FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Waterfowl in No. VA, 3/5/06

["Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

VA BIRDers,

 

I spent a good portion of the day viewing waterfowl on the Potomac and
nearby bays. I started at Pohick Bay (Fairfax Co), then the Occoquan marina
near the mouth of the Occoquan River (Fairfax/Pr Wm Co), and then a few
select spots near Veteran's Park in Woodbridge (Pr Wm Co).  I moved south to
the Neabsco Creek area and then a quick stop to look at Powell's Creek (both
Pr Wm Co).  Thence to Quantico Creek via Possum Point Rd (Pr Wm Co).  I
ended at Aquia Landing, the SP land that juts out south between Aquia Creek
and the Potomac in Stafford Co.   I skipped Ococquan Bay since I was sure it
would be covered by folks birding the Occoquan Bay NWR!   The wind was
strong this morning from the west and made viewing difficult, esp. at Pohick
Bay.  The wind lessened a bit and it got warmer near early-afternoon at
Aquia Cr.

 

Pohick Bay had fine diversity with 15 duck species yet Aquia with 10 species
had fine numbers of several species not present elsewhere.  The grand totals
are below with a few notes.

 

C. Goose 104 - the big numbers seem to be gone as this species is migrating
north

Mute Swan - 14, only at Aquia Creek

Tundra Swan - 54

Wood Duck - 3 only at Quantico Cr

Gadwall - 216 - nearly 200 staging at Aquia

Am.Wigeon - 4

Am. Black Duck - 520

Mallard - 532

Northern Shoveler -2, only at Quantico

Northern Pintail - 106, most on Quantico in a single group, the late date
for this species is in 4 weeks.

Green-winged Teal - 26

Canvasback - 26, all at Aquia

Redhead - 31

Ring-necked Duck - 150

Lesser Scaup - 1260

Bufflehead - 56

Hooded Merganser - 14

Common Merganser - 320, Pohick and the mouth of the Occ. River

Red-breasted Merganser - 18

Ruddy Duck - 21

Pied-billed Grebe - 27, nearly all at Aquia

DC Cormorant - 6, Aquia

Bald Eagle - 17

American Coot - 1460, all staging at Aquia

 

In the passerine department, notables were Red-breasted Nuthatch at Possum
Pt Rd, Winter Wren at Aquia, and Gray Catbird at Aquia.

 

Kurt Gaskill