Yesterday, while returning from the mountains, I took a brief detour along
Harrison Road in Faquier County. At the well-birded pond on the north side of
the road (where the White-fronts have been seen) there was a large group of
white waterfowl on the far side of the pond. I did not have a scope, and the
range
was a bit of a strain for my 7X bins, but I believe that the several swimming
birds were Tundra Swans. The ones on the bank mostly had their heads tucked,
but one or two raised briefly giving me a chance to see their heads and necks.
Given the viewing limitations, I have to say that they looked more like Snow
Geese than swans, but the latter seems more likely given the ones in the
water. If anyone else saw them better, a reply would be appreciated.
At my second home in Shenandoah County, we had our first returning phoebe,
who was almost nabbed by a Sharp-shin, and bluebirds were checking out the
nesting boxes. Otherwise, the birds were pretty thin, with many of the
wintering
species gone or diminished in numbers. The highlight was a single Fox Sparrow.
Dave Davis
Arlington
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.