Hola,
I took a look at the pond on Harrison Road this evening around six-thirty
and lucked into an American Bittern working a short stretch of shore that is in
view from the road. Nothing but dumb luck, as ten minutes later it has
moved around a point, and I would have missed it. This was my first American
Bittern in Fauquier, and the timing is odd enough that I don't have a good
guess
as to what it's doing there. They usually don't start moving until about a
month from now, and there's been no evidence of them breeding on the piedmont.
Lots of Bobolinks out there, maybe 150 or so. All six of our regular
swallow species were there, in a flock of about 300 birds, and all except the
Purple Martin, perched on the wires giving great looks. Two Common Nighthawks
flew over, and a stream of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles heading
into the cornfield.
The pond here and the one on Belvoir Road aren't looking great for
shorebirds right now. They've never been stellar, but often there's enough of
a muddy
edge to pick a few out. Right now the water level is pretty high.
Cheers,
Todd
----------------------------------------
Todd Michael Day
Jeffersonton, Virginia, USA
BlkVulture@xxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
