Greetings...
Today was the hard press for me to find Dickcissels in former breeding spots,
dating back to locations found during the Madison County Foray in 1996. My
wife and I checked all of the western Fauquier Spots that I have had them in,
and had no luck. Our next stop was in Batna, Culpeper County, where Ned
Brinkley (and possibly others) had as many as five singing in 1996. The
habitat has changed, and it isn't currently a good spot for them. However,
as I watched two Killdeer fly in, I noted a third bird in flight with them.
It landed in a field that has brown vegetation in it. My first thought was
Upland Sandpiper, but that was quickly dismissed. My second guess of a bird
in a field on the piedmont in mid-June was a Pectoral Sandpiper. I wasn't
getting great looks at the bird as it was partially obscured by vegetation.
It flew away, and I was pretty sure that I would never know what it was.
Luckily it returned, and this time to the bank of a farm pond on the north
side of Route 647, just east of the intersection of 663. It was as it was
landing near the pond that I finally figured out what it was, and then was
able to scope it and get great views. This is a classic example of how much
I rely on context when identifying a bird. Had this been on a mudflat
somewhere on the Coastal Plain, I think I would have pegged it as a WRSA a
bit sooner. Still, Fenton and Mike can eat their hearts out, as I think it's
a pretty good bird for Culpeper County.
As for the Dickcissels, the entire length of 647 was non productive for them.
We eventually reached Route 615 and headed south a couple hundred yards, and
finally heard some calling from the field on the west side of 615. I got out
to take a look at them, and determined that there were at least three, and
maybe four birds singing. Got great looks in the scope at one of them.
Being pressed for time, I chose not to check other spots for them, and
returned home.
Other birds encountered were Blue Grosbeaks in a few spots; Grasshopper
Sparrows everywhere; Indigo Buntings everywhere; a few Kingbirds; two
Kestrels; one dead red Screech-Owl; and boatloads of Barn Swallows. Also I
saw flocks of Grackles for the second time this season. They are already
forming their big winter flocks, and it is just June.
Cheers...
Todd
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Todd M. Day
Jeffersonton, VA
Culpeper County
BlkVulture@xxxxxxx
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