[va-bird] More April Craziness, No VA, 4/27/03

VA BIRDers,

Kim Peakcock and I got together Sunday to do a full day of birding in 
Northern Virginia.  We recorded 133 species and the day's highlight was 
either the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that has been eluding me at Huntley 
Meadows for the last month or the pleasantly early(ish) Summer Tanager at 
Leesylvania SP.  Some species groups totals were: waterfowl (loons thru 
herons to ducks) 22 species, all the typical hawks save No. Harrier were 
accounted, shorebirds totaled 7 species; larids 7 species. Four vireo and 17 
warbler species were noted.  And 9 sparrow species were found.

We started off at Quantico for night birds netting the whips and the big owls 
as well as the usual Pine Warblers, Brown Thrashers, Wild Turkeys, etc. which 
spoke up as dawn became apparent.  One Ovenbird did a portion of its long 
song.  We then moved into the Possum Pt area, where we met Marc Ribaudo.  
Many migrants were netted at this location including the only Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo, Northern Waterthrush, and Yellow-breasted Chat we encountered; also 
noted were Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, and Belted 
Kingfisher.  Afterwards, we spent some time rail hunting at Julie Metz (not 
successfully!) but did catch the American Bittern take off and guided others 
nearby to its flight.  We then moved on to Leesylvania SP where the 
highlights were finding the singing Summer Tanager and the late Junco.  
Parting with Marc, we then drove to Mason Neck SP and birded the overlook 
area finding the expected Boneparte's Gulls and Prothonotary Warbler plus 
Ruddy Ducks, another Belted Kingfisher and more Lesser Scaup.  We drove, 
unproductively, through Lorton, and headed for the Dyke Marsh/Hunting Creek 
Bay area; at the latter finding only the Tundra Swan and 3 additional Greater 
Yellowlegs.

We moved onto Monticello Park finding it very much quiet, save for a few of 
the common birds.  One non-calling Ovenbird was pretty much the highlight.  
Dejected, we threw ourselves into the car and drove west to North Fork 
Wetlands (access kindly granted by the Boy Scouts of America) where we met 
with a waterfowl extravaganza!  Present were Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egrets, 
Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, a couple of Caspian Terns plus 
lots of Double-crested Cormorants and Mallards and Hooded Mergansers.  AND 
two very attractive Glossy Ibis!

We then drove to lower Thompson WMA looking for Blue-winged Warbler at the 
traditional breeding spot and came up bumpkus - although looking for them 
after 3 pm may have been a disadvantage.  We did find a distant Cooper's 
Hawk, heard a distant Common Raven, and watched two close Broad-winged Hawks 
call to one another as they flew over our heads.  We motored north to Sky 
Meadows, quickly picking up the Red-headed Woodpeckers.  A side trip to the 
Bridle Trail ara netted the (now returned) Barn Owl.

As it was nearly 5 pm, we traveled east with a quick loop along Harrison Rd 
for the Savannah Sparrows and a calling No. Bobwhite; Belvoir pond held some 
more Ring-necked Ducks and Ruddy Ducks.  Continuing east on I-66 we made a 
detour into the Manassas Battlefield area and picked up Grasshopper Sparrow.  
We continued on to the GW Parkway where a stop at Roaches Run produced the 
expected Black-crowned Nigh-Herons and the unexpected surprise of a 
Red-necked Grebe!

We drove to Huntley Meadows, arriving just after 7 pm.  Our visit to the 
marsh produced the hoped-for Sora plus the lingering female American Wigeon.  
As darkness fell, we listened to a couple of Barred Owls hooting and watched 
a couple of cavorting Spotted Sandpipers when the previously dreamed-for 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron flew across the pond and over the tower.  We left 
to the sounds and sights of 10 Wilson's Snipe making their evening commute 
across the pond.

Our biggest miss?  I tend to think the Blue-winged Warbler was the biggest 
miss, but there has yet to be a report of this species at lower Thompson.  
Certainly American Redstart was a miss.  Common Loon was also pretty much 
expected and missed.  The lack of a Northern Harrier may be classified as a 
miss, bu the species is not always easy to find during this part of the 
season.  I am surprised that Blue-headed Vireo was not encountered.  
Otherwise, the route produced about what we expected.  

So, maybe next time we should start at Bull Run Post Office Road?

Kurt Gaskill


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