[va-bird] Manassas CBC

VA BIRDers,

I helped out with the neighborhood Manassas CBC today (especially important 
given the increasing urbanization of this area) to learn more about winter 
birds in Western Fairfax Co. and had a great time, esp. considering the fine 
December weather we had!  We saw not one, but 3 reddish-type of bats (reddish 
backs, dark and pale wings - the latter probably due to translucence, fairly 
straight flight style, occ. loops, shallow spotted-sandpiper-ish wing beats, 
and limited foraging range) and one Clouded Sulfer Butterfly.

I started off with noctural birding mainly along Pleasant Valley Rd.  I 
tallied a few Wild Turkeys, a couple of Eastern Screech Owls, several Barred 
and Great Horned Owls, and a Saw-whet Owl.  I viewed the breaking dawn south 
of Cox Farm and heard a flying Am. Woodcock (as well as one of the Great 
Horned pairs still dueling) and spotted or heard many interesting birds 
including an E. Towhee as the sun broke the horizon.

I met up with Jack Dent, Charles Smith, Leon Nawojchik, Deblyn Flack and 
Chris Dismukes for a bit of birding at E. Lawrence Park off of Rt 28. Here, 
Leon found a Blue-headed Vireo, although the rest of the party initially 
missed it.  After much pishing, the Blue-headed appeared again and we all got 
great looks at it - it appeared to be a HY bird. A great December find for No 
VA!

Charles, Leon and I then struck out to other nearby locations along Pleasant 
Valley Rd and found a few Fox Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlark and a small group 
of No. Bobwhite - not always easy to find anymore up here.   We also 
encountered most of the other common woodland and edge birds.  After noon, I 
paired up with David Dantzler and we hit a few more spots finding Common 
Raven (likely also observed by Carolyn Williams earlier in the day), great 
looks at Savannah Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow.

As the day drew to a close, we stopped at the Bull Run Post Office Rd 
Short-eared Owl site meeting up with Carolyn. We got a brief look at a 
Short-eared as it dropped between junipers near the steel towers.

We ended the day with about 60 species - pretty good considering the only 
waterfowl we recorded was Canada Goose (and a couple of non-Canada's too!).  
A fine day on Fairfax County's piedmont!

Kurt Gaskilll


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