[va-bird] Dickcissels in Fauquier Co, 6/15/02

VA BIRDers,

After visiting the Possum Pt Rd area, I went for a short drive into the 
piedmont looking for Dickcissels (this was the first chance I had gotten).  
Driving on Dumfries Rd (234, DeLorme p. 76, D1 and D2) I turned right at 
Independent Hill onto Aden Rd (646).  I then cut across MBQuantico as the 
lightly traveled and forested road is always a pleasant interlude.  I came 
out on Fleetwood Rd 611 which then passes into Fauquier Co; a sharp right 
turn is Soweto Road (611).  Across from the mini-airplane hangers is a nice 
field somewhat rich in herbaceous content - it was a turf farm last year and 
had Horned Larks on it for several months earlier this year.  

I arrived at the Soweto location at about 1030.  At least 2 Dickcissels were 
calling from this location as well as the usual Grasshopper Sparrows and 
Meadowlarks.

I continued on towards Elk Run Rd (806) and beyond looking for appropriate 
habitat.  I sampled about 5 other likely locations and the last yielded up at 
least 3 singing Dickcissels.  This was on Bristersburg Rd (619), south of 
Calverton and southeast of Licking Run (DeLorme, p. 75, C7). There is a 
little community there, go eastbound and you can see a field rich in 
herbaceous content between you and the line of trees defining Licking Run.  
This area also has an Am. Kestrel pair using a nest box along the nearby 
private road.

Kurt Gaskill


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