----- Original Message -----
From: ALDEN HINCKLEY
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 1:55 PM
To: VA-Bird
Cc: FAS
Subject: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Seeking to take advantage of Occoquan Bay's interim hours (April-May,
Thursday-Sunday, 7am-7pm), I showed up at the gate 7:50 am this
morning, Friday May 24th, only to find it closed. Two quick phone calls
and the gate opened, as if by magic! Or, perhaps I set off a sensor, peering
in ever so hopefully. Anyway, I had a wonderful 2 hours, with the place
all to myself.
Species seen (and heard):
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Osprey (nest near Deephole Point)
Bald Eagle
Least Sandpiper (at pond where buildings used to be)
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
N. Flicker
E. Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
E. Bluebird
American Robin
N. Mockingbird
Starling
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (really common!)
Yellow-breasted Chat (first of year for me)
N. Cardinals
Towhee
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
E. Meadowlark (another first of year)
Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird (only one pair, hooray!)
Baltimore Oriole
Goldfinch
House Finch
I was surprised not to see Prothonotary Warblers, Redstarts, or Indigo Buntings.
Since the authorized route does not include deep woods, I was not surprised
to miss Acadian Flycatchers, Wood Thrushes, or N. Parulas.
Dex Hinckley
703-354-1342
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