Date: 8/3/26 4:28 pm From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Aug 3, 2026
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Date: Mon, Aug 3, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Aug 3, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Summers, West Virginia, US
Aug 3, 2026 2:58 PM - 3:53 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.75 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 81 degrees
14 species
Canada Goose 53
Mallard 6
Great Egret 3
Great Blue Heron 7
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 4 2 adults, 2 juveniles
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 3
Carolina Wren 1
American Goldfinch 3
Date: 8/2/26 7:49 am From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Aug 1, 2026
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From: <do-not-reply...>
Date: Sun, Aug 2, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Aug 1, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
Bluestone SP--Mouth of the Bluestone, Summers, West Virginia, US
Aug 1, 2026 1:35 PM - 2:13 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.75 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 82 degrees, cloudy
14 species
Canada Goose 2
Great Egret 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 14
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 6 1 adult, 1 sub-adult and 4 immatures.
We were surprised as well. We watched the birds for about 20 minutes. They
were circling, talon tagging and chasing each other in open sky with turkey
& black vultures, common ravens & an osprey for comparison. There are two
active nests within a mile and a half of this location. All six were in
view at the same time.
Earlier in the day, we saw another adult along New River about 10 miles
from this location.
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Common Raven 4
American Robin 4
Indigo Bunting 1
Date: 8/2/26 6:06 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: Dynamic duo
Yesterday's bird activity in the backyard was pretty slow. Lots of young Titmice and the usual assortment of Chickadees, Gray Catbirds, Chipping sparrows and woodpeckers.
About 4:00 PM I decided to take my book out to the patio just in case something different showed up. I was happy to see the female Towhee but when a male Tanager landed in the pedestal bath I couldn't believe my luck. AND he brought his mate along. Managed to get some cell phone shots, good enough to record the event. Sure made my day.
Since yesterday's temperatures were pleasant enough not to require AC, I had the front door open with just the screen/storm door. It allowed me to keep an eye on the nectar feeder out there. After a while I became aware of a male hummer in the tree about 15 feet away. He sat there for the longest time. Occasionally he would take off, only to return to the same general spot. Often he would be preening.
Today he is there again. I was wondering if he was keeping an eye on the feeder. That suspicion was confirmed when a female approached and he ran her off and then went back to his tree. I just checked and, sure enough, he's out there now. The two nectar feeders in the backyard are in constant use as well, by them and the Downies.
Date: 7/21/26 5:53 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: Turkey time
We were about ten minutes into our dogwalk this morning when it started to rain so we turned back. When I reached my driveway I spotted movement at the edge of my front lawn. It was two adult turkeys with 15 poults waddling behind them. So exciting! I'm assuming it was two hens with their offspring. Looked like two moms heading to the playground with their little ones.
While I was mowing the same area yesterday, I was followed by a little Flycatcher. At one point he was on a low branch no more than ten feet from me, just watching. Fun to make eye contact at that close range.
My split shepherds hook by the front door has the nectar feeder on one hook and a hanging basket with mini petunias on the other. When I watered it the other day a Carolina wren flew out. Sure enough, they had a nest right in the middle. Watering will have to be around the edge from now on.
Just watched a young squirrel pulling up little grass shoots from around the birdbath and eating them. I didn't think they ate grass. Guess it is safe, unlike some stressed iceberg lettuce.😉
Good evening! I stepped outside to close up my chickens and heard two Great Horned owlets calling from the woods across from the house. This year's calls match the begging calls on Merlin to a T. Glad to know that at least two have fledged!
Saw our first male Rubythroated hummingbird this evening. We've had at least two females fighting over the feeder for the last three weeks, so perhaps there is a nest nearby.
Date: 7/17/26 7:48 am From: Bob Dean <bobdean52...> Subject: WTSP
Good morning all,
I hope the heat and smoke are at least bearable. It’s pretty bad here in Plum Nelly.
Bruni’s post reminded me that I had a white-throated sparrow in the back yard on June 23rd. About 1/2 mile S of the WV line in Clear Brook, VA.
