Our 8" of fresh snow brought them back! I just counted 30. Also a Pine Siskin, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles, along with the usual suspects.
Two mornings ago, I was happy to see the first Phoebe of this year. It was hopping from one wingstem stalk to another. The upright posture and wagging of the tail made it easy to spot.
Sunday, there was a male Purple finch on the tube feeder. Another first for the year.
One of the female Cardinals in the yard is missing her tail feathers. The rest of her feathers are in good shape. She looks kind of cute with that round butt.
Walking on my neighbor's lane this evening, my dog spotted something on the edge and stopped. Sadly, it was a young Cedar waxwing that had perished. We had a very heavy downpour and winds this afternoon, which may have led to its demise. Brought it home to give it a decent burial tomorrow.
Date: 3/12/26 6:07 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Pine warbler
83 degrees yesterday. 37 with snow this morning. Pine Warbler on the suet and 6 purple finches back at the feeders. Jim & Judy Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV
On Saturday, our male Eastern Phoebe returned and started checking out the early season nesting site immediately singing all the while. There was also Pine Warbler singing in the Virginia Pines out front.
Amazingly, the female Eastern Phoebe showed up on Monday. I can only guess that she was spurred to move north by the exceptionally warm weather we’ve been having.
WV-BIRD!!! This list is hosted by the National Audubon Society
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The list is open to all people of all skill levels from beginning backyard birders to professional ornithologists.
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Date: 3/11/26 10:54 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: Textbook
I just saw a Sharp-shinned hawk standing on the food tray. He really was just the size of a Bluejay with pencil legs, matching the description in the guides to a tee. Best look ever. I should be able to ID them quickly in the future.
Yesterday morning, a Tree swallow showed up on my Merlin as a possible. Thinking that it seemed too early, I dismissed it. A little bit later, I was scrubbing the birdbath and saw a Tree swallow sitting on a branch near their favorite nest box. A welcome sight indeed. After a while, others showed up. I just love the joyous sound of their song and their aerial ballet.
Also heard my first Field sparrow of the year.
The morning chorus has really increased the last week, Housefinches being the loudest. Bluebirds are a close second. They are also checking out the nest boxes.
It has been a peculiar spring so far. A week ago, we had light snow. Yesterday and today were almost uncomfortably warm, really pushing the spring flowers along. Saw my first Bumblebee and a lovely Spring Azure today.
Date: 3/7/26 7:38 pm From: Derek Courtney <derek.dana.courtney...> Subject: Cheat Lake Waterbird Report --- Mountaineer Audubon Field Trip
Hi, all!
This morning, just about 20 people joined me for the annual Spring field trip around Cheat Lake in search of migrant waterfowl. It was a great turnout with lots of new faces. Spring had definitely arrived with temperatures reaching almost 70 degrees by the end and the southern winds carried a noticeable warmth with them as we walked around Cheat Lake Park. The birds, on the other hand, didn't arrive :) Cheat Lake was quite high, and there many boats on the lake taking advantage of the balmy day. No rain overnight meant there was nothing to push down big numbers, and the lack of fog or precipitation in the morning meant that whatever did land probably got an early start northward. Nonetheless, it was a great day to be out, with a fantastic group of friends. Waterbird totals listed below. Thanks to everyone who came out today. Mountaineer Audubon has a full slate of spring activities coming up; please check the website and social medias for the events you might be able to attend. Hope to see you all soon in the field this spring!
We were walking in a Huntington cemetery Wednesday afternoon when we noticed black vultures in some of the trees, in addition to more circling overhead. A Lot of vultures - like 30-plus. I've seen occasional black vultures in this cemetery but never this many before. They were spread out over half a dozen different trees.
Date: 2/28/26 10:29 am From: Derek Courtney <derek.dana.courtney...> Subject: Mountaineer Audubon Field Trip --- Cheat Lake, Mon. Co.
Hi, all!
Next week on Saturday, March 7, Mountaineer Audubon is sponsoring a field trip to Cheat Lake in search of northbound waterfowl. The warmer temperatures and southerly winds have spurred birds to start moving; spring migration is here!
