[va-bird] Recent No. VA sightings, 3/28,29/04

VA BIRDers,

Kim Peacock and I did some end of the month clean-up Sunday and againg, 
briefly, this morning in the Prince William and Fairfax County areas.

Sunday:

We returned to the Possum Point area and found the Black & White Warbler that 
gave us the slip the day before.  By the way, this is a fine spot to look for 
this species as it breeds along the road.  Everything else was about the same 
as the day before, save for the Savannah Sparrow on the hillside - a likely 
migratory indicator for that species.  Several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were 
noted along the road, too.

We moved on to Marine Corp Base Quantico using the public road.  A pair of Wood 
Ducks on a puddle in the woods near the road was interesting.  A few 
Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks were seen from a meadow.  E. Phoebes in two 
different locations near bridges.  Several Pine Warblers singing.  Small groups 
of Junco scattered most places we looked.

Next stop was the Nokesville area.  Five different Am. Kestrels in about two 
miles.  The field near the blue house west of Fleetwood (and north of the turf 
farm) held Horned Larks and 20+ Savannah Sparrows. Mixed in was at least one 
Vesper Sparrow.  The Savannahs sported a range of plumage which was interesting 
to view; several were trying to sing.  Overhead, a flock of 30 DC Cormorants 
flew NW.  Many E. Meadowlarks in this area.

We visited the new mitigation site at the Manassas Battlefield.  Devoid of any 
field birds but for 2 Killdeer.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over - it did not 
loiter.

Next was the UOSA sewage treatment plant pond.  In addition to the usual Canada 
Geese, the pond held 17 Boneparte's Gulls.

Our next stop was Burke Lake and this proved to be productive, despite the 
large numbers of residents who turned out for a fine afternoon.  7 Pied-billed 
Grebes, 3 Horned Grebes, 55 DC Cormorants, a Ring-necked Duck, a single female 
Greater Scaup, 6 Lesser Scaup (split m/f), 15 Bufflehead, 2 Red-breasted 
Mergansers, 3 Ruddy Ducks, and 18 Am. Coots.

Monday:
Both Kim and I visited Julie Metz (at slightly different times) and heard the 
King Rail that Dan Kluza kindly found. Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Barn 
Swallow on Neabsco Creek, plus a male Blue-winged Teal. Singing Winter Wren in 
two locations.  On my drive down to this area, a Great Egret flew over Route 1 
in Lorton.  

I parted with Kim, and drove north to the new marina south of the mouth of the 
Occoquan River (and east of the trestle).  I counted no less than 11 Osprey 
nests within a half mile radius!  I knew that around the bend of Belmont Bay, 
several more could be found, plus there were at least 2 in the Occ. Bay Refuge. 
 I suspect the Mason Neck peninsula has several more (I know of one in the 
Great Marsh).  I think this is a significant concentration for our area.

The bay held 25 Common Mergansers and some distant scaup.  I drove over to the 
overlook at Mason Neck SP and estimated the scaup numbered 100.  Mixed in were 
a Canvasback, a Redhead, 13 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 Bufflehead, and a single 
Red-breasted Merganser.  Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Barn Swallows coursed 
the shoreline near the mouth of the Occoquan.  Over 50 Boneparte's Gulls were 
noted, moving in 2 tight groups.  One group started circling higher and higher 
as if looking for thermals, but then came back down to the bay water.

Kurt Gaskill
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