Bob Dean
Date: 7/12/26 12:45 pm From: James Phillips <jimandjudyphillips...> Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - New River Gorge NP--Madams Creek to Sandstone Falls (Summers Co.), Jul 12, 2026
Jim & Judy Phillips
Summers County
Pipestem, WV
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From: <do-not-reply...>
Date: Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 3:43 PM
Subject: eBird Report - New River Gorge NP--Madams Creek to Sandstone Falls
(Summers Co.), Jul 12, 2026
To: <jimandjudyphillips...>
New River Gorge NP--Madams Creek to Sandstone Falls (Summers Co.), Summers,
West Virginia, US
Jul 12, 2026 2:10 PM - 3:07 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 73 degrees, rain
Very large beaver roadkill upriver of Sandstone Falls.
States represented by cars in Sandstone Falls parking lot - WV, VA, OH, MI,
MD, NY, IN, TX, TN, PA & Washington D.C.
13 species
Canada Goose 150
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Bald Eagle 2 adults
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Wren 4
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 8
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Date: 7/12/26 10:47 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: Still here
Today is the fourth day for my special White-throated visitor. Lucky me. I see it on the feeder tray with other birds as well as around the birdbath.
This is the first time I've had a Hairy woodpecker here in the summer and feeding his offspring no less. It's always surprising that the juvenile woodpeckers are almost the size of their parents. Seeing both adult and young Downy woodpeckers at the Hummingbird feeder is nothing new. Once in a while a Red-bellied woodpecker also imbibes. Yesterday a young male RB waited for the hummingbird to finish, then hopped on the feeder and started sipping. They must watch their parents and copy them.
The deer damage this year has been really bad but watching all these young birds has been such a joy and made up for the plant damage. It's easy to spot the adult Great Crested Flycatcher but the young one is a bit trickier. It is smaller than the parent and it takes him flaring his tail to show off that lovely rust color.
Coming home yesterday I found a male Bluebird, male Indigo Bunting and a young Oriole sharing the bath. A little while ago it was the Indigo and the male Towhee.
I learned that one of the benefits of having wet grass or the rock that the pedestal bath sits on, is drawing the cool Snout butterfly. They love moisture. Tiny little Blue Azures also flock to the wet ground.
Just saw a White-spotted skipper nectaring on my spotted bebalm. Along comes a Snowberry Clearwing and literally knocks him off so he could nectar. What a yellow-backed bully!
Date: 7/9/26 7:07 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: What in the world?
Timing is everything, especially in birding. I could not believe my eyes when I saw a White-throated sparrow on the feeder tray, along with a female Housefinch. Did it miss the bus going north this spring?
Today happens to be the anniversary date that I became a US citizen many moons ago. The White-throated was a special gift.
We see a female several times daily, but never more than one at a time, so
we assume it’s the same one and that she’s nesting nearby. But most years
we don’t see many at all until mid-August when the juveniles are out and
about and migration is getting started.
Kathryn Henry
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County
On Tue, Jul 7, 2026 at 9:51 PM MFowler <monty...> wrote:
> We saw only our second Rubythroated hummingbird today, a female. It has
> never been this sparse in the 10 years we've been putting this feeder up.
>
> Monty Fowler
>
> Beverly Hills area, Huntington
>
>
>
Date: 7/6/26 10:18 am From: Bruni Haydl <bruni...> Subject: Do you bird when it's hot?
Most definitely. But I do it from the comfort of my air onditioned house. I sit in front of my big bedroom window and watch the activity at the birdbaths only 15 ft away. L The dripper in the pedestal bath really calls the birds in. Great to see three Great Cresteds, one of them a youngster. They were also chasing each other through the walnut trees. Indigo Buntings also love the water and came back repeatedly. Chipping sparrows, Bluebird families, Cardinals, both House and Carolina wrens, Catbirds and some Orioles. Even with fresh water dripping in, the 100+ temps of last week were just too much so I had to check occasionally and add some ice cubes.
Woodpeckers are still coming for suet, including the Red-headed. The male Red-bellied youngsters are starting to show just a hint of red on their head.
