April 2014 - Rockingham Bird Club

Goldfinch Gazette
The Newsletter of the Rockingham Bird Club
http://rockinghambirdclub.com
Volume XXXIX
Number 8
April 2014
APRIL MEETING
DATE: Thursday, April 3, 2014
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: Detweiler Auditorium, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community,
1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
PROGRAM, Elizabeth Ihle
As warblers migrate back into the Appalachians and beyond, what a great time for a
program on the Cerulean Warbler! Due to habitat changes throughout its range, this 9gram warbler is the fastest-declining songbird in North America. Come hear about the
Cerulean's natural history, as well as the reasons for its decline, and learn how you can
help save this charismatic bird.
Katie Fallon is the author of Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird
(Ruka Press, 2011), which was named a finalist for the 2012 Reed Award for Outstanding
Writing on the Southern Environment. Our Bird Club Book Club read and enjoyed this
book. Ms. Fallon’s nonfiction has appeared in a variety of magazines and literary journals,
and she has taught writing at Virginia Tech and West Virginia University. Her first word
was "bird."
Beforehand, we shall meet for dinner at Bella Luna, 80 West Water Street. Park in the
Water Street parking garage, and cross the street. You enter the restaurant through some
big wooden doors and then turn to your left. Please contact Elizabeth Ihle
([email protected] or 234 8296) if you plan to join us for dinner.
APRIL FIELD TRIPS, Diane Lepkowski
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU will host a guided bird walk on Saturday
April 5, beginning at the pavilion at 8:00 AM, and led by Greg Moyers. Please register for
this walk at the arboretum website: www.jmu.edu/arboretum/
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Madison Run Fire Road, Saturday April 12, with Greg Moyers: This is one of the
most reliable places in the area to find Louisiana Waterthrushes. Pine Warbler is another
target species. We will meet at the fire road at 8:30 AM and plan to conclude around
noon. This is about a 2-mile round trip beside a fast-moving stream, on a well-maintained
fire road with just a slight grade. There are no modern restroom facilities. Please contact
Greg at 434-3029 or [email protected] if you plan to attend and for directions.
Hillandale Park, Wednesday April 16, with Tom Mizell: Meet at the Children’s
Playground at 8:00 AM for our monthly Hillandale walk in Harrisonburg City. Warblers
should be out and about, so help us find them!
Wildwood Park & More, Tuesday April 22, with Tom Mizell: Meet at Wildwood Park
at 8 AM for birding the Bridgewater Parks. We will peruse Wildwood and then visit some
of the other Town parks. Bring a lawn chair and something to eat if you wish to join us
around noon, when we return to Wildwood for lunch on the North River. If you are not
able to attend the walk, you are certainly welcome to join us at lunchtime. Bring water and
snacks as needed.
Switzer Dam, Saturday April 26, with Greg Moyers: We expect to find many of our
resident warblers and possibly some migrants as well. We will meet at 8:00 AM at the
former Food Lion shopping center on Rt. 33 west. Bring water and snacks or a light lunch
if you like. We will plan to return by early afternoon. Switzer is west of Harrisonburg, off
Rt. 33, in the National Forest near the WV State line (no modern restroom facilities.)
Please contact Greg at 434-3029 or [email protected] if you plan to attend.
West Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas – Breeding Season 2014 --Lisa Perry,
Coordinator: This year marks the final year for an ongoing bird-mapping project in West
Virginia, known as the West Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas. If you enjoy birding, and
especially if you love listing, consider taking some time this year to participate in the West
Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas. Information is available at:
http://martes.dnr.state.wv.us/BreedingBirdsAtlas/default.aspx
Lisa is a recent transplant to Rockingham County; she worked as a paid researcher and a
Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas for two seasons (2010-2011) and
has logged volunteer hours near her childhood home for the West Virginia Breeding Bird
Atlas. Lisa will organize a “CBC-style” field day to WV, sometime this Spring, for
interested RBC members. Contact her at: [email protected] or (540) 455-3601.
