Va-Birders,
Soon, waterfowl wintering in our area will be leaving for their
breeding grounds, and Chopawamsic Creek on the Quantico Marine Base
provided some last, lingering looks to 11 birders from the Northern
Virginia Bird Club this morning. Tundra Swan numbers were outstanding
at 450 plus. Early clouds actually gave us better viewing of the 10
species of ducks than the later sun with its glare on the water. Some
distant rafts were impossible to identify with any certainty. The
Great Blue Heron rookery held between 40 and 50 birds, many on their
nests. What must have been an unwelcome presence in the middle of the
heron rookery was a Bald Eagle nest with two adults. Thanks to co-
leader, Joanna Taylor.
For those of you out there, particularly beginning birders, who would
like to join us on our many trips around the area, check our website
for membership application and trip schedule. http://www.nvabc.org/
Great Blue Heron 40-50
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 3
Canada Goose 8
Tundra Swan 450+
Wood Duck 8
American Wigeon (some within distant rafts of mixed species, number
impossible to estimate)
American Black Duck 20
Mallard 6
No Pintail 12
Green-winged Teal 10
Ring-necked Duck 24
scaup, sp. 2
Lesser Scaup 2 (up to a couple hundred more possible in distant rafts)
Hooded Merganser 15
Common Merganser 35
Bald Eagle 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 25
Herring Gull 20
Belted Kingfisher 3
No Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 8
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 6
Carolina Wren 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Song Sparrow 1, heard
White-throated Sparrow 8
No Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria
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