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18 Mar Wood Ducks/ 2 species mergansers- Shenandoah River [Carol Del-Colle ] 18 Mar MBC outing this morning [Jon Benedetti ] 18 Mar Red-shouldered Hawk Clarksburg [Davette Saeler ] 18 Mar Re: Hummingbird feeder supplement ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 18 Mar Hawks & Geese [John Snyder ] 18 Mar White-crowned Sparrows- Summit Point [Carol Del-Colle ] 18 Mar Purple Finch-Summit Point [Carol Del-Colle ] 18 Mar black-&-white warbler [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 17 Mar Pine Warbler, Common Nighthawk, & Screech Owl before Dark [John Waugaman ] 17 Mar FoS Brown Creeper and Some Questions [Jeffrey Del Col ] 17 Mar Fw: Core Arboretum [Terry Bronson ] 17 Mar Re: Woodcock [Ken Sturm ] 17 Mar Canvasbacks, Grant Co. [Rodney Bartgis ] 17 Mar First phoebe [Jean Neely ] 16 Mar WinLocks Horned Grebe ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 16 Mar Hummingbird feeder supplement [Hillar Klandorf ] 16 Mar Cheat Lake Tundra Swans [Terry Bronson ] 16 Mar GSC Bird Collection ["Ross R. Conover" ] 16 Mar Mt. Valley Lake [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 16 Mar More Signs of Spring [Bruni Haydl ] 15 Mar horned lark [Wilma Jarrell ] 15 Mar Gadwall etc [sharon kearns ] 15 Mar Byrd Locks Goldeneyes ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 15 Mar Lewisburg area [Sandy ] 14 Mar Signs of life in Cooper's Rock area [Terry Bronson ] 14 Mar High Water at Tygart Lake [Jeffrey Del Col ] 14 Mar Ring-billed Gulls - Charles Town [Carol Del-Colle ] 14 Mar Red-necked and horned grebes ["Rankin, Gary" ] 14 Mar Bald Eagle [David Patick ] 13 Mar Beech Fork marina [Kevin Cade ] 13 Mar Cheat Lake [Kyle Aldinger ] 13 Mar Blackbirds and an update... [Matt Orsie ] 13 Mar Wood Duck, Red-Shouldered Hawk [John Snyder ] 13 Mar Rte. 2 Birding [David Patick ] 13 Mar Grackle as feeder bird? [M Fowler ] 13 Mar Some WV birds may be getting smaller [Terry Bronson ] 13 Mar eastern meadowlark [Barbara Sargent ] 12 Mar Western Preston, Monongalia Counties--Meadowlarks, Phoebes, Killdeers [Terry Bronson ] 12 Mar update on Harrison Co. golden eagle [Sue Olcott ] 12 Mar Pleasant Creek once more [Jeffrey Del Col ] 12 Mar shannondale springs wma and shannondale lake [Sandy Sagalkin ] 12 Mar fake martin and robot birder ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 12 Mar Bald Eagle at French Creek [Beth Mankins ] 11 Mar Brooke County [Becky Szabo ] 11 Mar pine warbler ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 11 Mar tree swallow [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 11 Mar Black Vultures [John Snyder ] 11 Mar Morgantown Horned Lark, Pipit, leucistic Common Merg [Terry Bronson ] 11 Mar Fish Crows in Charles Town [Carol Del-Colle ] 11 Mar Pleasant Creek WMA again [Jeffrey Del Col ] 11 Mar Re: Phoebe ["Lynne Wiseman, Realtor" ] 11 Mar Grackles and Phoebe ["Thomas R. Fox" ] 11 Mar pine warbler [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 10 Mar Fox Sparrow, Grackle, GB Heron [Fred Schroyer ] 10 Mar Pleasant Creek WMA [Jeffrey Del Col ] 10 Mar Ohio River Belleville Pool Eagle Survey [Dick & Jeanette Esker ] 10 Mar Woodcock ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 10 Mar Woodcock [Rodney Bartgis ] 10 Mar West Fork Rail Trail in Marion County--GB Heron rookery [Terry Bronson ] 10 Mar Tree Swallows [Mike Griffith ] 10 Mar FOS grackles [Shannon Burner ] 10 Mar Black Vultures [John Snyder ] 10 Mar Falcon/Dunbar [richardkazmierski Kazmierski ] 10 Mar Spring is on its way! [William Tolin ] 10 Mar Morgantown Common Grackles [Kyle Aldinger ] 10 Mar Re: Red-wings and Grackles [Elizabeth Hole ] 10 Mar Re: Red-wings and Grackles [tammy lester ] 10 Mar Robins Redux [John Snyder ] 9 Mar phoebe ["Cynthia D. Ellis" ] 9 Mar Cheat Lake addendum--RB Gulls [Terry Bronson ] 9 Mar Cheat Lake Pintails, Wigeons, Wood Ducks and lots more! [Terry Bronson ] 9 Mar Bluebirds/ Black Vultures/ Ring-billed Gull [Carol Del-Colle ] 9 Mar Eagle Survey Results [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 9 Mar wood ducks & woodcock [Jim & Judy Phillips ] 8 Mar Red-wings and Grackles [richardkazmierski Kazmierski ] 8 Mar e-mail address change [CHINGWE ] Subject: Wood Ducks/ 2 species mergansers- Shenandoah River From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:25:43 +0000 Greetings,    I took a ride along the Shenandoah River this morning around 11:00 on Rissler and Bloomery Roads.  The river was running very fast as would be expected at this time.  The roads are relatively clear, although there are a few puddles on Rissler.  Lots of mud around makes it clear that the river definitely came up and over its bank.     There weren't a large number of waterfowl on the swiftly running water, but I did find a pair of Wood Ducks (FOY) for me,  as well as a pair of Hooded Mergansers and 9 Common Mergansers and a couple of Mallards.  Other bird of note was a Double-crested Cormorant diving near the bank near Moulton Park.    Also saw three Red-tailed Hawks.  The following is a list of all I heard and saw this afternoon on this drive.          Double-crested Cormorant-1          Great Blue Heron-3          Canada Goose- 16          Wood Duck- 2 (male and female)          Mallard- 2          Hooded Merganser- 2 (male and female)          Common Merganser- 9            Red-tailed Hawk- 3          Killdeer-1          Red-bellied Woodpecker-1          Blue Jay          American Crow- 3          Carolina Chickadee-4                    Carolina Wren-2          E. Starling- several           Common Grackle- 10     On the way home, I saw one Kestrel on a wire along RT. 9.             Happy birding,                  Carol Del-Colle                   Summit Point                     Jefferson County                                                  Subject: MBC outing this morning From: Jon Benedetti <jon.benedetti AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:52:04 -0400 This morning Eula Elliott, Nina Ott, Jeanette & Dick Esker, Pat Collins, Allan Elberfeld, Bernie Heavner and I birded down river to Northwest Drive, the Sandy Creek Backwater at Hines', the Belleville Wetlands, the Belleville Lock & Dam, and along Robinhood Road and New England Ridge Road. The weather was great, as was the company. The birding was slow. Highlights: Bald Eagle - 2 - an adult on a nest in Ohio across from the Sandy Creek Backwater a third year bird in the trees at the Sandy Creek Backwater Osprey - 2 - on the nesting tower at the Belleville L&D. Northern Harrier - 1 - Belleville Wetlands Eastern Phoebe - 2 or 3 - at Northwest Drive. a FOY for some of us. Tree Swallow - Belleville Wetlands Other Birds: Great Blue Heron - at least one carrying nesting material Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck - 1 - drake Mallard *Gadwall - 7 flying over at the Backwater *Ring-necked Duck - 8 at teh Backwater *Lesser Scaup - 1 - Belleville L&D Scaup - sp. - 1 - it did not flap it's wings and was too far away to be certain of species *Ruddy Duck - 3 - Backwater Red-tailed Hawk - one of them was building a nest at the Backwater Red-shouldered Hawk - Pat saw one on his way to NW Drive American Kestrel Killdeer Ring-billed Gull - 1 Herring Gull - 1 Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren *Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Eastern Towhee Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird *Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch House Sparrow Jon Benedetti Vienna, WV Wood County jon.benedetti AT gmail.com Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk Clarksburg From: Davette Saeler <ivorybill_24 AT MSN.