Alleghany County

The mountains of Alleghany County run in long, parallel ridgelines in a northeast to southwesterly direction. The ridges are not very elevated—ranging from 2800-3800 feet above sea level with knobs that extend higher—but appear much taller because the valleys between them are significantly lower in elevation. For the most part, these valleys are narrow, and do not provide much room for farming or other land use. As a result, Alleghany County is mostly covered in forest. In fact, 140,361 acres—over half of the land area in the county—is managed by the George Washington National Forest.

Despite its mountainous terrain, high-elevation birds (for Virginia) usually do not breed in the county. Notable exceptions are Red-breasted Nuthatches and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. A 2007 survey located breeding Golden-winged Warblers, but unfortunately, there have been no recent sightings. Mid-elevation woodland warblers, however, are abundant. Roll down your window on just about any mountain road in the Spring and you will hear Worm-eating Warblers, Black-throated Greens, Ceruleans, and Ovenbirds. Black-throated Blue Warblers are less frequent. Blackburnians breed in Rucker Gap, which is on the border with West Virginia in the northwestern part of the county.

A favorite place to bird in Alleghany County is Lake Moomaw, which is the second largest reservoir in western Virginia. On cold winter days, you may have the lake all to yourself. Common Merganser is reliable here, while Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, and Red-breasted Merganser have all been seen in recent years. Bald Eagles breed on the lake, and an occasional Golden Eagle might show up. Despite its large size, not many gulls visit. Moreover, mud flats do not develop when the reservoir gets low—so Lake Moomaw is not a good spot for shorebirds. The shoreline around Cole's Point is wooded and can be good for Spring and Fall warbler migration.

A great way to explore the county’s most significant river valley is the Jackson River Scenic Trail. Baltimore and Orchard Orioles are common. Warbling Vireos and Yellow Warblers may also be spotted. Above Natural Well, mud sometimes forms in a cow pond across the river. This might be the best place for shorebirds in the county. A scope is usually necessary to get a good view.

Although there is suitable habitat in the valleys, “field birds” are not well represented. Eastern Meadowlarks are present but not common. Grasshopper Sparrows breed only near Sweet Chalybeate. Bobolinks do not breed here. Winter species present in the nearby Shenandoah Valley and Greenbrier Valley, such as Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs, rarely show.

If you are fan of Common Ravens, a hidden treasure is the Peter’s Mountain Landfill, located on Rumsey Road. Ruffed Grouse are making a comeback in the county, but are not as common here as they are in neighboring Bath County.

A special note about chickadees. Alleghany County is squarely in the “hybrid zone” of Black-Capped and Carolina Chickadees. Most birds should be identified as “Carolina/Black-capped.”

—Brad Wood

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