The highlight of our trip to Gunston Cove/Accotink Bay (as always, Fort Belvoir
side) this morning was a set of 16 Horned Grebes in the cove, south of the
dilapidated pier near the fuel cell research facility on Johnson Road.
Large numbers of American Coot (at least 500) and Lesser Scaup (roughly 300)
were visible in Gunston Cove just south of Accotink Bay. Mixed among them were
at least 20 Canvasback, a few (at least 3) pair of Common Mergansers, a pair of
Red-Breasted Mergansers, one female Hooded Merganser, a few Bufflehead, a few
Ring-Necked Ducks, and one Pied-Billed Grebe. About 130 Ruddy Ducks rested
along the western edge of Accotink Bay. A solitary Tundra Swan slept nearby.
Black Ducks (about 40 visible) dominated the north end of Accotink Bay.
Karen found a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers motionless and high in the trees
along the northeastern edge of the bay.
We watched a Bald Eagle force an Osprey to drop its fish, then, while fighting
off the hit-and-run attacks of two Osprey, retrieve the fish from the water and
make its escape. Eastern Bluebirds, Chipping Sparrows, White-Throated
Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, Tree Swallows, Great Blue
Herons (5), Common Grackles, Canada Geese, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens,
Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds, Fish Crows, American Crows, Ring-Billed
Gulls, Blue Jays, Dark-Eyed Juncos, House Finch, and Tufted Titmice were also
observed.
Rick and Karen Jones
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