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:21:36 +0000 Hello all, I've been walking the trail around the VA Hospital in Clarksburg every day at lunch. Yesterday there was a Red-shouldered Hawk near the swimming pool area but on the opposite side of the river. There is also a group of 3 Mute Swans that have been there all winter. In Jane Lew yesterday evening there was a Common Nighthawk in my backyard. It has stopped by about this time last year too! Good birding, Davette Saeler ivorybill_24 AT msn.com Jane Lew, WV Subject: Re: Hummingbird feeder supplement From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:57:17 -0400 HILLAR . . . Thanks for your posting. Spearmint Oil and Lemongrass Oil may be okay for beehives and they may prevent mold growth in sugar water, but that doesn't mean they are safe to add to hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds do not encounter these extracts in nature, so I am very hesitant to advise adding them to hummingbird feeders. If people are going to feed hummers, they should be conscientious enough to 1) Put out only as much sugar water as their hummers can consume within three days before mold takes over, and/or 2) completely change out any unused sugar water after three days. This takes some effort, of course, but no more than putting out fresh food and water for pet dogs and cats or feeding one's children. Plant nectar is almost pure water and sucrose/fructose, as is the artificial 4:1 mix we provide in feeders. Until we know the possible effects of Lemongrass Oil and Spearmint Oil on hummingbirds, I strongly suggest folks NOT use it in their hummer feeders. Best wishes, and Happy Hummingbird Watching! BILL ============= On Mar 16, 2010, at 5:31 PM, Hillar Klandorf wrote: > I had Dr. Jim Amrine speak in my Animal behavior class today. His research has focused on Nosema cerana spores, the mites that are responsible for devastating bee hives (CCD) around the globe. He has put together a product "Honey Bee Healthy" that prevents the mites from establishing themselves in the digestive tract. The active ingredients include Spearmint Oil and Lemongrass Oil. Included in his talk was mention of this products ability to prevent fungal growth in hummingbird feeders, something that certainly presents a problem if the solutions are not changed regularly enough. He recommended 1 or 2 teaspoons per quart of water. Those who have multiple feeders (as likely in the Hilton study group) might consider using the product at the suggested concentrations and see if there is any difference in intake. Whether it also attracts/deters ants and wasps might also be of interest. > Certainly appropriate administration of this material early enough can completely prevent loss of ones hives, so perhaps it may improve the health of these particular summer visitors! > Just back from a visit to central OK where we came across a pair of Harris's sparrows, something I had thus far been unable to find (Martin's Park, west of Edmond). > Hillar Klandorf > Morgantown ========= RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA (803) 684-5852 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org ================== Subject: Hawks & Geese From: John Snyder <wem AT ONETEL.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:13:54 +0000 Not much time for birding with a house full of contractors, but we now have a pair of red-shouldered hawks mated (caught them at it yesterday) and probably nesting within sight of the house, and had 3 Canada geese on our pond yesterday morning. We had one killdeer motor through at high speed the other day. John & Caroline Snyder Summersville vicinity Subject: White-crowned Sparrows- Summit Point From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:53:01 +0000   I realized I left out a species that I had wanted to include in my previous post.  I am also still having White-crowned Sparrows in the yard.          Carol Del-Colle          Summit Point          Jefferson County Subject: Purple Finch-Summit Point From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:48:49 +0000 Greetings,    I am still having some Purple Finch around the yard.  Yesterday, there was one male and one female around the feeders.  There are still some Dark- eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows around, but not in the high numbers as were seen previously.  A male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has also been here the last couple of days.  He was very busy drilling holes in two of the maple trees in the yard.     Happy birding,         Carol Del-Colle         Summit Point         Jefferson County      Subject: black-&-white warbler From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:57:11 -0400 Found my first of the season black-&-white warbler yesterday morning. It was along the Lakeview Trail in Pipestem State Park. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV Subject: Pine Warbler, Common Nighthawk, & Screech Owl before Dark From: John Waugaman <jwaugama AT ACCESS.K12.WV.US> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:48:37 -0400 While out this evening looking for FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, I came across 8-10 Pine Warblers on Brumfield Ridge just past the cemetery. I got numerous responses to the iPod and several good looks. After watching them and looking for other migrants, I went up to the cemetery to look and listen for owls before darkness. While listening I heard a “peenting” sound from the woods surrounding the cemetery. I searched the nocturnal calls on my iPod and tried the Common Nighthawk and bingo! I exchanged peents with the nighthawk several times but it never showed itself. Also present were a few bats which I never got a very good look at, but believe were little brown. To top the night off, I stopped just above my house where I have heard screech owl prior and used the iPod very softly to see if it would respond. Respond “they” did, as 3 gray phase owls took turns coming into the recording as close as six to eight feet away at eye level. They also flew very close to my head, so I quietly slipped away listening to the whinny as I continued home. Hope this is only the beginning of a Wonderful Spring Migration. John Waugaman Wayne County Subject: FoS Brown Creeper and Some Questions From: Jeffrey Del Col <jadel1947 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:55:51 -0700 This afternoon I saw my FoS Brown Creeper.  It was working its way up the trunk of the maple outside our office at home. It exhibited some unusual behavior.  From time to time it would stop, point its bill and throat upward, spread its tail and wings and hold that position for up to a minute. Does anyone know what it was doing?  Could it have been a mating display? I couldn't see any other Brown Creepers on the tree.  Could it have been a 'freeze' posture?  There were no predators nearby that I could see.  Finally, might it have been 'anting?' It would preen itself after each of these performances. I could not see any ants on the tree, but they may have been moving among the plates of bark. Jeff Del Col, puzzled in Philippi Subject: Fw: Core Arboretum From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:06:29 -0700 Here's the not-so-good news from the Morgantown Utility Board on access to the Core Arboretum during their sewer reconstruction project under the rail trail that bisects the Arboretum. This project is now underway and will last until late-fall this year.  Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Doug Smith To: terrybronson AT ymail.com Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 8:41:50 AM Subject: Core Arboretum Access to the Arboretum will be intermittent based upon the Contractors needs.   There will be extended periods in which access to the Arboretum will completely closed.   We apologize for any inconvenience; however, for the safety of all involved it is necessary.   Thank you,   Douglas R. Smith, P.E. Senior Engineer MorgantownUtility Board P.O. Box852 Morgantown, WV 26507       From:Terry Bronson [mailto:terrybronson AT ymail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 7:24 AM To: mubmail Subject: Core Arboretum access during Caperton Rail Trail sewer project   I understand the Caperton Rail Trail through the Core Arboretum is closed for the duration of your sewer replacement project.   Will there be bridges or other means of access from the part of the Arboretum between the Rail Trail and Route 19 to the part of the Arboretum between the Rail Trail and the river? That part next to the river is frequently used by birding and botany students, birders, and others. Thank you.     