This morning five birders endured the cold temperatures to enjoy an otherwise sunny day at Greenfield-Botetourt. The focus of the field trip was geese and ducks and no one was disappointed with 10 species spotted. The first bird of the day was an Adult Coopers Hawk posing at the entrance of the old K-mart, followed by multiple Red-Tailed Hawks sitting in trees along I-81. With the bright skies, scope and calm birds great views and comparisons were had by all. Kieran Kilday

Greenfield--Botetourt Center, Botetourt, US-VA
Nov 15, 2014 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Rockbridge Bird Club Field Trip; Very cold, some ice on the lake.
41 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  9
Gadwall  10
American Wigeon  2
Mallard  38
Northern Shoveler  1
Green-winged Teal  21
Canvasback  1
Ring-necked Duck  25
Hooded Merganser  3
Ruddy Duck  1
Pied-billed Grebe  5
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  4
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
American Coot  2
Wilson's Snipe  1
Belted Kingfisher  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1     heard
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  8
Carolina Chickadee  12
Tufted Titmouse  6
Carolina Wren  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  4
American Robin  8
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  8
Cedar Waxwing  24
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  20
White-crowned Sparrow  18
Dark-eyed Junco  14
Northern Cardinal  4
Rusty Blackbird  1
blackbird sp.  4
American Goldfinch  5

The whistle call of the bobwhite quail, once ubiquitous in rural Virginia, has all but disappeared.  But thanks to assistance offered through state and federal agencies, landowners can bring bobwhite and other songbirds back to their fields and woods by restoring the habitats that support them. This conservation effort will be the subject of a presentation by biologist Justin Folks at the next meeting of the Rockbridge Bird Club on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 in the Old Courthouse meeting room. The talk is free and open to the public.

Justin Folks is currently one of five Private Lands Wildlife Biologists in Virginia who provide free technical assistance to landowners interested in managing bobwhite quail habitat as part of Virginia’s Bobwhite Quail Recovery Initiative.  His position is jointly-funded by Virginia Tech, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Folks will talk about bobwhite quail life history and habitat requirements, examples of ways to provide habitat, and how landowners can get technical assistance (and perhaps financial assistance) for wildlife habitat projects. Rockbridge landowners and residents who want to get involved in helping bring quail back to Virginia are encouraged to attend.

The bobwhite quail population has declined more than 80% in the past 40 years due to loss of the early successional habitat – including a mix of native grasses, brushy weeds, and wildflowers – that quail need for food, shelter, and raising their young.  The same habitat supports other early-succession forest species, including pollinating insects.

Bonnie Bernstein

Despite the rainy weather, 12 local birders attended this morning's First Saturday Bird Walk at Boxwood Gardens.Fortunately the rain held off during the 1 and 1/2 hour walk and the participants got good looks at the new winter arrivals. Highlights were a large mixed flock of sparrows (including FOS Fox Sparrows) allowing ample time to compare field marks and size differentials. 
Kieran Kilday

Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA
Nov 1, 2014 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Breezy and windy with heavy cloud cover, between showers
29 species (+1 other taxa)

Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  3
Blue Jay  11
American Crow  18
Fish Crow  21
Carolina Chickadee  9
Tufted Titmouse  7
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  12
American Robin  80
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  15
Cedar Waxwing  9
warbler sp.  1     Quick view, very yellow breast. Could not relocate
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  4
Fox Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  24
White-throated Sparrow  22
White-crowned Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Purple Finch  5
American Goldfinch  7