[va-richmond-general] Pocahontas field trip

Weather was a little raw but the company was warm and friendly for the 
Valentine's Day trip to Pocahontas State Park this morning.  Forest birding was 
a 
little disappointing but we did get good looks at some wintering waterfowl.
Several people asked about the nesting habits of Buffleheads.  I checked 
Frank Todd's Natural History of the Waterfowl (a gorgeous coffee table book 
about 
all the world's waterfowl), and the answer is that they do nest in tree 
cavities, or in earth bank holes in treeless regions.  And yes, the name is a 
corruption of Buffalo Head.  They were given this name because of their 
disproportionately large heads. The brief growling and guttural rolling sounds 
that we 
heard came from the males.

Trip list (18 species):

Canada Goose
Wood Duck (2 beautiful males)
Mallard
Bufflehead
Turkey Vulture

Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Crow

Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird

American Robin
Song Sparrow
Junco

Wendy Ealding


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