Terry Bronson Morgantown , WV Subject: Re: Woodcock From: Ken Sturm <kensturm AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:35:11 -0400 I heard my first singing woodcock at Canaan Valley NWR monday morning 3/15/10. Probably were displaying last week - I was out of town. Perhaps someone else noted singing birds in Canaan earlier? ken sturm CVNWR > Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:41:05 -0500 > From: rbartgis AT TNC.ORG > Subject: Woodcock > To: WV-BIRD AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG > > Heard my FOS woodcock in Randolph County this evening. > Rodney Bartgis, Valley Bend _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/ Subject: Canvasbacks, Grant Co. From: Rodney Bartgis <rbartgis AT TNC.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:31:08 -0400 Yesterday there were 4 pairs of canvasbacks among mallards, ring-neck dusks, buffleheads, gadwalls, hooded mergansers, and Canada geese on flood control dam off Jordan Run Rd, Grant County. Rodney Bartgis, Randolph Co. Subject: First phoebe From: Jean Neely <jeaneely AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:27:59 -0500 Ok, now I¹m convinced! Spring really is coming. No temps in the 60s, or bluebirds inspecting nest boxes can do the trick---but the sound of the first ³FEE-bee² can! I heard him yesterday a.m. as I was (fittingly!) cleaning up the boxes on the bluebird trail here in our community. Hallelujah! Jean Neely Near Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co. Subject: WinLocks Horned Grebe From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:15:56 -0400 A quick sidetrip to the ponds at the Winfield Locks today found only "onesies." One Coot, one Hooded Merganser, one Horned Grebe. On the way home, saw Coltsfoot blooming. Later, at home, saw curious orange object on the ground beneath a sapling Beech. After turning it over and over in my fingers, I realized I was holding half a Cardinal's beak. ~Cindy Ellis, Putnam County -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net "There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter." --Rachel Carson Subject: Hummingbird feeder supplement From: Hillar Klandorf <Hillar.Klandorf AT MAIL.WVU.EDU> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:31:55 -0400 I had Dr. Jim Amrine speak in my Animal behavior class today. His research has focused on Nosema cerana spores, the mites that are responsible for devastating bee hives (CCD) around the globe. He has put together a product "Honey Bee Healthy" that prevents the mites from establishing themselves in the digestive tract. The active ingredients include Spearmint Oil and Lemongrass Oil. Included in his talk was mention of this products ability to prevent fungal growth in hummingbird feeders, something that certainly presents a problem if the solutions are not changed regularly enough. He recommended 1 or 2 teaspoons per quart of water. Those who have multiple feeders (as likely in the Hilton study group) might consider using the product at the suggested concentrations and see if there is any difference in intake. Whether it also attracts/deters ants and wasps might also be of interest. Certainly appropriate administration of this material early enough can completely prevent loss of ones hives, so perhaps it may improve the health of these particular summer visitors! Just back from a visit to central OK where we came across a pair of Harris's sparrows, something I had thus far been unable to find (Martin's Park, west of Edmond). Hillar Klandorf Morgantown Subject: Cheat Lake Tundra Swans From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:03:00 -0700 I did a quick check of Cheat Lake this afternoon with the following results: Tundra Swan--3 adults and 2 immatures at Cheat Lake Park Canada Goose--9 at Cheat Lake Park Mallard--1 pair at Sunset Beach Marina Bufflehead--22 near the I-68 bridge, including only 4 south of the bridge Common Goldeneye--1 pair north of the Bridge, 1 female at Cheat Lake Park Hooded Merganser--2 pairs at Cheat Lake Park Ruddy Duck--4 out from Sunset Beach Marina The South Trail at Cheat Lake Park is still closed beyond the second backwater. Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: GSC Bird Collection From: "Ross R. Conover" <ross.conover AT GLENVILLE.EDU> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:26:22 -0400 Hello WV Birders- The bird collection at Glenville State College took a hard hit with simultaneous recent faculty turnover and building renovations (hence, lack of storage). I have recently inventoried and properly stored the collection's remnants, but am highly interested in rebuilding the museum. Hence, in light of Wilma Jarrell's post about finding the dead Fox Sparrow, I and GSC would greatly appreciate the donation of any salvaged specimens (preferably in good condition!) to our college's bird collection! Thanks much and keep those bird reports coming! Happy Trails, Ross -- Ross R. Conover, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Dept. of Science and Mathematics Glenville State College 200 High Street Glenville, WV 26351 304-462-6313 "In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy" --John Sawhill Subject: Mt. Valley Lake From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:07:21 -0400 I visited Mt. Valley Lake, Summers County yesterday afternoon. Haven't been there much lately- first deep snow, frozen lake and then flooding. The water was mostly open and these birds were found- 60 ring-necked ducks, 20 buffleheads, 3 gadwalls, 2 red-breasted mergansers, 16 ring-billed gulls and 1 herring gull. There were lots of tree swallows and 3 bald eagles over New Rvier at Hinton. In Mercer County, I saw 12 wood ducks on the sewage lagoons at Glenwood. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV Subject: More Signs of Spring From: Bruni Haydl <bruni AT CITLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:08 +0000 The heavy rains over the weekend did not make for a lot of bird activity at the feeder. The Flicker's in particular looked soaked to the skin when they showed up at the suet feeder. Fortunately the temps were fairly mild. There is also evidence in some birds that they must be changing plumage. One Song Sparrow in particular looked very bright and newly minted. Some of the Goldfinches are also looking splotchy. My Hepatica is blooming and the Bloodroot has pushed through the soil so Spring is enroute for sure. Bruni Haydl Charles Town Subject: horned lark From: Wilma Jarrell <wjar AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:25:30 -0400 While out working today in Porters Falls I saw what probably was a window kill laying on the walk. Was very sorry when I realized it was a fox sparrow. Later flushed a bird up when driving up a lane. When leaving flushed again. Stoped to wait for it to land, a horned lark. Wilma Jarrell Wetzel Co. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2743 - Release Date: 03/13/10 07:33:00 Subject: Gadwall etc From: sharon kearns <skwalks AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:09:59 -0400 The end of winter in Hillsboro is bringing ducks and other birds passing through or choosing to stay: Mar 12: pair of Woodcock, Pair of Hooded Mergansers, 4 Wood Ducks, 5 Ring-necked Ducks 1 Meadowlark, Three Red-Winged Blackbirds, Phoebe, male Kestrel Mar 13 3 Phoebe, Pair Woodcock, 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Kildeer Mar 14 Pair Woodcock, 9 Wood Ducks, Mar 15 Kestrel, Gadwall ( 2pr), 3 Wood Ducks, 7 Ring-necked Ducks, pair Woodcock. Would you think I could hear the Woodcocks? no, they have yet to do their dance when I am out listening for them. Have found them in the morning or early afternoon only looks like the RW-Blackbirds are here to stay also have seen numerous Song Sparrows this week and of course multitudes of Starlings are searching for nesting sites. Also ever hopeful that Cranberry was open since we had so little snow here thanks to the rain and warmer weather, went up there and found much snow and no birds, roads still not clear of snow and lots of melting to do! Sharon Sharon Kearns Hillsboro, Pocahontas Co. WV Subject: Byrd Locks