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-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Gaskill [mailto:KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 9:55 PM
To: (va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Subject: "On Frozen Pond": Northern Fairfax Co on the Seneca CBC
VA BIRDers,
Carmen Bishop and I met Sunday morning (12/18/05) to help resolve the
question: "just how many species lie in the Northern Fairfax County area
during December?" Our target area was roughly between Riverbend Park and
Seneca Road - that is, the very northern portion of Fairfax County bordered
by the Potomac River and Georgetown Pike to the south and all part of the
Seneca CBC. The answer to the question? Hmm...not that many! Hindered by
99% of the ponds being frozen (except for one where the owner's fountain
kept it open) and empty stretches of the Potomac where we looked, our
waterfowl count was very poor (re: only Canada Goose and Mallard!). Yet,
the extensive hardwood forest along the Potomac, no matter how degraded by
nearby suburbia, still held the expected range of species. Plus, a few
wild, open areas, added to the mix. We tallied 50 species. Top sighting
was a Chipping Sparrow on the entrance road to one of the local golf clubs.
Our 9 hours (plus 47 car miles and 3.5 foot miles) of effort netted a
plethora of woodpeckers, a few Red-breasted Nuthatches (in Virginia Pine
groves near residences), many American Robins and Cedar Waxwings, a couple
of Eastern Towhees and Fox Sparrows, and overflying blackbirds. As the sun
set, we waited close to the river for a hawk or duck flight but saw nothing.
I hooted for about 10 minutes and a Barred Owl came in just before we left -
on a branch over the road 50 yards in front of the car and making a
wonderful ending to the day.
Carmen and I thank Kate and family for letting us onto their property.
The totals follow.
Kurt Gaskill
Canada Goose 145
Mallard 6
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Ring-billed Gull 30, all flying NW from the distant tidal Potomac in the
early morning
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 26
Barred Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied WP 30
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy WP 13
Hairy WP 4
No. Flicker 12
Pileated WP 6
Blue Jay 40
American Crow 50
Fish Crow 1
crow sp. 6
Carolina Chickadee 50
Tufted Titmouse 34
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 29 - Geez, I hope this doesn't push Seneca to the
top over Ft Belvoir for this species!
Brown Creeper 7
C. Wren 23
W. Wren 2
GC Kinglet 11
RC Kinglet 1
E. Bluebird 19
Hermit Thrush 4
Am. Robin 319
No. Mockingbird 7
E. Starling 345
Cedar Waxwing 139
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22
E. Towhee 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 5
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 56
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 132
DE Junco 28
No. Cardinal 42
Red-winged BB 16
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 8
Am. Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 6
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