VA BIRDers,
Rich Rieger, Kim Peacock, Linda Millington and myself went out for a bit of
birding today thinking the weather would be great. Well, it was chilly and a
breezy this morning but got better after noon. Yet, overall, it was a good
day. We were not really trying very hard but tallied 80 species for Northern
Virginia, not bad for February - up here, famed for its winter dolldrums of
birding! Highlights follow.
Neabsco Cr & Julie Metz: we started here on the north side at sunrise picking
up the first of several Wood Ducks. Both kinglets found in one spot near the
road. The south side gave us views of the gulls which netted a California
along with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. We met Marc Ribaudo whilst gulling and
then moved on to Metz, quickly finding the now regular Harris's Sparrow at the
monument (remember to bring an offering to the Metz!). Also present were
several Am. Tree Sparrows. Marc and I worked the nearby meadow but found as
notable only a single Fox Sparrow near the fence line. The others picked up a
Rusty Blackbird at the monument. Bald Eagle was ON.
The Great Marsh of Mason Neck: a fine group of 23 Greater Yellowlegs was the
highlight, many Tundras in the marsh. An adult and first winter Red-shouldered
Hawks were fine to observe plus another couple of Red-taileds. The river held
at least a couple dozen Common Mergansers and many distant scaup. Hermit
Thrush and Brown Creeper on the way in. Bald Eagle was ON.
Belmont Bay, MNSP: lots of Lesser Scaup (ca. 3000) and a few Ring-necked Ducks
and Canvasback mixed in. A couple dozen Buffleheads The Common Mergansers
numbered ca. 300.
Pohick Bay: Osprey! A welcome sight! Also three Ruddy Ducks and a couple
more Common Mergs.
Cedar Run Wetlands (private): A fine looking male No. Harrier was a great
treat. Several Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. A noisy rasperry
announced a hidden E. Meadowlark. Whilst scanning the vultures, two Tree
Swallows were spotted. The nearby woods held a couple of Red-headed WPs.
Elsewhere in the nearby Nokesville area one of us managed to conjure up a
single White-crowned Sparrow.
Manassas Strip Malls - the Red-necked Grebe still hung out with the many gulls,
Canada Geese, Hooded Mergansers, a Bufflehead, the single Am. Coot, and other
strange mutants on the pond. Near the battlefield, the single pond in the
business park held 18 Hooded Mergansers.
UOSA: the ponds here held 5 gorgeous Redheads - 4 were male. A great sight,
with near perfect lighting approx. one hour before sunset. A few more Com.
Mergs and Mallards plus our only Pied-billed Grebes of the day.
Bull Run PO Rd: We ran into Ron Staley and son out here where they reported a
couple of No. Harriers - we noted at least 3 Red-tails. As it got darker after
sunset we spotted 2 Wood Ducks flying over northwestbound - I guess this
species was making a northward movement today! The traditional field yielded
up a single Short-eared Owl in good light, but it appeared to cross the road
and go northwest. In the diminishing light, the Am. Woodcock began peenting:
at least 4 peenters and 2 could be heard displaying. I suspect several more
peenters were down in the area just north of the power lines as in years past.
Kurt Gaskill
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