Goldeneyes From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:32:55 -0400 We birded at Greenbottom, the Byrd Locks, and McClintic WMA today. The Ohio River was high with much debris. Thanks to a helpful listserv member, we knew that the roads were likely OK near the Locks, and we found we only had to double back from one flooded spot on the way over. The boardwalk at Greenbottom was underwater. Highlights were 5 Common Goldeneyes and a Horned Grebe at the fish hatchery, and a Red-tailed Hawk, flushing from its nest, that Bev spotted right by Rt. 62 [near the junction with Leon Baden Road]. Fun birding, even on a chilling misty gray day. List follows. ~Cindy Ellis, Kim Kazmierski, Bev Wright, Ben Borda Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Redhead Ring-Necked Duck Hooded Merganser Bufflehead Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Kestrel Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Flicker Blue Jay Crow Tree Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Bluebird Robin Mockingbird Starling Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Cardinal Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Grackle House Sparrow -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net “…the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person’s life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way.” ~Roger Tory Peterson Subject: Lewisburg area From: Sandy <kb8ryy AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:57:25 -0400 Saw brown creeper Sunday on my tree by the feeder. Also had song sparrow, and 5 robins. Spring is here snow is gone! Sandy Fenstermacher Lewisburg, WV Subject: Signs of life in Cooper's Rock area From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:23:32 -0700 Cooper's Rock State Forest east of Morgantown in Preston County slumbers through a long snowy winter-- the roads are not plowed and the trails deeply snow- covered and accessible only to cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Well, I found a few signs of life today: Eastern Towhee--1 male calling, but not in the mood to drink his tea, at the Trout Pond American Robin--2 at the Trout Pond, 5 at the 2002 cut-over area along Chestnut Ridge Road Wild Turkey--tracks of a single bird at the Ken's Run Trailhead A few Song Sparrows, American Crows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinal were also present in those areas. Elsewhere: Killdeer--2 along Pisgah-Ladley Road east of Cooper's Rock, 2 at the Cheat Landing Development at I-68 exit 10 in Monongalia County Common Raven--1 along Hileman Road just north of Route 73 east of Cooper's Rock American Robin--30 along Pisgah-Ladley Road, 20 along Hileman Road Common Grackle--16 along Pisgah-Ladley Road North of the I-68 bridge on Cheat Lake: Bufflehead--23 Common Goldeneye--2 females Ring-necked Duck--1 male Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: High Water at Tygart Lake From: Jeffrey Del Col <jadel1947 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:44:00 -0700 I went to Pleasant Creek WMA this afternoon.  Aside from a lot of very noisy, tumultuous Canada geese, there were 47 Ring-necked ducks, 11Buffleheads, perhaps a dozen Hooded Mergansers, a Great Blue Heron, a raven, and some Tree Swallows. The Buffleheads were engaged in raucous mating challenges that had them chasing each other all over the pond. I wanted to go to Doe Run to check out the impoundment, but I discovered that the road was closed because Tygart Lake is filled well beyond summer pool level. They must be trying to lessen flooding on the Ohio River. A good bit of the road to Doe Run must be submerged. Back at home, numerous nuthatches were running one another ragged all over woods by our house. Jeff Del Col, Philippi Subject: Ring-billed Gulls - Charles Town From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:27:13 +0000 Greetings,    About 1:30 this afternoon,I observed a flock of about 35 Ring-billed Gulls in a flooded field on Country Club Road not far from its  intersection  with Flowing Spring s Road.       Happy birding,             Carol Del-Colle              Summit Point               Jefferson County                            Subject: Red-necked and horned grebes From: "Rankin, Gary" <rankin AT MARSHALL.EDU> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:06:04 -0400 I did some birding this morning up Rte. 2. There were a few ducks at Green Bottom WMA, but above the dam at the Robert C. Byrd Lock and Dam, a small group of grebes was floating down the river toward the dam and then flying back upriver, only to ride back down again. The group contained three Horned Grebes and two Red-necked Grebes. Wendell Argabrite and Rennie Talbert also got to see the grebes, as Rennie was also birding in the area and Wendell drove up to see them. A listing of some birds observed this morning: Green Bottom WMA Tree Swallow (30+) Am. Coot 1 Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 2 Am. Black Duck 2 Mallard 6 E. Meadowlark 1 White-crowned sparrow 2 White-throated sparrow 6 Lots of C. Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows Ashton Hooded Merganser 5 Robert C. Byrd L&D Horned Grebe 3 Red-necked Grebe 2 Ring-billed Gull 1 DC Cormorant 12+ Ring-necked Duck 15 Subject: Bald Eagle From: David Patick <patick AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:11:29 -0400 I drove this am to Beech Fork Lake and visited the swimming area.An adult Bald Eagle was seen perched past the swimming area ,just beyond where Stower's and Miller's branches meet. David Patick Huntington,WV 25701 Subject: Beech Fork marina From: Kevin Cade <dmgraphics AT DAILYMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:11:45 -0500 Using a spotting scope from the picnic area at Beech Fork Dam marina this afternoon I found 11 Red-breasted mergansers, 3 Ring-necked ducks, 1 Wood duck, 1 American coot, and 1 Ring-billed gull. Kevin Cade Putnam County Subject: Cheat Lake From: Kyle Aldinger <kaldinge AT MIX.WVU.EDU> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:14:38 -0500 Hey all, Cheat Lake looked more like a river this afternoon, and I could only find 6 BUFFLEHEAD among the debris on the south end of the lake by the Edgewater Marina. At Cheat Lake Park there were 2 RING-BILLED GULLS, 1 MALLARD, 1 HOODED MERGANSER, and a number of WOOD DUCKS (I believe 5 drakes and 2 hens). There were RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES at various locations around the lake. No ice to be found, but a lot of trash and debris. The small pond along Pierpont Road as you drive toward Cheat Lake hosted 4 CANADA GEESE, 2 of which were engaged in a rather heated battle. Kyle Aldinger Morgantown, WV Subject: Blackbirds and an update... From: Matt Orsie <wvbirder AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:06:10 -0500 All, I've joined the ranks of others by seeing Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds at the feeders this morning. We've had almost 2 inches of rain thus far and the rivers are or will be flooding.... On a personal note, I've updated my first WV sightings. The data set contains over 30,000+ sightings in WV during the last 9 years. It encompasses 27 of the state's counties. Using Google Maps you can visualize your sightings ( Much like eBird does ) and of course customize to your requirements. You select a species and click "Map It" to see where the first sightings I've encountered took place. Clicking on one of the subsequent Red markers gives you more specific info on that sighting. Although it doesn't represent the entire state it does give you some sense of distribution over time. http://www.wvbirder.org/wvbirds/birdmap4.htm Matt Orsie Summit Point, WV wvbirder.org Subject: Wood Duck, Red-Shouldered Hawk From: John Snyder <wem AT ONETEL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:54:13 +0000 Happened to glance out our living room window at our pond this morning, to see our first-ever (since moving in last October) duck bobbing around. Turned out to be a female Wood Duck who stayed a while before flying off down toward the Gauley. Time to get building wood duck boxes! A little later we were watching