Virginia Birds Fall 2009:Virginia Birds 6/2/2010 5:55 PM Page 1 Virginia Birds A quarterly journal of ornithological sightings in the Commonwealth published by the Virginia Society of Ornithology Volume 6, Number 2 Fall Records August–November 2009 Virginia Birds Fall 2009:Virginia Birds 6/2/2010 5:55 PM Page 2 Editors’ Notes surveys, and surveys of Golden-winged Warblers. You will John Spahr, who has served as our West Region Editor since find his contact information at the beginning of the West Re- the inception of Virginia Birds, recently let us know that he gion report. All you West Region birders please send him will not be able to continue in that capacity due to his many your sightings and photos so we can continue the wonderful other projects. We will save our farewell of John for the win- representation of the area that you have assisted John Spahr ter issue, which will carry his last region report. John gener- in providing for so long. ously helped us find his replacement and we are pleased to announce that Clyde Kessler will become the West Region Unfortunately we have had less success, actually no success, Editor starting with the spring reporting period. Clyde has in filling the North Region Editor position that has been va- been a bird watcher and bug watcher for over 40 years. He es- cant for some time. Please take a moment to look at the de- pecially enjoys witnessing hawk migration, and the migration scription of the area at the top of page 3. If you are an of other species of birds, and of butterflies, and dragonflies. experienced birder with an interest in compiling the report He writes about birds and environmental issues, general sci- for this region please contact us. ence articles, and even poetry. He is on the board of directors for the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, a recently formed or- Good birding, ganization devoted to environmental education, sustainable agriculture, and protection of habitat in the Blue Ridge eco- Linda and Alan region. The organization is developing a Website and cur- rently has two blogs, http://blueridgediscoveryproject.blogspot.com/ and http://piedmontdiscovery.blogspot.com/. Clyde participates as a tour guide for Radbird, a bird tour company and does proj- ects with the Forest Services, including some breeding bird Cover Photo: White-winged Dove at Claytor Lake. Mark Mullins Season Reports Due to Regional Editors Summer (Jun–Jul) 15 Aug Fall (Aug–Nov) 15 Dec Winter (Dec–Feb) 15 Mar Spring (Mar–May) 15 Jun Printed on recycled paper 2 VIRGINIA BIRDS VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 2 Virginia Birds Fall 2009:Virginia Birds 6/2/2010 5:55 PM Page 3 Fall Reporting Period Aug 2009–Nov 2009 swans were reported in Winchester Terms and Abbreviations (JL,BL) and one near Raphine, Rockbridge, North (AM). A high seasonal count of 108 Species name in bold first time men- Arlington, Culpepper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Ring-necked Ducks was reported in tioned (RARITIES bold and all caps) Loudoun, Madison, Page, Prince Augusta 1 Nov (AL). A single Long- County names are in italics William, Rappahannock, and Stafford tailed Duck was seen on Lake Shenan- Abbreviations: Couunties and the cities of Alexandria, doah, Rockingham 16 Nov (KR). On 1 ad. (ads.) – adult(s) Fairfax, Falls Church Manassas and Nov six BLACK SCOTERS were seen BBS – breeding bird survey Manassas Park. in Augusta (AL). All three scoters are rare CBC – Christmas Bird Count transients in the M&V with Black Scoter Cr. – Creek having the fewest reports (less than 10), et al. – and others usually of single birds. A single Ring- fide – vouched by No report necked Pheasant was seen in Augusta, FOS — First of Season 18 Nov, (GM, DM). Wild breeding pop- Ft. – Fort ulations of pheasant were formerly local Hwy. – Highway and uncommon in the northern Shenan- I. – Island(s), Isle(s) West doah Valley and have largely disappeared imm. (imms.) – immature(s) This Region includes the Shenandoah in the last few decades. Whether this bird Jct. – Junction Valley, south to the New River Valley, and was part of a local remnant breeding juv. (juvs.) – juvenile(s) is part of Virginia’s Mountains and Val- population or a recently released game L. – Lake leys physiographic region. It is comprised bird is unknown. Northern Bobwhite MAPS – Monitoring Avian of the counties of (from North to South) populations have also drastically declined Productivity and Survivorship Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, in the area. A report of a covey of 20 m.ob. – many/multiple observers Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, quail in Giles, where none had been re- Mt. – Mountain, Mount Bath, Rockbridge, Botetourt, Alleghany, ported for five years, is therefore encour- NWR – National Wildlife Refuge Craig, Giles, Roanoke, Montgomery