VA BIRDers,
Gerry Hawkins and myself visited Sky Meadows starting at about 0800 Saturday
on the Bridle Trail. We quickly located one Loggerhead Shrike and found 2
more near the end of the row of trees going east over the hill to the duck
ponds. Near the southern duck pond was a fourth Loggerhead Shrike. The
trip highlight then occurred as a hawk was observed flying eastbound over
the fields towards us. It carried prey - some type of mouse. But it was
not an American Kestrel - it was a Broad-winged Hawk! It flew past us and
over the duck pond field to the eastern hillside and went into the trees
north of center. I never imagined this species breeding in that hillside.
Afterwards we visited the other side of the highway just to see how many
Red-headed Woodpeckers were around (one was on the Bridle Trail). Then,
homeward bound to see Spamalot.
The list follows.
Kurt Gaskill
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 2
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 20
Broad-winged Hawk 1, CF
Red-tailed Hawk 2 (incl juv calling)
Am. Kestrel 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 6
YB Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 4
Red-headed WP 8, juvenile noted
Red-bellied WP 1
Downy WP 2
No. Flicker 4
E. Wood Pewee 3
Willow Flycatcher 2, both near south duck pond
E. Phoebe 3
E. Kingbird 4
Loggerhead Shrike 4
Red-eyed V 1
Blue Jay 4
Am. Crow 5
Common Raven 2
Tree Sw 7
Barn Sw 12
C. Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 5
E. Bluebird 12, juvenile noted
Am. Robin 2
Gray Catbird 12
No. Mockingbird 11, juvenile noted
Brown Thrasher 8, juvenile noted
Cedar Waxwing 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
E. Towhee 2
Chipping Sp 6, juvenile noted
Grasshopper Sp 2
Song Sp 5
No. Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 14, CF
Red-winged BB 12
Common Grackle 4
Orchard O 5, juvenile noted
Baltimore O 1
Am. Goldfinch 8
House Sp 8
