This Thursday morning walk along the Potomac River at Riverbend Pk. (Fairfax
County) produced three warbler species: a Palm along the river, many
Yellow-rumps, and a La. Waterthrush. The waterthrush was singing again at the
inland
pond about 1/2 mile north of Visitor's Center, this time in full view, but I
could not relocate the other two waterthrushes I saw there yesterday.
Other highlights included a Wild Turkey which flushed from the Va. shore and
headed for an island in the river where another turkey was calling, a Barred
Owl also calling from across the river, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Phoebes,
G-C Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Towhee, and many Purple Finches (both at the
Visitor Center's bird feeders as well as north along the river). Waterfowl was
largely as reported yesterday, spread out along the Potomac north of the
visitors center. Ring-billed, Herring and Great Back Gulls in small numbers
were
flying north along the river. In all the walk tallied 51 species.
Butterflies: Mourning Cloak and Spring Azure.
, Back home, twoTiger
Swallowtails were fluttering over the perennial garden, a Red-breasted
Nuthatch and Eastern Towhee were exploring the bird pools, and Purple Finches
continued to feed incessantly on sunflower seeds. The level of seed in their
favorite feeder seems to be going down faster than the gas gauge on a Hummer.
Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA
