FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Amazing Day in Northern Virginia

[Jay Keller <azure.jay2006@xxxxxxxxx>]

VA-Birders,
   
  Today was perhaps the most fun I have ever had while birding in the US.  It 
wasn't record-setting in any way (115 species), but it was thoroughly enjoyable 
from the start (at 5:30 AM) to the finish (at 5:30 PM) - all of this despite 
periods of annoying rain.
   
  I started at Belmont Bay marina, where I scored a few shorebirds and 
passerines with night flight calls.  At first light, I looked up and noticed a 
cloud of hundreds of birds heading my way.  I quickly realized that they were 
almost all Laughing Gulls.  Over the next hour, I counted about 4,700 of them 
as they headed toward the sea.  Amazing how they all found each other after 
being displaced.
   
  On to Occoquan Bay NWR where I intended to do a bay watch from the gazebo on 
the hill near Fox Rd.  First bird was a fly-by WILLET, my first for Prince Wm 
Co.  After about an hour, I noticed 3 dark-ish terns coming toward me from the 
NW.  I assumed them to be Black Terns, but when they got close I was thrilled 
to find that they were three adult BRIDLED TERNS, their forked tails plainly 
evident - appearing more white than what is depicted in Sibley.  Other good 
birds here included 2 LEAST BITTERNS, 2 KING RAILS (one meandering aimlessly at 
8 feet!), 2 BLACK TERNS, 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 65 BOBOLINKS, and 4 RUDDY 
DUCKS loafing in the water.
   
  Next stop, Possum Point (Dumfries, Pr Wm Co).  I was here for the open water 
areas along the creek, but I ended up weaving in migrant stops as well.  It was 
really amazing, with tons of birds around at every stop.  Here I found my 
second SHARP-SHINNED HAWK of the morning and my first COOPER'S HAWK, and noting 
that the storm must have pushed a lot of accipiters around.  A first for the 
point for me was a bellowing KING RAIL from the marsh.  My first PW Co 
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (likely hendersoni) was foraging around the ash pond, 
with the 3 common Tringa.  Another ROYAL TERN flew overhead.  I witnessed a 
family of 5 SUMMER TANAGERS with parent feeding young.  I heard my first Fall 
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.  Flycatchers included:
   
  Eastern Wood-Pewee     18
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher     2
Acadian Flycatcher     3
Willow Flycatcher     1 (Whit!)
  Traill's Flycatcher  2 (one possibly sounding like Alder, other silent)
Eastern Phoebe     1
Great Crested Flycatcher     5
Eastern Kingbird     5

  Next stop was Huntley Meadows, where the highlight were two RED-NECKED 
PHALAROPES, a SNOWY EGRET, and 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
   
  After Huntley, I wanted to do another river watch so I went to Dyke Marsh, 
Fairfax Co.  I was there for about 45 minutes when I spotted a dark tern flying 
upriver.  It wasn't very far out and I could tell that it was certainly not a 
Black Tern, and noted the forked tail with white outer webs and pale white 
underside and underwings.  Never in my wildest imagination would I expect a 
SOOTY TERN in northern VA, but there it was.  It flew over to investigate the 
SAV briefly off the stone bridge and continued on.  In about another hour, I 
noticed a familiar sight as a small bird with a white rump coursed low over the 
water, barely flapping its wings for long periods and kneading the water's 
surface with its feet.  The WILSON'S STORM-PETREL offered extended views as it 
coursed back and forth across the river.  A couple who had just moved from CA 
were impressed when I showed them in the scope and explained the bird's usual 
habitat!
   
  It was a very fine end to a great day in the field.  I look forward to 
sitting along the river again tomorrow to see what else shows up.  Most of the 
pelagic birds seemed to be heading upriver today (except for the Bridleds), so 
I assume they must turn around at some point.  I'm already amazed that we saw 
what we did.  Some folks in Maryland at Violette's Locke also saw Sooty Terns, 
as well as a Pomarine Jaeger and other goodies, so perhaps we have a few more 
discoveries in store for the coming days.
   
  Great Birding!
   
  Jay Keller,
  Arlington
   
   

                
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