Was out most of this spectacular day (Saturday
AM, May 6) exploring the Difficult Run watershed
in Oakton between Jermantown Rd and Lawyers Road
for the survey organized by Kurt Gaskill. Had no
students with me this time since they were all
taking SATs. Most of the area covered is in FCPA
parks OakMarr and Difficult Run Stream Valley.
Today this (CCT) trail, which rarely has anyone,
was full of walkers, joggers, and bikers since
there was an FCPA event on this trail.
I was out from about 6:30 to 4:30 with an hour
break for lunch. Wind picked up after noon making
hearing more difficult, and the birds were also
less vocal then because of time of day.
Highlight was a beautiful Lincoln's Sparrow in
the thickety field that used to be a beaver pond
near Samaga Road. I was able to watch him for
several minutes from less than 20 feet away as he
chipped distinctively, raised his crown, and gave
me great views from all angles.
Also had wonderful views of black-throated blue,
worm-eating, black-throated green,
chestnut-sided, and bay-breasted warblers.
Totals for this 6-8 mile hike (round trip) are
below.
WARBLERS (19 species)
yellow-rumped 26
black-throated blue 13
black-throated green 12
common yellowthroat 10
chestnut-sided 4
bay-breasted 2
blackburnian 2
tennessee 4
nashville 2
canada 1
ovenbird 4
lousiana waterthrush 4 (and 1 waterthrush sp)
worm-eating 2
cerulean 1 (only my 2nd in the county I think;
the woods where I saw the first is now
townhouses)
magnolia 1
American redstart 2
northern parula 10
black-and-white 5
pine 1
surprisingly no yellow
VIREOS
white-eyed 3
red-eyed 37
surprisingly no yellow-throateds
FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Kingbird 3 pair
Eastern Phoebe 2 in 2 locations
Great Crested 11 in 10 locations
Acadian 3 in 3 locations, most aren't back yet.
no pewees here yet
THRUSHES
Wood 9 in 9 locations
Swainson's 1 singing beautifully
Robin about 30
Bluebird 4 pair
MIMIDAE
catbird 5 in 3 locations
mockingbird 4
WRENS
house 1
carolina 37 (and 5 fledglings)
TANAGERS AND ORIOLES
scarlet tanager 6 in 6 locations
orchard oriole 1 pair, + 1
baltimore oriole 2
SPARROWS
song 5
chipping 12
white-throated 32 in 4 locations
savannah 1
lincoln's 1
towhee 6 in 6 locations
FINCHES/BUNTINGS/GROSBEAKS
purple 1
house 5
gold 25
indigo bunting 1
cardinal 63
CUCKOOS AND DOVES
black-billed 1
yellow-billed 1
mourning dove 9 in 9 locations
WOODPECKERS
red-bellied 32
hairy 8
downy 7
flicker 5
pileated 4
SWALLOWS
tree 2
barn 3
WATERFOWL
canada goose 5 pair
mallard 1 male and 1 pair
wood duck 1 pair and 3 males
HAWKS
red-tailed 1
red-shouldered 5
MISC OTHERS
ruby-crowned kinglet 2
blue-gray gnatcatcher 22 in 17 locations
cedar waxwing 1 flock of 14
chimney swift 4
white-breasted nuthatch 7
carolina chickadee 37
tufted titmouse 37
grackle 20
cowbird 18
blue jay 14
american crow 16
turkey vulture 3
starling 10
house sparrow 6
MAMMALS
chipmunk 6
gray squirrel 48
white-tailed deer 29
raccoon 1
AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES
american toad: 1 singing, thousands of tadpoles
pickerel frog: 1 singing
cope's gray tree frog: 2 singing
green frog: 1 singing
wood frog: one pool with scores of tadpoles
unidentified frogs leaping into pools/streams:
~20
five-lined skink 2
surprised by no box turtles
Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