BIRD CLUB BOOK CLUB, Maureen Gallagher-McLeod: We will meet at 6:30 PM on
April 17, at the home of Elizabeth Ihle. After a carry-in dinner, we will discuss the book
Gifts of the Crow by John Marzluff and Tony Andell. If you are interested in joining the
discussion, contact Maureen at [email protected] or 896-9541.
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TRIP REPORTS
Hillandale Park Walk – Tom Mizell: On March 20, 2014, 13 members of the
Rockingham Bird Club gathered at noon to enjoy the last hour of Winter at Hillandale
Park. As we put together a brief wish list in the parking lot, we were greeted by Northern
Cardinals, American Crows and White-breasted Nuthatches while overhead Turkey
Vultures took advantage of the warming temperatures. Although remnants of the March
17 snowfall (6+ inches) remained, it was a pleasant day with temperatures in the 50s. Our
wish list included Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Winter Wren, Northern
Towhee and Hermit Thrush. As we approached the bridge, American Robins bobbed
along in front of the cabin and Blue Jays made repeated passes back and forth over the
stream channel where water was flowing full due to the snow melt.
Carolina Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Mourning Doves made brief
appearances as we walked along the golf course boundary. It was somewhat quiet with
little bird activity—were the birds waiting for Spring? While peering up into the golf
course oaks, we spotted an accipiter circling and providing some of us good looks and
others brief glimpses through the canopy. Field guides were opened and discussion ensued
with Cooper’s Hawk getting the nod. Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpecker, Fish Crows
and a fine looking Golden-crowned Kinglet rounded out the first hour as we tallied 14
species.
Along the golf course boundary we reminded each other of the countdown until “Spring”.
We assembled on the pedestrian bridge at the Northwest corner and rang an imaginary bell
at 12:57PM. Our President, Gloria Crump shared a few kind words with the group as the
clock turned to Spring. Our first sightings of Spring were Carolina Chickadee, Tufted
Titmouse, Golden-crowned Kinglet; and two new species for the day included Yellowrumped Warbler and Carolina Wren. A flurry of activity took place along the stream as the
birds welcomed the new season. Our walk took us next along the bike trail section of the
park and we found White-throated Sparrows, Mourning Doves and Cardinals in the brush
piles. As we passed the volley ball court, the group broke into three groups and we added
Phoebe and Black Vulture. The Cooper’s Hawk once again circled overhead for better
viewing than we had last Winter.
As the remaining 11 birders regrouped we walked the south loop. Along the gravel trail
edge, tiny Bluets and other small wildflowers captured our attention as they shared their
colorful expressions of Spring. We added Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird and
last but not least, a Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead as we passed the cabin one more
time (the only wish list bird observed this day). Our walk into Spring ended around 2:00
PM. The spring portion of the walk added 8 more species bringing the day’s total to 22.
We hope to see you in April to enjoy more of the birds of spring.
Anonymous Quote: “It was good to meet Spring on the bridge.”
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BIRD SIGHTINGS:
On Feb. 23, Dave Wendelken and Diane Lepkowski spotted a Herring Gull and a
Common Goldeneye at Lake Shenandoah.
Diane Lepkowski had a Rusty Blackbird in her yard on Feb. 24. William Leigh has had
Rusty Blackbirds behind his place in Bridgewater since March 3.
Debbie Harrison had a Red-Winged Blackbird at her feeder on Feb. 27.
Diane Holsinger had her first feeder Field Sparrows on March 4 and Chipping Sparrows
on March 13. She has also had White-Crowned, White-Throated, and Song Sparrows
as well as an Eastern Towhee.
On Feb. 28, Greg Moyers found an adult male Northern Harrier coursing the fields along
Koiner Ford Rd.
William Leigh and Greg Moyers found a Lesser Yellowlegs at the pond on Fort Lynne Rd
on March 1.
