2006 Winter

HIGHLAND CO. VA 1 Jan. 13, 2006 Time:

EAGLE SURVEY WINTER 2006 Jan. 13 – Feb. 28, 2006 golden eagle first-year immature

Todd Day, Eric Hynes

West of VA 640 facing Lantz Mt.

Immature first-year GOEA circled and disappeared behind the ridge.

golden eagle immature

Bill Benish, Robyn Puffenbarger

Along VA 614 about 3-5 miles south of US 250

Immature GOEA circled low, at times hovering and landing, and flying over the Cowpasture River.

golden eagle immature PHOTOGRAPH

Brenda Tekin

Along VA 644, approximately 0.4 mile west of VA 640

Immature GOEA flew west toward Lantz Mt.

golden eagles (3)

John Spahr, Lisa Hamilton

Snowy Mountain west of VA 640 north of Blue Grass at Highland/Pendleton Co. line

Three GOEA interacted in aerial display above Snowy Mt.

bald eagles (3) adult sub-adult first-year

John Spahr, Lisa Hamilton

Vanderpool area (Rt. 84 and VA 640 from Vanderpool to Meadowdale to Mill Gap and then North toward US 250 on VA 640

This includes three separate sightings of BAEA

Jan. 27, 2006 Time:

golden eagle

12 members of Cape Henry Audubon Society, reported by David Hughes

Between Blue Grass and Hightown

No details

Jan. 28, 2006 Time:

golden eagle

12 members of Cape Henry Audubon Society, reported by David Hughes

No details

No details

Time

golden eagles (3)

Mark Adams, Mike Iwanik, Vicky Gullet

VA 644 near Snowy Mt.

No details

Time:

bald eagle

12 members of Cape Henry Audubon Society, reported by David Hughes

Over Snowy Mt.

No details

Time:

bald eagle

David Hughes

Along US 220 8 miles south of Monterey near trout farm ponds.

No details

golden eagle immature

David Hughes

Western slope of Shenandoah Mt. Confederate Breastworks overlook

Immature GOEA soared at Augusta Highland line over Shenandoah Mt.

9

Jan. 15, 2006 Time:

1

Time: 1128

1

Jan. 22, 2006 Time: approx. 0930

5 Time: early afternoon

2

1 1 6 Jan. 29, 2006 Time:

Jan. 30, 2006 Time: afternoon

golden eagles (2) immature

David Hughes

VA 614 northeast of McDowell

Two immature GOEA flew low.

bald eagle immature

Rick Reynolds, Wildlife Biologist, VDGIF; Rick Lambert

Along ridge due east of Doe Hill between Buck and Simmons mountains.

Crows chased an Immature BAEA south along the ridge. Flight height varied with ridge height. At times they flew within 50 ft. of the ridge and at other times up to 150-200 ft. above it. The BAEA headed east and disappeared over the ridge.

golden eagle adult

Augusta Bird Club led by Allen Larner

Approximately 0.2 mile south of Highland/Pendleton Co. line.

GOEA flew east out of fog away from Snowy Mt.

golden eagle immature

Augusta Bird Club led by Allen Larner

VA 640 near intersection with VA 644

Immature GOEA perched on dead snag along VA 640. It then flew west over Snowy Mt.

Sandy Bratton

By cemetery on south side of VA 642 before it intersects with VA 643 (Laurel Fork Road)

Two GOEA perched in oak tree by Kramer Cemetery before flying southwest and out of sight.

Debora Ellington, Pat Lowry, Valerie Hillard

Forks of Water, VA 220 standing outside Ginseng Mountain Store

Adult BAEA carrying nesting material in its talons flew southwest past the store.1

Sandy Bratton

VA 643 just southwest of VA 644

William H. Funk

VA 644 at top pull-off before it drops down toward WV.

Time:

1

Feb. 4, 2006 Time: 1100

1

Time: 1145

1

golden eagles (2) Time:

4 Time: 1400-1500

1

1

Time:

Feb. 10, 2006 Time: 1530-1630

bald eagle adult

bald eagle immature

golden eagle (2) immature

Immature BAEA soared beside the large gold Victorian house. After several minutes it flew west across Lantz Mt. Two immature GOEA patrolling the far ridge dropped down to the pasture and perched in a hardwood tree for about 20 minutes. One flew, and disappeared behind the mountains. Three ravens approached the second GOEA and pursued it halfheartedly. down VA 644, The GOEA and ravens flew back and forth for about 25 minutes. The birds then vanished into

pasture between Snowy and Lantz mountains.

1

1

1

Feb. 19, 2006 Time: 1334

golden eagles (5) 2 adult 3 immature bald eagles (2) adult immature

Brenda Tekin

VA 643, 0.3 mile north of VA 642 flying over Monterey Mt.

