Cove Outing
June 7, 2014
Seven members of the Russell County Bird Club and one guest met at the Wardell Park & Ride for a field trip to the Cove section of Tazewell County. The guest, Tom Fletcher from Salt Lake
City, was visiting relatives in Russell County. The weather was beautiful, and birds were plentiful. The group had 20 species in the parking lot area and nearby while waiting for the departure time. The list included both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Tree and Northern
Rough-winged Swallows, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk that Don spotted just before reaching the lot.
Jerry Thornhill, Tom Fletcher, Tom Hunter, Daryl Owens, Jane Thornhill,
Don Carrier, Shari Hiter, John Kelly
As usual, the first stop on the outing was the Wardell Ham Store. The group found Yellowthroated Vireo, Mallard, and several other species there.
Mallard
We moved on to Midway Road where a stop produced a Blue-winged Warbler. Another stop found Kentucky Warbler as well as other species.

Looking for a Blue-winged
Back on Wardell Road, more stops produced the expected Bobolinks and Willow Flycatchers.
There were at least two flycatchers and possibly more.
As we merged onto Maiden Springs Road, we were on high alert for possible Red-headed
Woodpeckers. Tom Fletcher made the initial spot of a woodpecker which turned out to be the
Red-headed. There were two of them there us to believe they are breeding in the area. Later on, some distance away, Don and Daryl found a second, probably different, pair.
At the beginning of the trip, Don had requested (demanded) that someone show him a Blue
Grosbeak on the trip. Jane and Tom Fletcher found one near the Bennett house on Cove Road.
Unfortunately Don was lagging behind and by the time he caught up, the bird had moved out of sight. Luckily on the way out, the bird was back and Don got his wish.
We stopped for lunch at the usual spot on Hogback Road and were joined for the third year in a row by what we’ve come to think of as the lunch spot Eastern Wood-Pewee. In addition, a Great
Crested Flycatcher provided some nice looks. Jane produced a dish of delicious brownies for dessert making everyone grateful that Roger, the chocolate hound, had missed the trip.
Otherwise, not everybody would have had a brownie.
On up Hogback Road, the next stop found a very large female Hairy Woodpecker. It gave birders excellent close views. There was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling in the distance while we watched the woodpecker.
Unfortunately, efforts to find a Golden-winged Warbler were unfruitful. The habitat is becoming increasingly unfavorable for this species.
On the way home, Tom Hunter found an American Redstart to add to the day’s list. Jane, Tom
Fletcher, and Jerry found a Wood Duck and a Loggerhead Shrike while Jane and Jerry found a
Canada Goose after dropping Tom off. All in all, the day produced 76 species.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Wood Duck on Stuart’s Pond
Species List
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged
Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Blue-winged Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow