Blog post

June 14, 2016 [LINK / comment]

Birding on Hite Hollow Road

On Saturday, June 11, I drove up Hite Hollow Road to the summit (ridge) of North Mountain, located about two miles southwest of Elliott Knob. This was the starting point of the Augusta Bird Club hike in late June 2013. The elevation is about 3200 feet, high enough for a number of birds that are only seen in this area during the colder months. I was inspired in part by the trip made there by Penny and Lisa earlier this spring, when they saw a Winter Wren and other unusual birds. On the way up the rugged road (a challenge for my Hyundai), I stopped at the hairpin curve and heard a Prairie Warbler below. This was confirmed a day later by Allen Larner. Once at the summit, I didn't do much hiking, I mostly just watched and listened within an area about 300 yards long. After slow going at first, I eventually hit pay dirt. The highlights from the montage below were the Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male), Indigo Bunting (female, with young ones not photographed), and an Eastern Wood Pewee (female, presumably) building a nest right over the road at the summit! Others that were seen but not in this photo montage include Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Northern Flicker. I also heard a Cerulean Warbler just below the summit (east side), as well as a Hooded Warbler. No Canada Warblers or Winter Wrens, however. On the way back down I heard and then spotted a Pine Warbler, and got some good photos. Finally, along the stream at the bottom was an Acadian Flycatcher. Quite a day!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Indigo Bunting (female), Great Crested Flycatcher, Pine Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (June 11, 2016)

eBird report

Since it was a semi-serious birding venture, as opposed to something of a more casual nature, I submitted an eBird report, summarized below. Once I figure out the VABBA protocols, I'll submit a report about the breeding Eastern Wood Pewees and Indigo Buntings.

Hite Hollow Road, Augusta County, Virginia, US
Sat Jun 11, 2016 9:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
Party Size: 1
Duration: 4 hour(s)
Distance: 1.5 mile(s)
Observers: Andrew Clem
Comments: N/A
32 species total

Blue Ridge mini-hike

The day before, June 10, I drove up to the Blue Ridge and stopped at the intersection of Howardsville Turnpike and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and was entertained by a variety of birds. Then I went for a brief "hike" along the trails near the Humpback Rocks parking area. My main "target" was the Cerulean Warbler, and I did hear several of them, but only saw one or two high in the tree tops. Other sightings (besides those in this photo montage) included American Redstarts, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and Pileated Woodpeckers.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Towhee, Cedar Waxwing, and (in center) Chipping Sparrow. (June 10, 2016)
More photos can be seen on the Wild Birds yearly page.