Russell County

James Russell, for whom Russell County was named, may not have been a birder or naturalist. However, he undoubtedly was impressed with the beauty of its wide pastoral valleys bordered by steep mountains on all sides. Russell, an army officer in the Revolutionary War who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, settled here in the late 18th century.  Given the beauty of Russell County today, one can only imagine what wondrous flora and fauna an early pioneer could have witnessed then.

As of Janoary 2020, eBird lists 201 species of birds recorded in Russell County. From Lebanon, the county seat, one doesn’t have to travel far to find avian adventure. Cedar Creek, a popular trout stream near Lebanon, lends its waters to two kinds of anglers: Bald Eagles and Osprey frequently share this waterway with those who use rod and reel. American Black Ducks and Mallards are also a common sight here. Drive south on Route 658, and you’ll come to Green Valley at the base of Clinch Mountain, where a left turn on Route 657 will bring you to an area where Golden Eagles are frequent winter visitors. Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Grosbeak and Field Sparrow can be found here as well in the appropriate seasons. At this point, you’ll be in an area where humans are outnumbered by cattle, and both vulture species are abundant here, as are American Kestrels, and Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. A lucky visitor recently reported Bobolinks in this area, a species that hadn’t been seen for a few years in the county. Winter will sometimes bring Ross’s and Snow Geese, and less often, Greater White-fronted Geese in to congregate with the Canada Geese. Elk Garden Creek is a great place to find Hooded Mergansers, Green and Blue-winged Teal, along with the occasional Pied-billed Grebe during migration. Eventually, this route will bring you to State Route 80, where a right turn will take to you to Corn Valley, a beautiful place to view raptors. Here, birders have seen as many as six Golden Eagles in the air at once; Bald Eagles and buteos are common sights here too. Also in this general direction is Hayters Gap, where high-elevation specialties like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Least Flycatchers and Veeries are plentiful. Springtime mornings bring the beautiful symphony of Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, and the wood-warblers.  All of these and more will greet birders around nearly every turn.

Just a few miles north of Lebanon, also on Route 80, is the small town of Honaker. Near Honaker, the Little and Clinch Rivers converge. Route 641 winds through this sparsely populated area where traffic is light. This is a great place to drive slowly and search for Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Mallards and Pied-billed Grebes. A drive here in winter could possibly reward a lucky birder with views of all three species of mergansers. Equally exciting to naturalists is a recent report of a family of river otters along Route 641.

A short trip downstream is the community of Blackford where, at Slates Farm, the Russell County Bird Club holds the annual Redbud Festival bird walk in mid-April. It is a wonderful event where participants walk along an abandoned railway bed looking for early migrants such as Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated and Black-throated Green Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, along with residents like Eastern Bluebird and Northern Mockingbird. Sparrows —including Eastern Towhee, Song and Field—can all be seen in ubiquity along this path. It is not unusual to find pairs of Wood Ducks checking cavities for nest sites in the sycamore trees along the river. Also, the early spring timing of this walk provides prime opportunity to see some of Appalachia’s spring flora. With little effort, one can find trillium, geranium, columbine, trout lily and bloodroot growing along the trail.

Clifton Farm Road, a portion of which is a large working cattle operation, should be one’s next stop while birding Russell County. Driving the five-mile gravel road is an almost Safari-like experience. Cattle, White-tailed Deer, Skunks, Bobcats, Fox Squirrels and Coyotes are common sites in the unfenced pastures along this road. Avian delights are many with Common Ravens, Northern Harriers, Golden Eagles, Merlins, American Kestrels, Loggerhead Shrikes and Red-headed Woodpeckers among the highlights. Winter brings some migrant passerines as well. Flocks of White-crowned, Field, Swamp, Song and White-throated Sparrows are common around the thickets and tiny marshes along this road. A pair of Bald Eagles nest in this area and one or both is nearly always visible to the sharp-eyed birder.

Travel south from Lebanon on US Rte. 19 and with a good GPS you can find Mendota. Here, local birders gather every fall at the Mendota Fire Tower for the annual Hawk Watch. Amongst the constant stream of southbound Broad-winged Hawks and other common buteos, birders have spotted rarities like Swainson’s Hawk and Northern Goshawk.  

Russell County offers much more to the outdoor enthusiasts than just birding. Hikers will enjoy the trail at Hayters Gap on Rte. 80 that leads to a unique geologic formation called the Channels. A few miles from Lebanon, near Cleveland, is the popular Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, where trails lead hikers along sheer limestone cliffs and rocky bluffs to spectacular views of waterfalls and the towering pinnacle rock formation for which it is named. The TransAmerica bicycle trail follows Route 80 across Russell County and weary bikers are welcomed to have a hot shower and a night’s rest in the Elk Garden United Methodist Church hostel.

For info about VDGIF’s Loggerhead Shrike banding program: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/blog/whats-going-on-with-the-butcher-bird/

Information on Russell County tourism:  www.experiencerussell.com

—Daryl Owens

Hotspots

Bird Clubs

The Russell County Bird Club currently shares a joint Facebook page with the Buchanan County Bird Club: Buchanan/Russell County Bird Club Facebook.