two were seenMarch 15, 1908. 61. Passerellailiaca. Fox SPARROW.--Common for a few days begin- ning about March 15. A few observedOctober 20, 1907. 62. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. TOWHEE.-- A common summer resident of general distribution. Arrives early in March. A few remain during winter. 63. Cardinalis cardinalis. CARDINAL.--A common resident, more abundant in springand summer. 64. Zamelodia ludoviciana. ROSE-BREASTEDGROSBEAK.-- A very un- commontransient. One seenon eachof the followingdates:-- May 5, I0 and 11, 1908. 65. Passerina cyanea. INDmO BUNTING.-- An abundant summer resident, arriving about May I. 66. Piranga erythromelas. SCARLETTANAGER.--An uncommon transient. It arrives about April 29. 67. Piranga rubra. SUMMERTANAGER.--A very common summer resident, arriving about April 28. 68. Progne subis. PURPLE MARTIN.--A fairly common resident, occurringfrom about April 16 until the fore part of September. 69. Petrochelidon lunifrons. CLIFF SWALLOW.-- A number were seen in September,•907. This speciesmust be further investigatedbefore any general statements can be given relative to its abundanceand breeding. 70. Hirundo erythrogaster. BARN SWALLOW.--A common summer resident,appearing alJout April 28. 71. Iridoprocne bicolor. TREE SWALLOW.--A rather common transient; the first swallow to appear in spring, arriving about April 6 (1908), or perhapsa weekearlier, dependingupon the weather. Vol.1910XXVIIq J EMBODY,Birds observed at Ashland, Virginia. 175

72. Riparia riparia. BANK SWALLOW.--Large numbers were seen throughoutthe month of September,1907, but none came to my notice the following spring. 73. Stelgidopteryxserripennis. ROUGH-W•NGEDSWALLOW.--A fairly commonsummer resident, arriving about May 4. 74. Bombycilla cedrorum. CEDAR WAXW•NG.--Occurs irregularly throughoutthe year; not known to breed. 75. Lanius ludovicianusmigrans. NORTHERNLOGCERHEAD SHRTKE.-- An uncommonwinter visitant, occurringfrom the middle of October until the first of April; not known to breed. Ashland specimensare darker than typical migrans. 76. Vireosylvaolivacea. :RED-EYEDVIREO.--A very commo•summer resident and breeder, arriving about April 28. 77. Lanivireo fiavifrons. YELLOW-THROATED ViREO.-- Rather common during migrations,arriving the latter part of April. A few un- doubtedly breed. 78. Vireo griseus. WroTE~EYEDV•REO.--A fairly common summer residentand breeder, arriving about April 27. 79. Mniotilta varia. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER.--Very common during migrations,arriving about April 6. A few remainto breed. 80. Compsothlypisamericana usne•. NORTHERNPARULA WARBLER. Common during migratioDs,arriving about April 25. Those specimens which cameto hand were migratingbirds and the northernform. A female was observedMay 4, 1908, building a nest thirty feet up in a pine tree. This nest was abandoned a week later and before the female couldbe determinedas to its subspecies. 81. Dendroicamstiva. YELLOWWARBLER.-- A fairly commonsummer resident and b•eder. It arrives from the south about April 15. 82. Dendroica c•erulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.-- A tolerablycommon transient, appearing late in April. 83. Dendroica coronata. MYRTLE WARBLER.--An uncommon transient, arriving the fore part of March. A few may winter. 84. Dendroica pensylvanica. CHESTNUT-SIDEDWARBLER.--A tolerably commontransient. It appearslate in April and remainsabout two weeks. 85. Dendroica striata. BLACK-POLLWARBLER.--A fairly common transientfrom about May 2 until 17. 86. Dendroica virens. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.--Occurs as a transient, apparently uncommon. A few were seenin late September, 1907,and one only was noted the followingspring, May 11, 1908. 87. Dendroicavigorsi. P•NE WARBLER.--Verycommon during migrations and tolerably common in summer. They arrive as early as March 2. A femalewas observedfeeding its young, May 11, 1908. 88. Dendroica discolor. PraIRiE WARBLER.--A common summer residentand b•eder; arrives late in April. 89. 8eiuru8 aurocapillus. OVENBIRD.-- Very common from about May 1 to September20. Breeds. 176 ]•MBODY,Birds observed at Ashland, Virginia. [AprilF Auk

