[va-bird] Northern Neck Weekend

VA Birders,

    A group of 10 Northern Virginia Bird Club members took part in an 
informal Northern Neck Weekend trip Nov. 17-19.  We met on Friday afternoon, 
Nov. 17, 
at Washington's Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland Co., where 
highlights included 6 COMMON LOONS and a probable RED-THROATED LOON, 2 late 
OSPREYS, 3 BALD EAGLES, and 4 FORSTER'S TERNS.  Unfortunately, the picnic area 
is 
closed while the restrooms there are being renovated.

    On Saturday morning, Nov. 18, we stopped first at Totutsky Creek in 
Richmond Co., where we found 2 more BALD EAGLES, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a 
flock of 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS.  Then we headed 
for Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster Co., where we counted 6 BALD EAGLES, 
another sapsucker, an EASTERN PHOEBE, 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, 2 FOX SPARROWS, and 
4 
EASTERN MEADOWLARKS.

    After lunch, we birded at Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve in 
Northumberland
Co., where our best birds were an immature NORTHERN HARRIER and 4 BONAPARTE'S 
GULLS.  Our last stop of the day was at Vir-Mar Beach, also in Northumberland 
Co., where we saw 7 female BLACK SCOTERS, 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 2 NORTHERN 
GANNETS.

    On Sunday morning, we ended our weekend at the Wilna Unit of Rappahannock 
River Valley NWR, in Richmond Co., where the only bird we found on the pond 
was 1 RUDDY DUCK.  We also saw another 6 BALD EAGLES, and on the new trail, 
which goes around the pond, we found a probable HERMIT THRUSH and a pair of 
EASTERN  TOWHEES.

    All the sites we visited are in the VA Birding & Wildlife Trail Book, 
Coastal Area.

Good birding,   
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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