Hello VA-Birders:
Yesterday in the midafternoon I spent about 45 minutes in the parking lot at
the Groveton Road entrance to the Stuart's Hill restoration area in the
southwest section of Manassas National Battlefield Park. I had hoped to see
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and was delighted when two of them, braving the blazing
sun and heat , flew up from the grass on the north side of the parking lot and
perched for several minutes on tall weeds, giving me nice looks through my
scope. One was singing constantly, though I couldn't hear him at all over
construction noise from nearby I-66.
Barn Swallows--two dozen or so-- were everywhere: sweeping over the fields,
lounging on picnic tables, and standing in large groups on the pavement of the
parking lot. Several Red-winged Blackbirds and a family of Indigo Buntings
were also about.
Dorothy Tella
McLean, VA
