BIRD Watching-With somewhat overcast skies, the job of birders like Jim Keighton (left) was definitely made more difficult. Keighton and others were taking part in the annual Christmas Bird Count, which typically is held here the last week in December. Above is a view from the Mahogany Rock overlook, one of the places where birders stopped to record what species of bird were seen. Keighton said the crow was again the most common bird seen. More rare species, like the Saw-whet Owl recorded in 2000 and the Wilson's Snipe seen in 1999 were not spotted this year. Keighton recorded sighting 507 birds of 30 different species during the count.

Annual Christmas bird count is held on Blue Ridge Parkway

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held Dec. 30, 2006 in the Stone Mountain area of Alleghany County. The location of the count is a circle 15 miles in diameter and is centered at the intersection of Traphill Road and John P. Frank Parkway.

Alleghany resident Jim Keighton, who is one of the event's organizers, said his part of the count circle included the northern edge of the circle along the Blue Ridge Parkway (from about Milepost 230 to Air Bellows at about Milepost 237 including Mahogany Rock Overlook and Bullhead Mountain) through the Cherry Lane area to Roaring Gap. His area of observation also included Lake Louise, which is located along U.S. 21 at the entrances to Old Beau and the Roaring Gap Club. The count in the Stone Mountain area has taken place since 1993.

During his observation, Keighton stated he found 507 birds of 30 different species, ranging from water birds to smaller birds.

"Predictably the most common bird spotted in my section of the count circle was the American Crow (92) followed closely by Dark-eyed Juncos (81)—which don't all retreat from the cold ridge tops in winter — and European Starlings (65)," Keighton said. "Among the most interesting were a flock of 32 Cedar Waxwings and a large flock of 37 Mourning Doves."

Keighton continued, "On this year's count I did not find any rarer species, like the Saw-whet Owl I found in 2000 or the Wilson's Snipe I found in 1999; and several species I usually find in this area of the count circle, like Golden-crowned Kinglets, Pine Siskens, Purple Finches and several woodpecker and sparrow species, I could not locate this time. Probably other teams counting in other sections of the circle found all but the rarer of these missing birds."

Keighton commented he has counted birds in the Stone Mountain area for seven years and added the total count for the whole circle typically includes 45 to 60 species and 500 to 3,000 birds.

The Stone Mountain CBC, along with other local bird counts are sponsored by the Blue Ridge Birders, a bird club joining Alleghany, Ashe County, NC and Grayson, and Carroll County, Va. participants in bird counts.

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