Birders,
Dorothy Tella and I spent a lovely morning, particularly good for close-up
views of sparrows and ducks, at the Occoquan Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge. We
were delighted to see flocks of Tree Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, and good
numbers of Field, Song, and White-throated Sparrows. Bluebirds and Northern
Flickers were everywhere. Seventeen Northern Flickers rose up from one field as
we passed...like meadowlarks. They seemed brighter and more colorful than usual
against the winter landscape and drab sky. We scanned a raft of several
thousand Lesser Scaup on the water and spotted 2 Canvasbacks among them as well
as about 200 Ruddy Ducks, a dozen Buffleheads, at least 2 Common Mergansers,
Mallards, and a few Black Ducks. In the marshy area near the overlook were 16
Hooded Mergansers and many Ring-billed Gulls. Two Bald Eagles glided by
overhead. A Pileated Woodpecker chattered in the woods. It was a great morning.
Linda Millington
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