Birders,
I managed to sneak away from Visitor Center duties for an hour today (11am
to noon) and check out the Bay View Trail. The woods were full of birdsong,
so much that I hardly knew where to look first! I'm sure I missed at least
half the species present. Lots of courtship activity going on, including
one noisy pair of CHIPPING SPARROWS mating. The highlight was a possible
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH seen toward the end of the trail. This thrush was a
very dull grayish brown, with sparse faint spots on the breast. I didn't
get as good a look as I'd have liked, thus the "possible." I also saw a
bright BALTIMORE ORIOLE singing at the edge of the marsh. A list of species
follows, including a few more heard on my drive into the park earlier in the
morning.
Don't forget the next Mason Neck SP bird walk, this Saturday from 9-11am.
It's free and requires no advance reservations. Show up at the Visitor
Center for a 9am start; we'll be on the Bay View Trail if you're late and
want to catch up with us. Remember a $4/car parking fee applies to all park
visitors. Hope to see you there!
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose (including one lone gosling)
Wood Duck
Mallard
Osprey
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray-cheeked Thrush (?)
Wood Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Prothonotary Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Northern Parula
Louisiana Waterthrush
Ovenbird
Northern Cardinal
Chipping Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
Good birding,
Jodi Bucknam
Park Interpreter
Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Rd.
Lorton, VA 22079
703-339-2380
mninterpreter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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