The colder weather has concentrated waterfowl on Beaverdam reservoir which
is about 75 % ice free. Highlights include Common Loon , 100 + Common Merganser
, 25 Hooded Merganser , 8 Ring necked Duck , 25 + Mallard, 2 Bufflehead , 6
Ruddy Duck , 3 Pied-billed Grebe, 250 + Canada Geese . Also Horned Lark
flyover.
Dulles Wetlands also had a flyover Horned Lark and a large group of 15 +
American Tree Sparrows close to the road , some of which were giving snatches
of their breeding song , not something one normally hears in the winter here
in Virginia. Regular adult Bald Eagle was standing sentry near last years
nest too.
John Drummond
Ashburn
Loudoun County.
