Hello Everyone,
The birding in the northern Virginia area continues to produce. It seems
like the recent winds blew in some great birds. I started early this AM owling
in the Lorton area and later searching for sparrows, then moved to Belmont Bay,
followed by Occoquan Bay NWR, and finally back to Lorton for hawks. 84 species
were recorded, and highlights are below for each location.
LORTON AREA:
I started at 5:45 at the (closed) gate at Sandy Run Park near Lorton (Van
Thompson Rd). I got out of my car and immediately heard a BARRED OWL. After a
fair amount of prompting, I was elated to hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL from not
too far away. This is my first Saw-whet away from the mountains. It gave the
rather emphatic "twoot twoot twoot twoot" in rapid succession, not the breeding
"toots" which are delivered more slowly & calmly. This can be heard on the
Stokes CD following the "toots" recording. Waiting for the Saw-whet to
vocalize again, I heard two GREAT HORNED OWLS join in.
I later visited a couple of spots that have been productive for sparrows and
other passerines in the past, and one of them is a pull-off along Furnace Rd.
It delivered with the following highlights: BROWN THRASHER, and sparrows
including TOWHEE, CHIPPING, FIELD, SAVANNAH, SONG, LINCOLN'S (singing),
WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED (singing) & JUNCO. Another (permission-only)
area held many of the above plus SWAMP, as well as a few EASTERN MEADOWLARKS.
BELMONT BAY:
The overlook at Belmont Bay was decent, and there are now several little silt
bars out in the water where gulls can loaf. Among the usuals were 10
BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Ducks included BLACK, MALLARD, N SHOVELER, and a female
BUFFLEHEAD. At least five AMERICAN PIPITS flew over in a group. Also there
were more than a dozen PIED-BILLED GREBES.
OCCOQUAN BAY NWR:
The floodgates floweth! Lots of birds here today, and some really special
finds. I added WOOD DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL (flock of 12), LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY
DUCK, and RING-NECKED DUCK to the waterfowl list.
The best bird of the day came not long after my arrival, which was an
overflying YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, my first for VA. I heard this rather
unique call note being repeated over my head, and when I got the bins on the
culprit I was amazed at what I found, the yellow throat and breast standing out
against the otherwise dark brown bird.
Also along Bayview, I found a worn adult VESPER SPARROW as well as other
sparrows that might be expected. Amid a small flock of Goldfinches was a
calling PINE SISKIN that I also was able to get on. Along Easy Rd I found a
bright (but streaky-breasted) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Amazingly, along the
segment of Deephole Point Rd between Easy and Fox Rds, a late drab CAPE MAY
WARBLER dropped into a small tree and called profusely for a couple of minutes
before continuing south. Other goodies included a HORNED GREBE, MERLIN, BROWN
THRASHER, CATBIRD, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD (35+).
LORTON (again):
Still wanting more, I headed for the Lorton area again, this time near the
intersection of Lorton Rd and Furnace Rd. I added to my day's raptor list by
finding HARRIER, COOPER'S, SHARP-SHINNED, RED-TAILED, and RED-SHOULDERED. I
missed Kestrel today, somehow. After this at Occoquan Regional Park, I added a
BROWN CREEPER and a few others before calling it a morning. Needless to say, I
had a blast today.
Take Care,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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