a very distinctly-marked fox squirrel (lots of black on the flanks) move across our dam and up into an oak tree across the pond. As we were watching the squirrel through our binoculars a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk swooped in to make an unsuccessful attack on the squirrel. The hawk perched on a limb, with the squirrel at the same height on the trunk occasionally sticking its head out to scold the hawk. The hawk stayed a short time, folding and unfolding its wings and obviously trying to suss out a way to get at the squirrel before finally giving up and flying off. John & Caroline Snyder Summersville vicinity Subject: Rte. 2 Birding From: David Patick <patick AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:18:27 -0500 I birded a few hours this am, battling the steady showers, along Rte. 2 in Cabell and Mason County.I visited Crab Creek campground,RCB Locks and lastly Greenbottom.There were not as many ducks seen when compared to last weekend.Some of the birds seen were: Crab Creek: Wood Duck-5 Cormorant-1 Killdeer-1 RCB Locks: Ring-necked Duck-12 Wood Duck-4 Cormorant-3 Killdeer-1 Snipe-7 Tree Swallow-3 No Gulls seen. Greenbottom: Green-winged Teal-2 Black Duck-4 Gadwall-2 Ring-necked Duck-32 Wood Duck-10 Coot-3 Killdeer-2 Tree Swallow-approx 100 David Patick Huntington,WV 25701 Subject: Grackle as feeder bird? From: M Fowler <mffowler AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:46:32 -0500 This morning was a first for me - a Common Grackle was going to town at the bird feeder, which is filled with black oil sunflower seed. I have occasionally seen them in the field below the feeder but never ON the feeder (didn't think there was room), but this one stayed for a good 10 minutes, scattering seed, puffing up his feathers and screeching in some kind of display, and generally scaring off all the other birds. On a related note, spring MUST be close - also had my first Red-winged Blackbird this morning. Monty Fowler, Cabell County Subject: Some WV birds may be getting smaller From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:38:52 -0800 While wandering around the web this morning I came across the following article from the BBC in Great Britain. Mentioned are 3 birds from WV-- Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, and Kentucky Warbler. Fascinating reading! http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8560000/8560694.stm Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: eastern meadowlark From: Barbara Sargent <barbarasargent AT WVDNR.GOV> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:36:37 -0500 An eastern meadowlark showed up in what little grass is exposed in my yard. Also, purple finches have returned to my feeders. Still waiting for woodcock. Barb Sargent Alpena, Randolph County Barbara Sargent WVDNR - Wildlife Resources Section Natural Heritage Program PO Box 67, Ward Road Elkins, WV 26241 304/637-0245 ext. 2048 304/637-0250 (fax) www.wvdnr.gov Subject: Western Preston, Monongalia Counties--Meadowlarks, Phoebes, Killdeers From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:20:42 -0800 Despite the forecast, I didn't see a drop of rain today, so it was an enjoyable full day of birding in the Masontown-Reedsville area in western Preston County and in southern Monongalia County. Highlights: Eastern Meadowlark--1 along Zinn Chapel Road near Reedsville, 1 along Stony Run Road west of Arthurdale. The latter was with some Starlings and really dwarfed them in size, though the size difference is only about an inch. Odd viewing angle, I guess. First of year. Eastern Phoebe--1 at the Mellon's Chapel along the Decker's Creek Rail Trail at Break Iron Hill Road in Monongalia, 1 heard only along Burke Road near Reedsville Killdeer--everywhere and noisy, many flying high. My total count was 21, though I didn't count a singleton or two. Common Grackle--a good-sized flock of 115 birds along McKinney Cave Road near Giuliani Road near Reedsville. Many others elsewhere. Red-winged Blackbird--singing all over the place. 73 counted. American Crow--2 birds carrying nest material (1 a stick, the other what looked like moss or grass) to 2 adjacent spruce trees on Giuliani Road just off Route 7 near Reedsville American Tree Sparrow--4 along the Decker's Creek Trail east of Route 92 south of Reedsville Brown Creeper--1 at a residence along Boy Scout Camp Road in Monongalia American Robin--dozens scattered all over the place Dark-eyed Junco--2-3 dozen scattered in several places Cedar Waxwing--20 along Boy Scout Camp Road Flood note: McKinney Cave Road was flooded by Decker's Creek several inches deep early this morning. Probably much deeper now and the road may well be closed there. Still a foot of snow along the Decker's Creek Trail near Burke Road and Kingwood Pike in Preston County . Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: update on Harrison Co. golden eagle From: Sue Olcott <sueolcott AT WVDNR.GOV> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:18:18 -0500 The golden eagle found with a trap on its foot in late February in Harrison Co. continues to slowly improve. He's recovering from an infection, and the incisions from amputating portions of the two badly damaged toes are slowly healing. He's eating well, and has gained almost a pound in weight. He was transferred to a flight cage today and is getting accustomed to the space he lacked in the cage at the hospital. The prognosis continues to be quite hopeful. Sue Susan Olcott WV DNR PO Bx 99 1110 Railroad St Farmington, WV 26571 (304) 825-6787 Fax: (304)825-6270 sueolcott AT wvdnr.gov Subject: Pleasant Creek once more From: Jeffrey Del Col <jadel1947 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:05:31 -0800 This morning I heard and saw FoS Red-Winged Blackbirds at Pleasant Creek. I also saw FoS Tree Swallows skimming across the water of the largest pond.  It is completely ice-free.  Many Canada geese were there, along with Buffleheads, Mallards,Hooded Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes.  As I stepped over the gate along Rt 119, I flushed an adult Northern Harrier from its perch on the telephone pole by the southernmost pond.  A crow was harrassing a large Red-Tailed Hawk far aloft over the ponds up the valley. I also heard Song Sparrows in the bramble thickets.   Here on the A-B campus, I heard Killdeers and saw a pair of Ravens.   Jeff Del Col, Philippi Subject: shannondale springs wma and shannondale lake From: Sandy Sagalkin <monsansagalkin AT MYACTV.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:32:44 -0800 i spent yesterday morning at shannondale springs wma and shannondale lake. a red tailed hawk provided impressive views perched in a tree in the parking lot and then took off across the river. other birds seen thursday included: canada geese red shouldered hawk (at lake) 5 turkeys common mergansers hooded merganser (at lake) hermit thrush winter wren yellow rumped warbler brown headed cowbird carolina chickadees pileated woodpecker red bellied woodpeckers downy woodpecker cardinals mallards american crows bluebirds (at lake) mourning dove white thoated sparrows song sparrows carolina wrens sandy sagalkin sharpsburg, md Subject: fake martin and robot birder From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:26:56 -0500 This link tells of using field sensors to survey bird populations: http://www.conservationmaven.com/frontpage/automating-bird-surveys-with-remote-sensors.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook And, the Mockingbird here was singing Purple Martin song...so here's the link to scout reports: [right hand margin] http://www.purplemartin.org/ -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net “…the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person’s life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way.” ~Roger Tory Peterson Subject: Bald Eagle at French Creek From: Beth Mankins <mankinscb AT FRONTIERNET.