This note is not meant to be complete, but rather a brief summary for several locations that have proven to be good for spring birds.

To help those who will participate in The Golden Challenge, several private properties have been made available (contact Patti Reum for more details).

The Goodall property: stretching east from the ridge near the Allegheny Road (106) and VA642.  An excellent location for hawks and migrants and a fine place for breeding Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush and Veery, Barred Owl, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers.

The Miller property: near Laurel Forks off VA642, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Broad-winged Hawk was seen near here last year plus all the other regulars of these ridges.

Bear Mountain Farm: About a mile off Rt250.  Vistas for dozens of miles give excellent hawk watching potential plus great breeders such as Golden-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark,  American Woodcock, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and possible Red Crossbills make this a fine location for part or a full day.

The Back Creek Beaver Ponds: along VA600 near Rt 250 are great for sparrows and the nearby portion of Rt250 can be outstanding for migrant waves.  Southbound along VA600 may be equally good for migrants and last year a Black-billed Cuckoo was near the southern end.

Highland Wildlife Management Area, near Monterey (Sounding Knob) will be available; commanding views of the surrounding Highland County valleys and a wide range of species are possible here.

TNC Warm Springs: a Field Trip is scheduled from 1pm and will be lead by Brad Kreps; contact him for more information at 540-839-3599 or bkreps@tnc.org   

In addition, there are several public areas that are known to be good.

Allegheny Road (106) from VA642 to Locust Springs Recreation Area has been very productive for migrants including exceptional numbers of Magnolia Warblers plus Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Purple Finch. Both Barred Owl and Long-eared Owl have been noted along this road and Northern Saw-whet Owl has been seen at the Locust Springs Recreation Area.

VA642 travels east from the high ridges to the start of Blue Grass Valley and traverses a wide range of habitats which should produce 15-20 species of warbler, Veery, Hermit, and Wood Thrush, most flycatchers, and the resident forest birds.

The northern portion of Forest Road 55 (starts from Rt 84) near Paddy’s Knob is one of the last reliable sites for breeding Mourning Warbler in Virginia.  The road continues south, hugging the border.  All the usual high elevation forest species are expected.

The network of roads in Blue Grass Valley, especially the northern portion, are good for field species such as Killdeer, migrant yellowlegs, swallows including Cliff, Eastern Bluebirds, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks, and blackbirds including Bobolinks.  Along the edges, e.g., the northern edge of VA640, one may find Ruffed Grouse, Black-billed Cuckoo, Golden-winged Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Other locations with standing snags have American Kestrel and Red-headed Woodpecker and locations with bushes and trees near streams have Warbling Vireo, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.  Belted Kingfishers breed in appropriate habitat along the streams and migrant White-crowned Sparrows can sometimes be found along bushy edges of fence lines.  Loggerhead Shrike has been found in the southern portion of Highland County.

At the northern portion of Bath County are the VPCO ponds near Rt 600, good for Green Heron and the location of a Hooded Merganser with young on the 2003 foray.  Much further south in Bath County is Lake Moomaw, which could harbor late migrating waterfowl and larids.  See the 2003 Foray report for more information on Bath County.