[va-richmond-general] James River Park - 2/21/2009

I did a tour of the river from Huguenot Flatwater to the Wetlands today between 7:30 and Noon. Number and variety were down again this week over last week. I didn't find a single Ring-necked Duck today. Bufflehead were the most numerous remaining duck, with a flock of about 75 at Huguenot Flatwater and a smaller flock of around 45 at the Wetlands. I didn't walk the entire stretch between Huguenot Flatwater and Pony Pasture, and there were a few more along there. There were three Common Mergansers just downstream of Rattlesnake Creek, and both of the Mute Swans were there. I found three, possibly four Pied-Billed Grebes in the Huguenot Flatwater area (only saw three at once). I also found one Hermit Thrush in this area.
The Pony Pasture rapids were good for gulls again this week. Along with about 190 Ring-Billed Gulls, I saw eight Herring Gulls and one Great Black-backed. The highlight on this stretch were a third year and an adult Bald Eagle squabbling over a fish on one of the rocks across the river.
At The Wetlands, the two White-winged Scoters were still in the same spot, still clinging to the north bank, still hard to see and nearly impossible to photograph in any reasonable way with my setup. There are a few blurry snaps here: 

http://picasaweb.google.com/blbarnett3/2009_02_21JamesRiverParkBirds#
Otherwise, it was the usual suspects for this time of year. Lots of White-throated Sparrows in the brush, fairly good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting about. As I was making my way out of the park, I was treated to a cooperative Hairy Woodpecker foraging just where the Boardwalk trail comes into the main trail. There's a good bit of singing going on now, so I guess we can hope that in spite of Punxnatawny Phil's pronouncement, Spring is just around the corner. The birds seem to think so.
Jan's Redhead was still at the Stony Point Office Park pond first thing this morning. 

Good birding!

Lewis
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