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:39:54 +0000 Sorry for the late post. There was an adult bald eagle at French Creek at Belmont yesterday morning on the way in to work. He was perched in the dead tree at the edge of the water (facing the bay to the left side). No sign of the juveniles. There were 36+ cormorants along with the usual ring billed gulls. Everything was fogged in this morning. At the Eureka Backwater, there was a flock of ring-necked ducks. Beth Mankins Pleasants County Subject: Brooke County From: Becky Szabo <becky8910 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:01:48 -0500 Today after work, about 4 PM, saw the first common grackle along side the first red winged blackbird at the feeder. Maybe they'll chase off the starlings! Becky Szabo Follansbee Subject: pine warbler From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:38:29 -0500 Pine Warbler singing here today. Only other sighting for the species was a glimpse on February 11. ~Cindy Ellis, Putnam County -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net “…the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person’s life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way.” ~Roger Tory Peterson Subject: tree swallow From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:49:22 -0500 Had my first of the season tree swallow over the driveway today. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV Subject: Black Vultures From: John Snyder <wem AT ONETEL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:12:05 +0000 They've certainly made their presence known today. We had 4 circling around mid-day, and then had 14 more come over this evening, moving east to west. John & Caroline Snyder Summersville vicinity Subject: Morgantown Horned Lark, Pipit, leucistic Common Merg From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:35:13 -0800 A varied day today that included Cheat Lake, the Morgantown Airport, 2 WVU farms, and the Mon River Trail from Uffington to Hildebrand Dam. Bird of the day, of course, has to be the HORNED LARK seen at Morgantown Airport. It was in the area left of the "A" sign between the parking apron and the runway. This is the same area where a Horned Lark was present last June. Also present there was an AMERICAN PIPIT. Interestingly, a Colgan Airways prop plane landed while I was watching both birds. The Pipit panicked and flew off, though maybe just to another portion of the airport. The Lark, however, was unfazed, and continued feeding. Perhaps this could be the same Lark from last year, acclimated to the noise and airplane movement at the airport--or maybe it's just deaf! On the Monongahela River south of Uffington this afternoon there were 6 COMMON MERGANSERS--1 adult male, 4 adult females, and 1 strange-looking bird that I'm going to call a partially-leucistic first-spring male. Such birds basically look like females, but have somewhat more white in the gray upperparts--especially the wings--and some dark streaking in the white throat. This bird seemed to match that in everything except the head and neck. The throat was whitish but the nape and crown were a pale dirty cream color. There was just the hint of a crest on the nape. I find it hard to believe this is an intermediate stage in the molt from a first winter bird to a first spring or to an adult bird, so I think there must be some leucism present. Very interesting bird! Other highlights: Cheat Lake Park is still frozen with some open water in Morgan's Run, which had a few Canada Geese and Mallards. South end of Cheat Lake: Ring-necked Duck--about 110 drakes and 25 hens off Sunset Beach Marina, though about half were at the limit of scope view even at 60 power and distorted by heat haze, so these are rough estimates. Might have been a few Scaup mixed in. Green-winged Teal--1 drake, 2 hens visible only from I-68 bridge Bufflehead--23 drakes, 14 hens Also Mallards, Common Goldeneyes, Ruddy Ducks, Black Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese-- not much different than on Tuesday. No Pintails, Wigeons, or Common Mergs. Elsewhere: Ring-necked Duck--1 drake south of Uffington Greater Scaup--1 hen south of Uffington with the Ring-neck. Perhaps a Ring-necked Scaup in the future? Hooded Merganser--4 south of Uffington Black Vulture--3 at Morgantown Airport, 1 at WVU Research Park Killdeer--6 at the Airport, 1 at WVU Research Park, 1 at WVU Animal & Veterinary Science Farm American Kestrel--1 at the Vet Science Farm Pileated Woodpecker--2 south of Uffington, 2 near Hildebrand Dam Belted Kingfisher--1 south of Uffington Common Raven--2 doing synchronized ballet flying over Route 119 at Dorsey's Knob Park Yellow-rumped Warbler--1 at Uffington parking lot Red-winged Blackbird--3 at the Vet Science Farm Common Grackle--10 flyovers at WVU Research Park Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: Fish Crows in Charles Town From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:46:17 +0000 Greetings,    Just got back from Charles Town and heard several Fish Crows calling while I was getting gas at the Martins gas station .  I have also been seeing one of our pond bullfrogs since day before yesterday- more signs of spring.        Happy birding,           Carol Del-Colle           Summit Point           Jefferson County   Subject: Pleasant Creek WMA again From: Jeffrey Del Col <jadel1947 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:22:24 -0800 I went to Pleasant Creek WMA this morning. The ponds in the wetland across Rte 119 are  about 3/4 ice-free. Numerous Canada Geese were honking and fussing at one another and the other waterfowl.. Quite a few seem to have paired off.  The small ponds up the valley are completely thawed and had about a dozen  Buffleheads, along with about the same number of  Ring-Necked Ducks.  There were maybe eight or so Common Goldeneyes and a few Mallards, both male and female.  At one point, the ducks erupted into flight as a large red-tailed hawk swooped over the ponds.  The  Red-shoulders in the Norway Spruces were quite vocal. As I drove out toward 119, I spotted two Common Ravens acting frisky. Down at the Doe Run Impoundment about two dozen Hooded Mergansers were busy flirting with and challenging one another.  The ice on Tygart Lake is receding quickly. Jeff Del Col, Philippi Subject: Re: Phoebe From: "Lynne Wiseman, Realtor" <lewiseman AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:59:28 -0500 Morning folks, Just saw and heard a Phoebe! My crocus are blooming--spring must be close! Lynne Wiseman Jefferson County Subject: Grackles and Phoebe From: "Thomas R. Fox" <trfox AT WIREFIRE.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:56:58 -0500 Saw grackles at Cowen in Webster Co. yesterday, the 10th and we had a phoebe calling in the yard here in Millstone this morning. I'll check out the woodcock situation this evening now that I am home. Tom Fox Millstone Calhoun Co. Subject: pine warbler From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:30:28 -0500 Had my first of the season pine warbler yesterday. It was on the suet feeder at the nature center. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV Subject: Fox Sparrow, Grackle, GB Heron From: Fred Schroyer <freditor AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:29:21 -0500 At my home a few miles north of Morgantown, I saw FOS Fox Sparrow and Grackle. Our lone Tree Sparrow, which has been around for 2 months or so, is still visiting. And on my way to work, near the WV line, I saw FOS Great Blue Heron. Spring is coming! Fred Schroyer Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air miles S of Pittsburgh, 20 N of Morgantown, WV) freditor AT windstream.net Subject: Pleasant Creek WMA From: Jeffrey Del Col <jadel1947 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:21:09 -0800 I visited Pleasant Creek WMA and the backwaters of Tygart Lake today.  The ponds at Pleasant Creek are about half ice-free.  There were numerous, very vocal, Canada Geese that are clearly pairing off. I saw about 10 Hooded Mergansers, with males engaging in challenges accompanied with much hood flashing and chest to chest displays.  Yesterday I saw some female Wood Ducks there, but they were not in evidence today. A few Mallards were also around today. I walked a short distance up the gas well road by the parking lot, but it was very muddy, so I did not persist.  