Gettings,
Rich Rieger and I explored the Norhtern Neck this past weekend. We birded
our way down the Potomoc River from Fredericksburg to Kilmarnock on Saturday
and completed the loop on Sunday by following the Rappahanock back north. Our
goal was to check out some of the spots we had heard about on the Northern
Neck including several that are part of the VA Birding and Wildlife Trail. We
ended up with a total of 83 species for the trip and had an excellent time.
Our first stop on Saturday was a group of ponds on Route 3 a few miles into
King George County at Brumley Lane. Here we saw CANVASBACKS, HOODED MERGANSERS
and COMMON MERGANSERS. We also saw 3 BALD EAGLES, an OSPREY, a KESTREL, a
NORTHERN HARRIER and a RED-TAILED HAWK there. Colonial Beach was next where
we saw a MUTE SWAN and more OSPREYS. One of the highlights of the trip was
George Washington's Birthplace. Here we observed well over 1000 TUNDRA SWANS
and fittingly, an adult BALD EAGLE. We also saw two RIVER OTTERS which swam
up close enough for me to get a picture of them. Along the entrance road
there was a nice flock of sparrows which included a FOX SPARROW. Next we went
to
Westmoreland State Park where we saw 3 FORSTER'S TERNS and a raft of over
400 RUDDY DUCKS. Bush Mill Stream was next and after some hiking we were
rewarded with GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a BROWN CREEPER. We also noticed a WILD
TURKEY in a field nearby. After watching a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the Wicomico
River, we made our way to Vir Mar Beach. Here we saw LONG-TAILED DUCKS and
BLACK
SCOTERS. We decided to finish the day at Dameron Marsh. On the way to the
marsh we were treated to the spectacle of over 60 WILD TURKEYS milling around
together in a field. At another field near the marsh we saw KILLDEER AND 3
WILSON'S SNIPE. At the marsh itself, Rich played some tapes from the
observation platform in an effort to entice a response from a rail or two. We
heard
a very brief response from what was probably a CLAPPER RAIL.
Sunday, we started early at Windmill Pont near Kilmarnock. We did pretty
well with sightings of 3 COMMON LOONS, 6 HORNED GREBES, 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS,
and a PINE WARBLER. We also noticed about 40 BUFFLEHEAD together, several of
which were displaying. On the way back through Kilmarnock, we watched a
RED-TAILED HAWK carrying nesting material from a field, comfirming its
breeding
status. The next location was Belle Isle State Park where we tallied a
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, RUDDY DUCKS, an EASTERN TOWHEE, TUNDRA SWANS, FORSTERS
TERNS,
and a nice group of CANVASBACKS. Our last major stop was the Wilna Unit of
the Rappahannock River NWR. This place was sparrow heaven where we pished up
SAVANNAH, SONG, FIELD, WHITE-THROATED, and a beautiful WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
Other birds we saw while driving around included a HORNED LARK, an EASTERN
MEADOWLARK (Both near Leedstown), an EASTERN PHOBE, 2 BALD EAGLES and 3 WOOD
DUCKS.
Larry Meade
Vienna VA
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