At least two adult GOEA, three immature GOEA, one adult BAEA and one immature BAEA circled over top of ridge, occasionally dropping to fly along lower western slopes along Monterey Mt. east of VA 643 and north of VA 642. One adult GOEA lifted off a rocky outcropping on top of ridge.

Time: 1402

golden eagle immature PHOTOGRAPH

Brenda Tekin

Near VA 643 short distance north of VA 642.

Immature GOEA soared low over Blue Grass Valley between Monterey Mt. and VA 643.

Time: 1441

bald eagles (2) adult immature PHOTOGRAPH

Brenda Tekin

Near VA 643 and VA 644.

Adult BAEA and immature BAEA circled and flew low over Daniel Ridges east of VA 644 within 50 yards of the road approximately 0.2 mile north of VA 643.

golden eagles (2) immature

Greg Moser and Jerry Uhlman

Near top of VA 644 Hardscrabble Road at Highland/Pendleton Co. line

Two immature GOEA: One perched in tree in field up the hill to northeast of the road toward Snowy Mt., about 300 feet from road. It flew off, joining a second immature GOEA soaring in wide circles drifting up sloe to top of Snowy Mt.

golden eagles (2)

Sandy Bratton

Snowy Mt. at top of VA 644 Hardscrabble Road

Two GOEA soaring in the distance dropped across the ridge toward Wimer Mt. near WV line on VA 640.

1

Feb. 24, 2006 Time: Approx. 1615

1

Feb. 25, 2006 Time:

1

Time: Approx. 1000

golden eagle immature

Richmond Audubon Society – 6 members, including Greg Moser and Jerry Uhlman

Near top of Hardscrabble VA 644 at Highland/Pendleton Co. line

Immature GOEA soared over ridge of the lower elevations of Snowy Mt.

Time: 1130-1230

golden eagles (3) immature

Northern Virginia Bird Club – 14 members led by Val Kitchens

VA 644 north of VA 643 at the second pullout top Hardscrabble.

Three immature GOEA flew east along and over Snowy Mt.

Time: 1300-1400

golden eagle adult

Richmond Audubon Society – 6 members, including Greg Moser and Jerry Uhlman

Top of Lantz Mt. west from intersection of VA 644 and 643

Adult GOEA flew along top of Lantz Mt. west from VA 644 near VA 643.

1 1 1

1

Time: 1300-1330

bald eagle adult

Adam D’Onofrio

VA 644 – view of the mountains and valley directly in front.

Adult BAEA came over the mountain from northeast and circled over the valley before heading back over the mountain toward the northeast.

Time: 1300-1330

golden eagle immature

Adam D’Onofrio

VA 644 – view of the mountains and valley directly in front

Immature second-year GOEA came over the mountain from the east and continued heading west out of sight.

Time: Approx. 1430

golden eagle adult

Richmond Audubon Society – 6 members, including Greg Moser and Jerry Uhlman

North of VA 642 near VA 643

Adult GOEA north of VA 642.

golden eagle immature

Richmond Audubon Society – 6 members, including Greg Moser and Jerry Uhlman

A couple of miles south on VA 640 from VA 642

Immature GOEA flew along VA 640 a few miles south of VA 642

golden eagle adult golden eagle undetermined age

Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Pat Alther

Lantz Mt. at VA 644 near Highland/Pendleton County line

Adult GOEA soared over Lantz Mt. and drifted southwest.

Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Pat Alther

VA 640 approximately 3 miles south of VA 642 in Blue Grass

GOEA of undetermined age flew low over Lantz Mt. in the distance.

Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Pat Alther

VA 640 south of Blue Grass near Rt. 250

Adult GOEA circled low over road then flew southwest to top of Lantz Mt.

Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Pat Alther

VA 640 south of Blue Grass near Rt. 250

Immature GOEA in same location of adult GOEA observed earlier in the morning. It circled over the valley a short distance from road before heading southwest toward Lantz Mt. and continued heading south along the eastern slope of Lantz Mt.

Brenda Tekin, Gordy Adamski, Pat Alther

VA 644, approximately 0.3 mile west of intersection with VA 640

Immature GOEA flew low over VA 644 directly overhead heading north toward Snowy Mt. It landed on ground approximately 200 yards from VA 644 next to a woodchuck that quickly ran

1 2

Time: Approx. 1445

1 2

Feb. 26, 2006 Time: Approx. 0920 Time: Approx. 1020

Time: 1152

Time: Approx. 1250.

Time: approx. 1425

1

golden eagle adult PHOTOGRAPH golden eagle immature

golden eagle immature

off. GOEA stood in the same spot for approximately 5 minutes before flying north, crossing over VA 640 toward the top of Goff Mt. Time:

golden eagles (2)

Lorraine & Jim White

Jack Mountain just off US 250

Two GOEA ate on a carcass in woods 15-20 feet off south side of 250 E, east side of Jack Mountain.