After two days of postponement, six Bird Club members enjoyed a sunny but chilly morning at Boxerwood today. While things started out pretty quiet, the end tally of 23 species was pretty respectable. Highlight of the morning was a Hermit Thrush who would rather be heard than seen, although ultimately we all got good looks at him. Also an adult Red-Tailed Hawk took to flight which resulted in flushing out a flock of Robins for the day. 

Kieran Kilday

Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA
Jan 5, 2015 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Sunny, 35 degrees, gusty winds
23 species

Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  12
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  19
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  14
American Crow  12
Carolina Chickadee  12
Tufted Titmouse  10
White-breasted Nuthatch  6
Carolina Wren  7
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  13
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  8
Eastern Towhee  1
White-throated Sparrow  12
Northern Cardinal  1
American Goldfinch  12
-- 

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

Today, October 4th, Boxerwood Nature Center held its first Bioblitz, inventorying its flora and fauna throughout the day.  The Rockbridge Bird Club provided the bird identification activities over several walks over three hours. The event was an open house attended by many local residents and families. The Bird List is below highlighted by a Bald Eagle fly-over toward the end of the event. Kieran Kilday

Turkey Vulture  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  6
Chimney Swift  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
Eastern Phoebe  6
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  30
American Crow  12
Carolina Chickadee  12
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  11
Eastern Bluebird  11
Gray-cheeked Thrush  1
American Robin  1
Gray Catbird  4
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  1
Cedar Waxwing  21
Common Yellowthroat  2
American Redstart  6
Cape May Warbler  4
Magnolia Warbler  3
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  7
Black-throated Green Warbler  2
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  3
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  20
Indigo Bunting  12
House Finch  9
American Goldfinch  5

This morning 11 Birders attended the Rockbridge Bird Club sponsored field trip at Rockfish Valley Trail. The Field Trip was led by long time Trail expert, Walt Childs, with advanced scouting provided by Marshall Faintich. The first half hour of the trip was stationary in the Trail parking area as the group was treated to an impromptu hawk watch as resting Broad-Wing Hawks rose from the nearby woods on their migration journey. Throughout the morning raptors kept appearing making for a great day. Shortly after leaving the parking area, the group came across a feeding flock of warblers which kept everyone busy as the birds darted in and out of the leaves. Eventually, the group had to call it a day although the bird sightings never let up. Thanks Walt and Marshall for hosting a great trip.(ed. note: Marshall actually had a little different experience as he tried to scout ahead for us. You can find his description of the day here.) 

Kerry Kilday


Rockfish Valley Trail, Nelson, US-VA
Sep 20, 2014 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments:     Very Sunny and mild 70 degrees at start
40 species (+1 other taxa)

Great Blue Heron  2
Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  11
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Broad-winged Hawk  27
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  4
Red-headed Woodpecker  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  3
Pileated Woodpecker  3
Eastern Wood-Pewee  3
Acadian Flycatcher  1
Empidonax sp.  1
Eastern Phoebe  3
Warbling Vireo  1
Blue Jay  10
American Crow  9
Carolina Chickadee  2
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  4
Eastern Bluebird  40
Gray Catbird  5
European Starling  11
Cedar Waxwing  7
Tennessee Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  4
American Redstart  2
Cape May Warbler  1
Magnolia Warbler  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Indigo Bunting  1
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  17

On Saturday, September 6 the Rockbridge Bird Club held its first monthly bird walk at the Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Gardens (www.boxerwood.org). The joint event will take place in the future on the first Saturday of each month. Today, a group of 10 birders saw a total of 31 species with the highlight being a Blue Winged Warbler and a calling nearby Eastern Screech Owl. Several feeding flocks provided additional warblers as migration begins. The Gardens are open to the public daily. The detailed bird list is below:

Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA
Sep 6, 2014 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Sunny Day '80s
31 species

Red-shouldered Hawk  3
Mourning Dove  10
Eastern Screech-Owl  1     heard
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  6
Downy Woodpecker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  2     heard
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  14
Carolina Chickadee  12
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Wren  2
Carolina Wren  12
Eastern Bluebird  8
American Robin  2
Gray Catbird  4
Brown Thrasher  4
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  1
Worm-eating Warbler  1
Blue-winged Warbler  1
American Redstart  2
Magnolia Warbler  1
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Indigo Bunting  1
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  8

Kieran Kilday

A large group of Club members enjoyed the pot luck picnic on May 14 at Boxerwood. Thanks to Faith Vosburg for a tour of the gardens  and to Steve Richards for great grilling and to Betty Besal for organizing and preparation and to everyone who helped make it a fun evening.








Photo by Lad Sessions

Seeking dawn morels
Ovenbird shows me her nest
Five perfect eggs gleam

Betty Besal


And another Haiku from Kit Huffman

On Brushy Hills trails
Tanager teases with call
One chick-burr, then gone.

Kerry Kilday lead 16 bird watchers on a lovely walk at Bruce and Nancy Summers place in the Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area this morning. We were at about 2700 ft. elevation on the slopes of Bald Knob according to Bruce. Around the house we heard Wood Thrush and Ovenbird and saw as well as heard a Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird and a Chipping Sparrow which, as we watched, plucked several plastic strings from a larger bird's nest and headed off with them to probably use them for it's own nest construction.

We headed up a lovely trail, flanked by the soft green canopy of new leaf growth. With wildflowers at our feet and bird song in the trees it was a delightful mix of looking up and looking down as we walked on Bruce's masterfully maintained trails. We reluctantly turned around when the rain drops became a steady downpour. Luckily we were able to take refuge in Nancy & Bruce's warm, dry and welcoming home.

Here are the birds we identified:
At the Food Lion parking lot:
Fish Crow
Kildeer
At Summers place:
Indigo Bunting
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
Ovenbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Woodpecker (Downy or Hairy)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Scarlet Tanager
Hermit Thrush
Northern Cardinal
Blue-headed Vireo
American Redstart
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Phoebe
Common Crow


Wendy Richards

Photo by Lad Sessions