FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] no Cackling Goose at Harrison Rd. pond, northern Fauquier Co. (12/3)

[Scott Baron <brnpelican@xxxxxxxxx>]

I really enjoyed birding with the NVBC this morning at Blandy.  Before and 
after, I stopped by the Harrison Rd. pond area in Fauquier Co., hoping to spot 
the previously reported Cackling Goose that Todd Day found a few days ago.  I 
did not find it in a drive around the area (around 8am and 1:30pm).  I did find 
as many as 350 Canada Goose during my two visits.  No unusual birds were mixed 
in.  Other waterfowl: Gadwall, Am. Black Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser and 
Bufflehead.  Also noteworthy was a flock of 1000 Com. Grackle, 350 B.h. 
Cowbird, a couple of Savannah Sparrows, a flyover Purple Finch, 3 Bald Eagle, 2 
R.t. Hawk, an Am. Kestrel and a Sharp-shinned Hawk with a small mammal in its 
talons.  I may try this area again tomorrow.
   
  To reach this area, take I-66 to exit 31 (The Plains/Old Tavern).  Go south 
to Harrison Rd. (first road on right).  About a 1/2 mi. down the road on the 
right side is a pond in a farm field. Park as far off the road as possible, 
without getting in the way of tractors.
   
  Scott Baron
  Fairfax, Va.

MARC RIBAUDO <moribaudo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
          The Northern Virginia Bird Club visited Blandy Farm in Boyce, VA this 
morning, led by John Drummond and myself.  Highlights were a very cooperative 
loggerhead shrike, horned larks, red-breasted nuthatch, purple finch, and 
sparrows.  The shrike was seen in a field on the north side of the stretch of 
Rt. 628 that is part of the Loop Drive.  The field is overgrown, with a path 
and hedgerow along one side.  The bird was on a power line that runs over the 
hedgerow about 100 yards in from the road.  We were able to get pretty close, 
and everyone got great looks.  This field also had lots of sparrows, including 
numerous white-crowns, many of which were singing.  We found 47 species in all. 
 The complete list is presented below.
   
  Canada goose - 36
  black bulture - 2
  turkey vulture - 15
  sharp-shinned hawk - 1
  Cooper's hawk - 1
  red-tailed hawk - 3
  American kestrel - 2
  killdeer - 1
  rock pigeon - 40
  mourning dove - 25
  red-bellied woodpecker - 8
  yellow-bellied sapsucker - 4
  downy woodpecker - 12
  hair woodpecker - 1
  northern flicker - 10
  pileated woodpecker - 2
  horned lark - 21
  golden-crowned kinglet - 10
  cedar waxwing - 3
  carolina wren - 4
  northern mockingbird - 8
  eastern bluebird - 35
  hermit thrush - 2
  American robin - 35
  carolina chickadee - 8
  tufted titmouse - 2
  red-breasted nuthatch - 8
  white-breasted nuthatch - 5
  brown creeper - 4
  loggerhead shrike - 1
  blue jay - 10
  American crow - 15
  eu. starling - 25
  yellow-rumped warbler - 2
  eastern towhee - 1
  field sparrow - 2
  savannah sparrow - 2
  fox sparrow - 1
  song sparrow - 18
  swamp sparrow - 1
  white-crowned sparrow - 12
  white-throated sparrow - 25
  dark-eyed junco - 20
  northern cardinal - 18
  purple finch - 3
  house finch - 2
  American goldfinch - 25
   
  Marc Ribaudo
  Woodbridge, VA
   
  


                
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