Aviatlas Sightings Record, Bridle Creek/Gold Hill

April 24, 2010
Bridle Creek/Gold Hill
US · Virginia
Lon. -81.251278, Lat. 36.613047, Alt. 2,680 ft

Member: Scott Jackson-Ricketts
Hotspot: Bridle Creek/Gold Hill

Notes:
First of the year black-throated green warbler was a nice surprise.The parulas seem to have moved on. Our yard, woods and sky are filledwith jays right now...can't recall so many at this time of year. Theyare kind of annoying, and I noticed some focused harassment of nestingrobins and doves. Turkey males continue to seek mates as they gobblewith great force in the early morning.

25 Species Reported:
Turkey Vulture (4)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
Wild Turkey (1)
Mourning Dove (2)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1)
Downy Woodpecker (1)
Pileated Woodpecker (1)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
Tree Swallow (2)
Carolina Wren (2)
Eastern Bluebird (1)
American Robin (1)
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (1)
Carolina Chickadee (1)
Tufted Titmouse (1)
Blue Jay (19)
American Crow (5)
House Finch (3)
American Goldfinch (4)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1)
Eastern Towhee (3)
Field Sparrow (2)
White-throated Sparrow (2)
Northern Cardinal (3)
Red-winged Blackbird (1)

- Scott Jackson-Ricketts

This sightings record reported at www.aviatlas.com

Aviatlas Sightings Record - Cox's Chapel

www.aviatlas.com

April 25, 2010
Cox's Chapel Low Water Bridge an...
US · Virginia · Rugby
Lon. -81.242309, Lat. 36.596063, Alt. 2,402 ft

Member: Scott Jackson-Ricketts
Hotspot: Cox's Chapel Low Water Bridge and area

Notes:

Arriving at 8AM, and full of expectation, I left a half hour later with those expectations satisfied. In particular, I was hoping to find the eastern kingbirds and yellow warblers back on the breeding grounds, which they were. Typically they show up simultaneously with great fanfare, as they repeated for me this morning. Most pleased was I by catching the green-backed heron landing in a low tree along Bridle Creek, and a few minutes later, flying over to the big sycamore next to the bridge, both times giving me great views. No less was I so pleased to see a raven soar over with a mouthful of something, while trying its best to avoid one menacing crow. They both dived into the woods on the south side of the river, behind a barn. On the way to and from the river along Bridle Creek Road, I also saw many robins, a kestrel, two meadowlarks, one starling and a pile of jays at the Bridle Creek School feeder.

24 Species Reported:
Green Heron (1)
Canada Goose (5)
Turkey Vulture (1)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
Eastern Kingbird (2)
Tree Swallow (7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (5)
Carolina Wren (1)
Brown Thrasher (2)
Blue Jay (1)
American Crow (1)
Common Raven (1)
American Goldfinch (3)
Northern Parula (2)
Yellow Warbler (3)
Eastern Towhee (2)
Chipping Sparrow (1)
Field Sparrow (1)
Song Sparrow (1)
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Northern Cardinal (3)
Red-winged Blackbird (6)
Common Grackle (8)

This sightings record was recorded at: www.aviatlas.com

-Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Aviatlas Sightings Record

February 14, 2010
Bridle Creek/Gold Hill
US · Virginia
Lon. -81.251278, Lat. 36.613047, Alt. 2,680 ft

Member: Scott Jackson-Ricketts
Hotspot: Bridle Creek/Gold Hill

Notes:
Perhaps the sun and relative warmth, (up to 41 F. this afternoon), brought more activity to the feeders and general locomotion. I also spent a bit more time outside today, shoveling snow and paying attention. For instance, the three bluebirds counted were startled by my sudden arrival, and though I did not see them eating from the suet cake, that is from whence they flew. And looking up in mid afternoon, I caught two black vultures in a thermal, against a stunningly clear blue sky. Still no sign of the hermit thrush, and I fear the worst alas.

I would like a more thorough conversation on the ongoing argument as to whether we actually help birds by providing easy food. I stand by providing water without concern, but the question as to how we alter bird behavior and thus create dependencies has me wondering. There is no question that we humans benefit from feeding stations, at least as far as entertainment goes. And there are all the stats out there based upon feeder birds going to migrational and population records through the years. But are these records skewed by our middle management schemes of bringing the birds closer to us, rather than our going out in the field to find them in less compromised situations...is the question.

20 Species Reported: Black Vulture (2), Mourning Dove (4), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2), Downy Woodpecker (1), Carolina Wren (2), Eastern Bluebird (3), Carolina Chickadee (5), Tufted Titmouse (4), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), Blue Jay (6), American Crow (4), Purple Finch (3), House Finch (10), American Goldfinch (9), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Eastern Towhee (2), Song Sparrow (1), White-throated Sparrow (13), Dark-eyed Junco (6), Northern Cardinal (15)

This sightings record was recorded at: www.aviatlas.com

-Scott Jackson-Ricketts