and aging (BO). Reports of single Red- ph. – photographed (by + initials) Pulaski. throated Loons, a rare fall transient, Pt. – Point came from multiple locations immedi- R. – River Res. – Reservoir EDITOR — John Spahr, 234 West ately after Ida blew through including Rte. – Route Frederick St., Staunton, VA 24401 Raphine, Rockbridge (AM) and Augusta SF – State Forest [email protected] (AL) on 12 Nov and Claytor Lake, Pulaski (SB) and Lake Shenandoah, Rockingham SP – State Park INCOMING WEST EDITOR — on 13 Nov (DW, KH). Significant num- VARCOM – Virginia Avian Records Clyde Kessler, P.O. Box 3612 bers of Common Loons were reported Committee Radford, VA 24141 on 12 Nov, with 24 near Raphine, Rock- VDGIF – Virginia Department of [email protected] bridge, (AM) and 98 on Claytor Lake, Pu- Game and Inland Fisheries laski (MM). The largest flight of VSO – Virginia Society of Abbreviations: M&V(Mountains and Common Loons, 117 birds, was reported Ornithology Valleys physiographic region); RGHW from SGHW, Clarke 1 Nov (JB, BA). v.t. – video taped (by + initials) (Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch); HKHW WMA – Wildlife Management Area (Harvey’s Knob Hawk Watch); SGHW GREBES—RAILS – VARCOM Review List Bird (Snicker’s Gap Hawk Watch); ( † – written details submitted Ida Tropi- Interesting reports of grebes this fall in- cal Storm Ida)(); SNP (Shenandoah Na- * – specimen collected cluded a new high count of 110 Pied- tional Park). Submissions 1 Nov Augusta (AL); billed Grebes Send reports and photographs to the and two reports of single EARED Regional Editors. Photographs should SWANNS—LOONS 2 Oct Augusta (AL) and 25 GREBES be the highest electronic quality possi- Tundra Swans were seen in multiple lo- Oct Greenfield, Botetourt (SN, ph. MB, ble. Send with release form, which cations and in record numbers. The high- fide AQ). The latter grebe is quite rare in can be found on the VSO web site: est count of 417 was reported in Augusta, the Region with less than five fall records. www.virginiabirds.net 1 Nov (AL). That same day 62 swans Even rarer is the WESTERN GREBE Articles for consideration can be sent were at SGHW, Clarke (JB, BAb). On 13 , one of which was located on Claytor to [email protected] Nov, following the remnants of Ida, 67 Lake, Pulaski, 13 Nov after Ida (SB). The Fall Reporting Period August 2009–November 2009 3 Virginia Birds Fall 2009:Virginia Birds 6/2/2010 5:55 PM Page 4 Immature Wood Stork near Woodstock 20 Aug. Adam D’Onofrio. VARCOM is still reviewing reports about this Sand-Plover. Adam D’Onofrio only post-breeding dispersal vagrant this CRANES—SANDPIPERS fall was an immature Wood Stork near A report of 25 Sandhill Cranes came DOVES—FINCHES Woodstock, Shenandoah 20 Aug, (ET, ph from Waynesboro, Augusta 9 Sep (RP). Eurasian Collared-Doves have had a BT). Reports of Northern Goshawk Most earlier records in the Region are of regular and very local presence in Mont- came from all three regional hawk individual birds. Significant, although not gomery and Pulaski in recent years. Three watches, all of single birds 19 Oct at record-high, counts of 30, American doves were spotted near Fairlawn, Pu- HKHW (BG, BJ); 22 Oct at RGHW Golden Plover, and 125 Killdeer, were laski, 9 Sep (CK). The Region’s third (JG); 10 Nov at SGHW (BL); and 17 reported west of Harrisonburg, Rocking- WHITE-WINGED DOVE was re- Nov at HKHW (BAd). The same hawk ham 17 Oct (MG). The shorebird sensa- ported from Claytor Lake, Pulaski, 27 watches had a combined seasonal total of tion of the season was an Asian species, Nov (ph. MM). A single Northern Saw- 29,341 with the was heard by the Laurel Fork, Broad-winged Hawks a SAND PLOVER on 9 Sep, whet Owl largest number (12,069) coming from Staunton (AL). This bird, in non-breed- Highland, 27 Aug (JS). A total of 116 saw- RGHW. Two Rough-legged Hawks ing plumage, was well seen by many ob- whets were netted and banded in western were reported from Highland, 28 Nov servers and photographed by several Rockingham as part of the ninth consecu- (AB) where this raptor has been regularly skilled photographers. These observation tive year at this banding station (CM, found throughout the winter. Golden details and images were shared with sev- CZ). This total was about average for the Eagles were also reported from all the eral international birders and ornitholo- station. Of note the first-year bird rate hawk watches with season totals of 15 – gists familiar with this plover complex, increased from the alarming 6.5% in SGHW, one – RGHW, and five – but no consensus (or even clear majority) 2008 to 40% this season, which, accord- HKHW; as well as single eagles from opinion was reached by the experts as to ing to CM, suggests that reproduction western Rockingham, 16 Nov (GA) and whether this was a Greater or Lesser has returned to a sustainable rate.