FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: A creeperpalooza

[LMarkoff <canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello VAbirders,

>This morning in White Oaks Park in Fairfax County, I stumbled across a mixed
>flock of 9 birds -- 4 of them creepers!  I don't think I've ever seen more
>than two creepers at once before.  It seemed like every tree I looked at 
>had a
>creeper or two.  They were much more active than typical creepers, often 
>flying
>rapidly around the tree like a moth spiraling around a light.
>Elsewhere in the park I had my first gnatcatcher of the year.
>
>Ben Jesup
>Alexandria


It sounds like their hormones are raging as they head north to their 
breeding grounds.  When we see Creepers here in winter they are usually 
solitary and quiet, but on their breeding grounds they are a boisterous 
bunch.  One of my favorite birding memories is when I happened upon a troop 
of about 8 of the noisy rascals as I birded along a road going over Owl 
Creek Pass in Colorado, 10,000+' elevation.  They were all around me but 
took no notice of me for they were chattering away at each other and 
flitting around tree trunks and zipping all over the place.  Oh the looks I 
got of them, what a treat!

Glad you got to see them too!

Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx


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