We will meet at 8am in the parking lot behind the Chestnut Ridge Church before heading out. Most of the morning's activities will involve driving between stops and minimal walking while we scope Cheat Lake. The exception is at Cheat Lake Park which is usually our last stop. There, we may walk up to a mile or so on flat well maintained trails depending on where the birds are.
Per usual, there will be no cost to attend and pre-registration is not required. But please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or questions. Dress for the weather, the trip will proceed as long as the roads are safe to drive.
I will try to be at Almost Heaven next to Chestnut Ridge Church around 7am if anyone wants breakfast or a caffeine fix before heading out.
I hope to see you all there! Have a great weekend!
Just stepped out on the porch and listened to the flight twitter of an American Woodcock and a hoo-aw from a Barred Owl Jim Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV
Plus a Pine Siskin and the usual Purple Finches and American Goldfinches, my first four-finch day in a long time! Photos at https://ebird.org/checklist/S303988461.
Date: 2/24/26 6:51 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Feb 23, 2026
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <do-not-reply...>wv
Date: Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Feb 23, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Summers, West Virginia, US
Feb 23, 2026 7:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 19 degrees, 3" new snow
25 species
Canada Goose 2
Mourning Dove 6
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 21
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 35
House Sparrow 2
House Finch 6
Purple Finch 5
American Goldfinch 57
Dark-eyed Junco 12
White-throated Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 38
Northern Cardinal 17
Date: 2/23/26 5:15 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Feb 22, 2026
Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <do-not-reply...>
Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Feb 22, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
Knob Ridge Road, Pipestem, WV, Summers, West Virginia, US
Feb 22, 2026 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 36 degrees, 2" of snow
33 species
Canada Goose 6
Mourning Dove 17
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 21
American Crow 7
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 11
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 37
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
House Sparrow 2
House Finch 15
Purple Finch 18
American Goldfinch 82
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 14
White-throated Sparrow 11
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 2
Red-winged Blackbird 41
Common Grackle 1
Northern Cardinal 24
It is always amazing and encouraging to see how animals cope with an injury. A few weeks ago, I noticed a Mourning dove with a fluff of feathers sticking up on its back. I assumed it was just some ruffled feathers until I saw it up close on the kitchen window tray. It had definitely been attacked by another animal. A week later, the wound is healing well. Its ability to fly was never impacted. On the same tray, a female Cardinal was perched on one leg. I kept watching her, wondering if she had only one leg. It turned out that her left leg was there but under her horizontally. It must have been broken at the joint in the past. She, too, has managed to overcome this handicap and is doing well. Saw her again today.
The other morning a Raven flew over us. I don't see them very often so I willed it to speak just to be sure. Bless his heart, he did, confirming my ID.
Yesterday afternoon, I checked out Bloomery Rd. There was a mix of Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese and two Black ducks on the Shenandoah. In the area of the falls, a flock of over 100 Ring-billed gulls come flying from upriver. Farther up there must have been around 300 more on the water. That's the most gulls I've ever seen. Another, bigger and tan gull Ianded in their midst. Consulting my Sibley, it was a first year Herring gull.
The only new bird our snow brought in was a female Purple finch. The first year White-crowned Sparrow is still here. I thought the Fox sparrow had left, but he showed up Friday to be included in the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The Brown Creeper has been here this afternoon, and I finally saw him eating suet. He went right by the cages before, apparently finding enough food in the bark crevices.
I finally took my Christmas tree down. It looks good on the patio with some snow and Goldfinches and White-throated sparrows foraging for the seeds I'd tossed at it.
Date: 2/20/26 5:27 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Bellepoint Park, Feb 19, 2026
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <do-not-reply...>
Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 4:55 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Bellepoint Park, Feb 19, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
Bellepoint Park, Summers, West Virginia, US
Feb 19, 2026 12:25 PM - 12:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: rain & fog and 50 degrees
17 species
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 7
Common Merganser 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 15
Mourning Dove 3
Great Blue Heron 5 1 in each of 4 nests, 5th bird feeding nearby
Bald Eagle 2 adult, immature
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 2
European Starling 16
American Robin 11
House Sparrow 22
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 3