90. aeiurusmotacilla. LOUiSiANAWATER-THRuSH.-- A very common summerresident, occurring in every wet woodand alongthe larger streams. It arrives about March 26. 91. 0porornis formosa. KENTUCKYWARBLER.--Common as a summer residentbut restrictedto the largerwet woods. It arrivesearly in May. 92. Geothlypistrichas. MARYLANDYELLOW-THROAT.--Very common from April 27 until the latter part of September. 93. Icteria virens. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.--An abundant breeder. Arrives about April 28. 94. Wilsonia citrina. HOODEDWARBLER.--A summer resident, com- mop in all moist woods; first appearsabout April 28. 95. Setophagaruticilla. REDSTART.--Arrivingabout April 24, it is abundant throughoutthe summer. Nest building was observedas early as April 28. 96. Mimus polyglottos. MOCK•NdmRD.--A resident, more common during spring and summer than in winter. 97. Dumetella carolinensis. CATBIRD.--An abundant breeder, arriving the third week in April. 98. Toxostoma rufum. BROWN THRASHER.--A summer resident and very common; arrives the last week in March. 99. Thryothorus ludovicianus. CAROLIN• WREN.--A' common resident, found in all sortsof habitats furnishingsufficient shelter. 100. Troglodytesa•don. HOUSE WREN.--A very common breeder, arriving about April 11. 101. Nannushiemalts. WINTER WREN.-- Fairly commonthroughout the winter, leavingfor the north during the first weekin April. 102. Certhia familiaris americana. BROWNCREEPER.-- Very common throughoutthe winter. It leavesfor the north about March 26. 103. ,qitta carolinensis. WHITE-BREASTEDNUTHATCH.--A resident, at no time very common. Breeds. 104. B•eolophusbicolor. TUFTEDTITMOUSr,.-- A resident, fairly common in winter and abundant a.t other times. 105. Penthestes carolinensis. CAROLINA CHICFADEE.-- A common and generally distributed resident. 106. Regulus satrapa. GOLDEN-CROWNEDKINdLET.--A very common winter visitant, remaining until about Aprkl 6. 107. Regulus calendula. RUBY-CROWNEDKINdLET.-- Fairly common during the month of March; not observedduring the .winter of 1907-08. 108. Polioptila c•erulea. BLUE-dRAY GNATCATCHER.--Arrives about April 10 and breedscommonly in woodsof the dry oak type. 109. Hylocichla mustelina. Wood THRUSH.--An abundant breeder, arriving about April 28. 110. Hylocichla fuseestens. VEERY; WILSON'STHR'ZSH.-- A transient of wlfich but three individualswere seen, April 11. 111. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH.-- A transient, apparently uncommon; observedMay 1] and 17, 1908. VoI.XXVII]1910 J TOWNS•NU, Co'•rtship of Golden-eyeand Eider Ducks. 177

112. Hylocichla guttata pallasi. HERMIT Tuuvs•{.--An uncommon transient, arriving as early as March 2. A few may winter. 113. Planesticusmigratorius. Rom•-.--A common summer resident occasionally wintering in some numbers. They appear in large flocks about the middle of February. 114. Si•lia si•lis. B•v•muu.-- A common resident, more abundant in March than at other times.

THE COURTSHIPS 'OF GOLDEN-EYE AND EIDER DUCKS. •

BY CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, M.D.

ThE intelligenceshown by Golden-eyesor Whistlers(Clangula clangulaamericana) in frequentingbodies of water in or near the heart of citieswhere they are safefrom persecution,renders easy a studyof their habits,yet very little has beenpublished on the somewhatre•narkable courtship performances of this bird. I have watched these courtshipsat Ipswich and once at Barnstable, Massachusetts,but my most intimatestudies have been made in the Back-bayBasin of the CharlesRiver betweenBoston and Cambridge. The springis of coursethe time whencourtship actions are most indulgedin, and theybegin on mild days in Februaryand continue until the deI)artureof the birds for the North in April. In the autumn months, however, it is not uncommon to see the same performancegiven by both the adult and youngmales, altho. ugh but incompletelycarried out in the latter case. The courtshipaction varies considerably,but a typical and completeone may be describedas follows: One or more males swimrcstlessly back and forth and arounda female. The feathers of the cheeks and crest of the male are so erected that the head looks large and round, the neck correspondinglysmall. As he swims along the head is thrust out in front close to the water,

• Read at a Meeting of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Cambridge, Mass., March 7, 1910.