VA Birders,
Pat Blyer and I went out to the pond behind the Comfort Suites in the
Manassas area of Prince William Co. this morning to look for the waterfowl
reported there the last few days. We arrived about 11:00 am, and we were not
disappointed. We saw a Red-necked Grebe and the pair of Redheads (both Life
Birds for Pat) before we even got out of the car! A few minutes later, we
spotted all 4 Red-necked Grebes at the left end of the pond. We also saw the
male Lesser Scaup, several Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers, as well
as 1 male Mallard (which looked like a real one), Canada Geese, and the
Ring-billed Gulls reported yesterday by Fred Atwood. Across the road from
the front of the Comfort Suites, we had at least 4 Eastern Bluebirds, a
Starling, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.
The Red-necked Grebes all appeared to be in winter plumage. However,
when one of them turned its head while preening, we thought we detected a
hint of reddish on its neck.
Since I don't go to the Manassas area very often, and we almost missed
the Comfort Suites, which are quite a ways back from the main road, I thought
I would post the directions we noted. They are: From I-66, take Business
Rt. 234 (Sudley Road) south to the second traffic light (Balls Ford Rd. is
the first light), which is Williamson Blvd. Turn left and go about a block
to the Comfort Suites on the right. Park by the pond behind the building,
and look for the birds--all of which provide wonderful, close-up looks at
that pond.
Our thanks to Laura Catterton for finding and reporting the grebes at the
pond, as well as to Sue Heath and Fred Atwood for their reports on the birds
there yesterday.
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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