However I saw a red-tail hawk soaring overhead and then heard and briefly saw some courting Red-shouldered hawks in the Norway Spruce stand at the top of the hill opposite the parking lot.  I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker and a Pileated. I then drove down to the Doe Run impoundment.  The backwaters of the Doe Run pond are ice free.  I saw 15 Hooded Mergansers, about half of them males in earnest displays.  Half a dozen Mallards were paddling around, too.  Tygart Lake itself is beginning to open up but has a good bit of ice still on it. If the warm weather persists, the Pleasant Creek WMA ponds should be ice-free by Friday. Jeff Del Col, Philippi Subject: Ohio River Belleville Pool Eagle Survey From: Dick & Jeanette Esker <eskerrb AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:16:43 -0500 As volunteers for the ORINWR, Carl Radcliffe and I surveyed the Belleville Pool of the Ohio River from Neal Island to the Belleville Dam for Bald Eagles and possible nests. We found saw two Bald Eagles -- one second year juvenile on Mustapha Island and one third year juvenile on the Ohio shore across from Newberry Island. We found no active nests -- the old one just upriver from the mouth of Sandy Creek is still there but there was no sign of any activity. We saw the two Peregrine Falcons under the Belpre Bridge. One was perched on the handrail along the pier nearest the WV shore and one was on the stone pier of the railroad bridge. The one on the handrail flew up into the bridge structure next to the old nest site and then flew off as we went under the bridge. We found two occupied Red-tailed Hawk nests. We saw the expected collection of ducks -- Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Black Ducks, Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Scaup and Mallards. Lots of Canada Geese and Ring-billed Gulls, numerous Great Blue Herons and several Belted Kingfishers. Overall a very enjoyable day on the river. Richard Esker Wood County West Virginia eskerrb AT verizon.net Subject: Woodcock From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:24:06 -0500 Finally! In the dusk, just before 7 pm, heard Woodcock here. Heard both "peent" and twitter flight sounds. In 2008, 3/10 was also my FOS, but in 2009 the date was 2/21. Also noted in the steely blue twilight was a Mockingbird winding down, sparrows going to bed, and a Killdeer calling. As I could see the first star, the dark shadowy wings of a Great Blue Heron labored overhead, and a pair of Barred Owls "hoo-hawed" with enthusiasm. Great evening! ~Cindy Ellis, Putnam County -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net “…the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person’s life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way.” ~Roger Tory Peterson Subject: Woodcock From: Rodney Bartgis <rbartgis AT TNC.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:41:05 -0500 Heard my FOS woodcock in Randolph County this evening. Rodney Bartgis, Valley Bend Subject: West Fork Rail Trail in Marion County--GB Heron rookery From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:07:29 -0800 This afternoon I tried something different--the West Fork Rail Trail in western Marion County between Fairmount and Shinnston, specifically between miles 3.75 at the Harrison County line and 7.0 in both directions from the town of Worthington on Route 19. This is a very nice paved trail, which has already been plowed and is totally clear. It winds along the West Fork River, which is bordered by lowland deciduous trees, the small town of Hutchinson, and on the north end some regenerating fields. Most of the birds, except for some Canada Geese and the Great Blue Herons, were in the half-mile section south of Hutchinson. A lady walking her dog alerted me to the GREAT BLUE HERON rookery between mile 6.75 and mile 7.0, so I trudged another mile each way to check it out. This is apparently a long-standing rookery. I found 22 nests, but only 3 with occupants. The lady said 6-7 herons had been seen recently, so the mates were off fishing somewhere. She also said a pair of BALD EAGLES are resident in the area, but I did not see them. Other highlights: Canada Goose--53 Hooded Merganser--4 Red-shouldered Hawk--1 screaming adult. My, they can be noisy! Killdeer--2 on the Hutchinson ball field, 3 flyovers Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--1 EASTERN PHOEBE--1, my first of the year Common Raven--1 flyover Yellow-rumped Warbler--1 Dark-eyed Junco--7 Red-winged Blackbird--2 27 species total In the morning, I birded Miracle Run and Simon Haught Roads in western Monongalia County with these highlights: Canada Goose--16 along Miracle Run Road, 55 migrating over Simon Haught Road AMERICAN BLACK DUCK--5, very unexpected in the small wetlands just north of Simon Haught Road American Kestrel--1 along south end of Miracle Run Road Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--1 along Simon Haught Road RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD--9 along Simon Haught Road COMMON GRACKLE--2 along Simon Haught Road 21 species total Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: Tree Swallows From: Mike Griffith <birdonawire47 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:40:22 -0500 Tree Swallows arrive in force at Green Bottom WMA (Cabell Co.). Wendell Argabrite and I saw about 40 circling/feeding over the wetland this afternoon. Interestingly, this bird, now a common to very common summer resident in this area (Cabell, Mason, and Wayne Counties), in 1960 had not been documented as a nesting bird.* *Information courtesy of www.birdsofthelowerohiorivervalleyinwestvirginia.com - Harry Slack's excellent website. Mike Griffith Huntington Subject: FOS grackles From: Shannon Burner <shannonann66 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:43:08 +0000 Good afternoon all! I just saw my FOS grackles. A small flock of 11 flying overhead, pretty tails flared out for a landing nearby. Such a welcome sight. They are the first "spring" birds I've seen. Shannon Burner Keyser, Mineral Co. Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone Subject: Black Vultures From: John Snyder <wem AT ONETEL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:37:39 +0000 We had at least 4 Black Vultures circling here today. John & Caroline Snyder Summersville vicinity Subject: Falcon/Dunbar From: richardkazmierski Kazmierski <richardkazmierski AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:27:54 -0800 Howdy All, I did some errand birding this morning. A Peregrine Falcon was at the Dunbar Bridge. Stopped at the Fly Ash Pond in South Charleston and there were 2 Hooded Mergansers, drove over to the next pond and there were 7 more. Made a quick stop at the Port of St. Albans and only thing of interest were 4 Coots. Kim Kazmierski Hurricane, WV _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469228/direct/01/ Subject: Spring is on its way! From: William Tolin <wtolin AT CEBRIDGE.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:24:53 -0500 I see a lot of folks believe that spring may be on the way by the birds showing up. I AGREE, bluebirds, robins, and one redwing were seen in my snowy world yesterday afternoon and this morning. I hope they all have their little life jackets or a ticket for the arc because it is going to be very wet over the next few days. Considering 2-3 plus feet of snow just above me it could be very interesting. GO BIRDS!!!!! William A. Tolin Elkins Randolph County Subject: Morgantown Common Grackles From: Kyle Aldinger <kaldinge AT MIX.WVU.EDU> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:14:36 -0500 Hey all, I saw a flock of Common Grackles fly over my apartment in Westover (just across the river from Morgantown); this is the first flock I have seen in Morgantown this year. Kyle Aldinger Subject: Re: Red-wings and Grackles From: Elizabeth Hole <ekh AT WTHOLE.