FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Huntley Meadows Monday Moring Walk

["Harry & Melitta Glasgow" <aglasgow@xxxxxxx>]

The Monday Bird Walk took place as usual at Huntley Meadows this morning with 
15 birders spotting 52 species.  Five of the six customary summer woodpeckers 
were noted, as well as 17 Wood Ducks, 20 Chimney Swifts, 3 Orchard Orioles, and 
over 50 American Robins.  Several Wood Thrushes were heard singing in the 
forest - a sound held by many to be among the most beautiful in nature, and one 
heard less and less at Huntley as the forest floor is increasingly covered by 
the invasive, Microstegium vimineum, or Japanese Stiltgrass.  It is speculated 
that stiltgrass has contributed to the habitat loss which has decreased the 
numbers of nesting Wood Thrushes at Huntley Meadows and other sites.

Canada Goose - 22
Wood Duck - 17
American Black Duck - 1
Mallard - 19
Hooded Merganser - 4
Great Blue Heron - 6
Green Heron - 4
Red Shouldered Hawk - 2
Killdeer - 1
Mourning Dove - 3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 4
Chimney Swift - 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Downy Woodpecker - 6
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 2
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 9
Eastern Wood Peewee - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 14
Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 2
Fish Crow - 1
Purple Martin - 5
Tree Swallow - 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2
Barn Swallow - 9
Carolina Chickadee - 13
Tufted Titmouse - 9
White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
Carolina Wren - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
Eastern Bluebird - 2
Wood Thrush - 5
American Robin - 50+
Gray Catbird - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Eastern Towwhee - 1
Northern Cardinal - 6
Indigo Bunting - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 30
Common Grackle - 6
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2
Orchard Oriole - 3
House Finch - 4
American Goldfinch - 9

The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since 
1985.  It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7 AM, is free of charge, 
requires no reservation, and is open to all.  Birders meet in the parking lot 
at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA.  For questions 
call the Park at (703) 768-2525.

Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park