FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Waterfowl, etc at Hunting Cr mudflats, Frfx Co, 7/1/02

[KurtCapt87@xxxxxxx]

VA BIRDers,

Can't I fellow go away for a few days without a bunch of great species 
showing up?  Big sigh...  No avocets or ibis at the mudflats today.  But, 
with the obvious beginning of fall migration I thought it a good time to 
start the regular reports from this location.  This location in May yielded 
14 species of duck (and a Tundra Swan) and June was no slouch with 10 duck 
species noted (as well as PBG).  Of course, this year seems a tad odd with 
late waterfowl and so I am a bit optimistic for July.

I have recorded the high counts for today (morning and evening) and included 
a few other interesting observations.

DC Cormorant 57
Great Blue Heron 40 incl many birds-of-the-year, one of which was still 
sporting some downy feathers
Great Egret 13 (these were noted on 6/30, a slightly lower number was present 
this evening)
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night Heron 1, a really young bird with pale colors trying to 
be very inconspicous at the edge of the vegetation
Canada Goose 393
Wood Duck 8, incl 4 individuals from 2 different broods that were nearly 
adult-sized
Am. Black Duck 2, a pair that's been around for more than a week
Mallard 213, 5 or 6 broods of various ages noted
Ring-necked Duck 1, "Firestone"
Hooded Merganser 2, a male/female pair.  First time I have seen a male in 
July in No. VA.
Osprey 6, the backs of young birds in the nest could just be made out
Bald Eagle 1, adult
Killdeer 23, yesterday (6/30)
Least Sandpiper 1, late yesterday (6/30), first observation by me of this 
species in June in No. VA.
Laughing Gull 22
Ring-billed Gull 78
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Caspian Tern 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Chimney Swift 4+

Also noted were Yellow Warbler and Indigo Bunting at the golf course edge and 
Brown Thrasher on the apartment edge of the west side mudflats.

And Edna Aaron tells me of a Lesser Yellowlegs along Cameron Run late today 
(no reports since her computer ist krank).

Viewing was from the Stone Bridge of George Washington Parkway, about 1/2 
mile north of the Dyke Marsh picnic area and 1/8 mile south of the beltway as 
it leads to the Wilson Bridge crossing of the Potomac River.

Kurt Gaskill

PS: adult and first year Yellow-crowned Night Heron flying near the boardwalk 
at Huntley Meadows this morning.



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