[va-bird] NVBC Walk at Sky Meadows: Loggerhead Shrike, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Grasshopper Sparrow

VA Birders,

The Northern Virginia Bird Club walk at Sky Meadows State Park today was worth the drive out for the five birders who came to enjoy what turned out to be a pretty birdy day, especially for mid-June. The trip was led by Sephen Eccles and me and we tallied a total of 57 species. We started at the Visitor Center where we saw a pair of American Kestrels and a singing Common Yellowthroat. We then drove to the wooded area known as the guaranteed Red-headed Woodpecker spot between the gate and the Visitor Center. We saw several of these striking birds there, as well as a variety of other birds. On our way over to the Bridle Trail area we heard a Northern Bobwhite calling along the road, but we could not spot it. We then proceeded to walk the Meadow Trail in search of the Loggerhead Shrike which was indeed spotted by Stephen and seen by all in the same spot where they have been reported for the past several weeks. This was a Virginia bird for me, since I had "shriked out" on all of my other attempts to see one in the state. Other highlights of the Meadow Trail included a singing Grasshopper Sparrow and a male Baltimore Oriole feeding a fledgling.

Here's the list:

Can Goose 15
No. Bobwhite 1
GB Heron 1
T Vulture 6
RT Hawk 2
Am Kestrel 2
Rock Pigeon 15
Mo Dove 8
YB Cuckoo 1
Chim Swift 6
RH Woodpecker 8
RB Woodpecker 4
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 1
E Wood PW 3
E Phoebe 2
GC Flycatcher 3
E Kingbird 4
Loggerhead Shrike 1
RE Vireo 2
Blue Jay 5
Am Crow 6
Fish Crow 8
Common Raven 1 Heard in the distance
Tree Swalllow 6
N RW Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 7
Car Chick 6
Tufted TM 2
WB Nuthatch 2
Car Wren 4
House Wren 1
E Bluebird 22
Wood Thrush 1
Am Robin 10
G Catbird 15
No Mocker 8
Brown Thrasher 9
Euro Star 10
Cedar Waxwing 2
Prairie Warbler 2
Com YT 3
Scarlet Tan 2
E Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 6
Field Sparrow 5
Grasshopper Spar 1
Song Spar 2
No Card 5
Indigo Bunting 12
RW Blackbird 10
E Meadowlark 9
Com Grackle 16
Orch Oriole 2
Balt Oriole 4
Am Goldfinch 4
House Spar 8

Larry Meade
Vienna VA
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