[va-bird] nuthatch city (Bull Run Regional Park 30November2006)
I birded Bull Run Regional Park this morning. The Festival of Lights there is not very impressive in the daytime. But the birds were.
The two most striking things were 1) lots of White-Breasted Nuthatches - it felt like there were 2-3 in nearly every big tree I looked at - the place was crawling with them; and 2) a lot of Flickers - probably 12 or more - feeding right in the middle of flocks of Blue Jays, Robins, and Starlings. I am not used to seeing so many Flickers, in tight groups with other birds.
By the way, I have a question about Nuthatches. I see White-Breasted everywhere I go in No. Va., but I never ever see any Red-Breasted. Do they occur here? If so, do they tend toward any particular type of habitat? 

Here is my list - all numbers above 5 are rough estimates.

Red-Shouldered Hawk  - 1
Sharpie - 1
White-Breasted Nuthatch - 15
Red-Bellied Woody - 1
Downy Woody - 5
No. Flicker - 12
Mourning Dove - 8
Amer. Crow - 1 (crow species, about 8)
Blue Jay - 20
No. Cardinal - 20
Amer. Robin - 40
Euro Starling - 40
Rusty BB - 1
Amer. Goldfinch - 4
Dark-Eyed Junco - 20
Tufted Titmouse - 4
Carolina Wren - 2

- Steve Johnson
Fairfax, VA

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