On my daily walk from Vint Hill to Lake Brittle, I saw my first BROWN
THRASHER of the year, my lifer HORNED GREBE, along with RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, KILLDEER, and EASTERN PHOEBE.
The two HORNED GREBEs were on Lake Brittle between the fishing pier and the
boat launch. It was a great lifer because they were so close and
cooperative. One was an adult in glorious breeding/alternate plumage, but
the other must have just started to molt out of winter/basic plumage. The
latter had a darker neck and paler eyes. It actually looked more like the
1st Fall juvenile in the Sibley guide, but it is now a couple of seasons too
late for that. Feel free to let me know if it's not too late for juveniles
to accompany adults.
The KILLDEERs were in the field next to my office building on Kennedy Road.
The BROWN THRASHER was in the brushy ditch across from the new childcare
center. The PHOEBEs were finally singing fee-BEE!
I also saw the usual woodland suspects including noisy RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS
and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.
Greg Beck
Fairfax, VA
www.fairfaxbirding.com
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