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:54:57 -0500 The red winged blackbird migration must have come in yesterday. We had our first one here in Tucker County today. I also had 4 robins arrive today, too. It must be spring! Elizabeth Hole On Mar 10, 2010, at 8:48 AM, tammy lester wrote: > Saw the first Red Winged Blackbird of the season, a single male at > the feeder. Spring migration can't be far away > > Tammy Lester > Wyoming County, WV > Hello from the coalfields! > > > > > ________________________________ > From: richardkazmierski Kazmierski > To: WV-BIRD AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG > Sent: Mon, March 8, 2010 5:14:37 PM > Subject: Red-wings and Grackles > > Hi All, > > Sorry if this is a repeat of similar postings, I haven't had much of > a chance to check emails lately. I was working out in the yard today > and the neighborhood was filled with Grackles and Red-winged > Blackbirds. Can't wait to hear some warblers. Hope I can get my yard > work finished early this year so I can get out there to actually get > to see warblers. > > > > Kim Kazmierski > > Hurricane, WV > > Putnam County > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ > > > Subject: Re: Red-wings and Grackles From: tammy lester <efan3usa AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:48:08 -0800 Saw the first Red Winged Blackbird of the season, a single male at the feeder. Spring migration can't be far away Tammy Lester Wyoming County, WV Hello from the coalfields! ________________________________ From: richardkazmierski Kazmierski To: WV-BIRD AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG Sent: Mon, March 8, 2010 5:14:37 PM Subject: Red-wings and Grackles Hi All, Sorry if this is a repeat of similar postings, I haven't had much of a chance to check emails lately. I was working out in the yard today and the neighborhood was filled with Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Can't wait to hear some warblers. Hope I can get my yard work finished early this year so I can get out there to actually get to see warblers. Kim Kazmierski Hurricane, WV Putnam County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ Subject: Robins Redux From: John Snyder <wem AT ONETEL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:50:47 +0000 Small flock of robins here today, the first seen since late November. John & Caroline Snyder Summersville vicinity Subject: phoebe From: "Cynthia D. Ellis" <cdellis AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 22:25:57 -0500 Meadowlark heard this morn. Phoebe, last seen January 9, was calling from a willow tree. And a Red-winged Blackbird called from a traditional location...a sycamore near the pond. ~Cindy Ellis, Putnam County -- Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis AT wildblue.net "Oh little white birds, Give me wings, So that I can fly back home…" ~traditional Tibetan song Subject: Cheat Lake addendum--RB Gulls From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:49:42 -0800 Forgot to list 26 Ring-billed Gulls visible from Sunset Beach Marina, but they didn't linger long.  Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: Cheat Lake Pintails, Wigeons, Wood Ducks and lots more! From: Terry Bronson <terrybronson AT YMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:47:22 -0800 Cheat Lake is OPEN for business again! At least on the south end near Sunset Beach Marina, the I-68 bridge, and the Edgewater Marina. The north end at Cheat Lake Park is still frozen, however. Almost all the waterfowl were seen from the I-68 bridge looking north and from Sunset Beach Marina looking west in the channel visible from both viewpoints. Scope was necessary. Better view from Sunset Beach, which revealed a few species not visible from I-68. Highlights: Canada Goose--6 plus 15 more where Morgans Run enters Cheat Lake Park WOOD DUCK--8, 6 drakes and 2 hens visible from Sunset Beach only American Black Duck--2 Mallard--33 NORTHERN PINTAIL--5, 3 drakes and 2 hens visible from Sunset Beach only AMERICAN WIGEON--25, 14 drakes and 11 hens Ring-necked Duck--82, 63 drakes and 19 hens, best viewed from Sunset Beach. Of that total, 10 were off Edgewater Marina. Lesser Scaup--3, 2 drakes and 1 hen visible from Sunset Beach only Common Goldeneye--10, 4 drakes and 6 hens, the latter only visible from Sunset Beach Bufflehead--27 at least, 19 drakes and 8 hens, some at all 3 locations COMMON MERGANSER--1 drake visible only from Sunset Beach Hooded Merganser--16, 11 drakes and 5 hens RUDDY DUCK--6, 1 drake and 5 hens visible from Sunset Beach only Non-waterfowl: Accipiter species--1 seen very briefly at Sunset Beach Marina as it was chased off by Red-tailed Hawk--1 at Sunset Beach Marina Common Raven--2 at a deer carcass at intersection of Route 857 and Morgans Run Road Yesterday afternoon (Monday) at Krepp Park in Morgantown: Cooper's Hawk--1, plus the nest reported by Hillar Klandorf, but no activity noted Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--2 in area just past the dog run enclosure Yellow-rumped Warbler--1  Terry Bronson Morgantown, WV Subject: Bluebirds/ Black Vultures/ Ring-billed Gull From: Carol Del-Colle <WVnaturalist AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:29:21 +0000 Greetings,    Yesterday and today I have had a pair of Bluebirds checking out the bluebird box out back.  I will be keeping an eye on them and hope they nest there this year as some have done in past years.     Also, yesterday afternoon, I saw about 25 Black Vultures feeding on a deer carcass on the side of the RT. 340 bypass near the Old Cave Rd. exit.  Then, while in Charles Town, I observed a Ring-billed Gull flying over the parking lot at the Martins Food store shopping center.      Happy birding,           Carol Del-Colle            Summit Point             Jefferson County   Subject: Eagle Survey Results From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:50:31 -0500 Saturday, March 6, 20010 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. New & Bluestone Rivers from Bertha Campground downstream to Brooks, WV Participants: Mindy & Allen Waldron, Mark Mullins, Brian Hirt, Wade Snyder, Tony Mattox, Elly & Charles Edwards, Bev & Chuck Wright, Betsy Reeder, Ben Markell, Jim & Judy Phillips. Bald eagles - 19(13 immature, 6 adult) Golden eagles - 5(3 immature, 2 adult) We had about 40 visitors to the various stations during the day. I can account for at least 26 meals and a tank of gas puchased in Hinton and a campsite rented in Pipestem State Park because of the birds. I encourage birders to wear their binoculars into local business establishments. Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV Subject: wood ducks & woodcock From: Jim & Judy Phillips <cne01663 AT MAIL.WVNET.EDU> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:02:19 -0500 I found my first of the season wood ducks yesterday. They were on a sewage lagoon at Glenwood, Mercer County with a dozen Amer. black ducks and 40 mallards. Last evening we heard our first Amer. woodcock here in Pipestem, Summers County. Probably had about 3 individuals. On the "wood" theme, we heard a couple wood frogs at Sandstone Falls, Raleigh County on Sunday evening. Also, saw a couple painted turtles on a log there. Jim & Judy Phillips Pipeste, WV Summers County Subject: Red-wings and Grackles From: richardkazmierski Kazmierski <richardkazmierski AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:14:37 -0800 Hi All, Sorry if this is a repeat of similar postings, I haven't had much of a chance to check emails lately. I was working out in the yard today and the neighborhood was filled with Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Can't wait to hear some warblers. Hope I can get my yard work finished early this year so I can get out there to actually get to see warblers. Kim Kazmierski Hurricane, WV Putnam County _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ Subject: e-mail address change From: CHINGWE <chingwe AT PEOPLEPC.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:45:57 -0500 Howdy doo, Doug Wood here. My e-address is changing and I cannot find my ancient scrap of paper with instructions telling me how to make changes or even access the list serve for that purpose. From chingwe AT peoplepc.com to chingwe1755 AT yahoo.com. HELP IF YOU WILL. Slan leat! ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com