[va-bird] Prince William Forest Park BBS, Pr Wm Co., 6/11/02

VA BIRDers,

Last Tuesday (6/11) I ran the USGS BBS route at Prince William Forest Park 
and nearby areas leased to the USMC in Quantico.  This area contains the 
largest nearly unbroken piedmont forest in Virginia and is exceptional for 
large concentrations of some piedmont forest species.  The entrance is near 
the Dumfries exit of I-95, about 30 min. south of Springfield, VA and one 
hour north of Richmond.  A large selection of hiking trails, some paralleling 
streams, lace the forest.

The route went fairly well this year with a new species high count of 51 vs 
47 for the last 3 runs.  Ovenbirds continue to dominate the count with 72 
recorded over the 2.5 hour aggregate time period, equalling last year's 
record count.  Other species with large counts were E. Wood Pewee (25), 
Acadian Flycatcher (35, a new high for the route), Red-eyed Vireo (68), Am. 
Crow (27), Wood Thrush (47), Hooded Warbler (18 plus 2 in-between census 
points), and Scarlet Tanager (23).

New species added to this route's database were Wood Duck flying up a 
tributary of Quantico Creek, Barn Swallow near a bridge along Chompawamsic 
Cr, and Veery.  The latter is great find for a piedmont location in June.  
The bird was calling from an upland forested area with significant understory 
- a couple of Hooded Warblers were in the area.  Most notable misses for the 
route were Prairie and Kentucky Warbler.  Both of these species have been 
recorded in the past in very low numbers along the route and so missing these 
may not be significant.  Species also missing - but never easy to record on 
these surveys due to the forested overstory and the methodology used - were 
hawks.  I also found that relatively low numbers of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and 
Great Crested Flycatcher (3 and 2, respectively) were recorded this year.  
Lastly, I note that 3 Wild Turkeys were observed, but, unfortunately, these 
were in-between survey points and I was unable to include them into the 
reportable results.  

I wish to acknowledge interns Judd Piemme and Sarah Elliott without whose 
valuable assistance the survey could not be done as well as Bill Hudson of 
the Environmental Section at MCBQ for "key" help.  Also, I thank Jennifer Lee 
(NPS) and Tim Stamps (MCBQ) for facilitating access to the area and arranging 
for the help of Judd, Sarah, and Bill.  Below are the totals for the day.

Kurt Gaskill

Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 10
Wood Duck 1
(Wild Turkey 3 outside of survey points)
Mourning Dove 12
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 (+ 1 outside the survey points)
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woopecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 2
No. Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 4
E. Wood Pewee 25
Acadian Flycatcher 35
E. Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 68
Blue Jay 9
Am. Crow 27
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 1
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 16
White-breasted Nutatch 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 47
Am Robin 3
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 3
E. Starling 6
No. Parula 6
PIne Warbler 40
Ovenbird 72
LA Waterthrush 6 (+ 2 others outside survey points, incl one bird of the year)
Com. Yellowthroat 3
Hooded Warbler 18 (+ 2 others outside survey points)
Scarlet Tanager 23
E. Towhee 4
Chipping Sparrow 2
No. Cardinal 9
Indigo Bunting 5
Com. Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 2
Am. Goldfinch 5


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