Hello, birders.
Sorry about the late post. I've birded a few
locations in No. Va. during the last few days. On
Thursday evening, 4/21, Jodi Bucknam joined me for a
walk at the back side of Huntley Meadows. Jodi is the
park interpretor at Mason Neck SP. We were hoping to
find woodcock displaying in the meadow. Although we
hung around the meadow from about 8 to 8:30, we did
not hear or see this species. SWAMP and
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were in present on this walk,
with Swampies mostly in the marsh. We heard a JUNCO
in the first meadow, as you walk from the parking lot.
We had just 2 warbler species, COM. YELLOWTHROAT and
OVENBIRD. 3 BARRED OWLS called, with a pair doing
their "monkey" calls. A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS
hooted, too.
On Saturday 4/23 I went to Sky Meadows SP in Fauquier
Co. I birded the Shearman's Mill Tr. for my bird
survey. It's still officially closed but they seem to
be clearing the trail. I think it's supposed to
reopen later this year. Not a lot of migrants here.
Several YELLOW-RUMPS were active, along with a PALM
WARBLER (yellow). A few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were
singing from thickets. A pair of pretty HOODED
MERGANSERS were paddling in the stream, are they
staying to breed? A migrant OSPREY soared overhead.
I saw my first HERMIT THRUSH in quite a while when I
accidentally spooked it from along the trail.
Sparrows were common - FIELD, SONG, SWAMP and
WHITE-THROATED. HOUSE WREN was back bubbling its song
from its usual place on the Bridle Tr.
I was hoping for better birding along the Coastal
Plain and I was not disappointed. Perhaps the passage
of the front on Saturday night helped push birds in?
On Sunday morning I birded Mason Neck SP in Fairfax
Co., eventually meeting up with Jodi's Sunday morning
bird walk. We had a lot of fun. I think maybe the
beginning birders were a bit overwhelmed by all the
activity but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I
got a lot of firsts of the year on this cool morning.
2 COMMON LOONS were flybys, heading west out toward
the bay. CASPIAN TERNS plied the calm waters, I did
not see any Forster's, although they have been
reported here recently. At least a few BALD EAGLES
were about and 2 OSPREYS were seen this morning. Over
600 CORMORANTS were in a tight raft on the bay.
RING-BILLED GULLS were hanging around them hoping to
get a meal. I did see one BONAPARTE'S GULL way out.
The woods and the Visitor Center area were alive with
bird song. ORCHARD ORIOLE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
(common) and R.C. KINGLET (common) were species that I
saw soon after I got out of my car. I had 4 species
of vireo this morning - BLUE-HEADED, RED-EYED
(common), YELLOW-THROATED and WHITE-EYED.
GNATCATCHERS were everywhere. Besides Yellow-rumps,
which were common, I heard or saw these other warbler
species: YELLOW, NO. PARULA, OVENBIRD,
YELLOW-THROATED, PROTHONOTARY and BLACK & WHITE. A
couple of WOOD THRUSHES sang from near the entrance
road. A migrant EASTERN KINGBIRD was deep in the
woods alighting at the tops of trees but remaining
mostly silent. Other stuff, a HOUSE WREN on the edge
of the swamp, a WINTER WREN kip-kipping from an area
with fallen trees, we tried to see it but it was too
deep in the woods, nearby were a couple of HERMIT
THRUSHES (one singing - yeah!). Flocks of CHIPPING
SPARROWS and COWBIRDS were feeding on the lawn near
the V.C.
S. Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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