Also on March 1, Mae Houff reported Common, Hooded, and Red-Breasted
Mergansers on the Shenandoah River at Captain Yancey Rd. Mae also reports that the
Dickcissel which she had hosted at her place in Augusta Co. for several weeks, showed up
at her neighbor’s feeder in Rockingham County on March 7.
John Shea reported a Tree Swallow and a White-Winged Scoter at Lake Shenandoah on
March 4. The scoter was also seen on March 2 and March 9 by Vic Laubach and Greg
Moyers respectively.
Ken Hinkle had two Brown Creepers in the same tree at his place in Bridgewater on
March 2. On March 11, he photographed a Brown Creeper, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker,
and Downy Woodpecker all working around his suet feeders at the same time. Ken has
also had a Fox Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, and Rusty Blackbirds at his place this month.
Sandhill Cranes, west of Harrisonburg Photo: William Leigh
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Three Sandhill Cranes were seen for several days on Mt. Clinton Pike. The birds were
originally reported to Herb Myers by the homeowner who spotted them on March 7.
William Leigh reported a pair of Short-Eared Owls on Moore’s Mill Rd on March 8.
Matt Gingerich reported at least two Short-Eared Owls at his place near Linville on
March 11.
Kevin Shank reported a pair of Pine Warblers at Union Springs on March 14.
Diane Lepkowski reported a Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Winter Wren, Eastern
Phoebe, and Double-Crested Cormorant at Lake Shenandoah on March 16.
John Shea found 14 Rusty Blackbirds, 30 Savannah Sparrows, American Pipits, an
Eastern Phoebe, and a Fox Sparrow on Scholars Rd on March 17.
Greater Yellowlegs, Nazarene Wetland Photo: Diane Lepkowski
Gabriel Mapel found a pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves March 18, in Mt. Solon.
Therese Metcalf reported a pair of Blue-Winged Teal at Silver Lake on March 20.
Diane Lepkowski found a Ross’s Goose and a Snow Goose at the RMH ponds on March
21. Dave Wendelken found a Cackling Goose at the same spot later the same day. Later
still, Lisa Perry added a White-Winged Scoter!
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Red-necked Grebe, Lake Shenandoah
Photo: Greg Moyers
John Shea found a Bonaparte’s Gull at Lake Shenandoah on March 22. Also on March
22, Vic Laubach found a Greater Yellowlegs at the Nazarene Church Rd wetland.
William Leigh saw a pair of Red Crossbills at the usual spot at the intersection of the
Reddish/Bother Knob roads on Shenandoah Mt. on March 23. William also saw a Ruffed
Grouse on his way back down the mountain and had an early Louisiana Waterthrush at
Hone Quarry on the same date.
Also on March 23, John Shea found 24 Fox Sparrows, a pair of Red- Shouldered
Hawks, and an American Woodcock at Slate Lick Fields.
Steve White has had Golden-Crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, Fox Sparrows, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers around his feeders near Singers Glen.
Good numbers of waterfowl continue on Lake Shenandoah and Lake Campbell with RedNecked Grebes and Red-Breasted Mergansers still present at press time. Wood Ducks
are being seen with some regularity at the intermittent pond across from the Green Valley
Book Fair.
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“I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday
for a
suet cake today.”
Diane Lepkowski
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Rockingham Bird Club
4684 Timber Ridge Rd
Mt. Crawford, VA 22441
PRESIDENT:
Gloria Crump
4684 Timber Ridge Road
Mt. Crawford, VA 22441
Phone – 540-234-9300
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT: PROGRAMS – Elizabeth Ihle – 540-234-8296
VICE PRESIDENT: FIELD TRIPS – Diane Lepkowski
SECRETARY: Phyllis Showalter
TREASURER: Steve White – 540-833-6726
MEMBERS AT LARGE: Debbie Harrison & Ken Hinkle
GOLDFINCH GAZETTE – Sandy Sylvest
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