VA BIRDers,
Just a quick note to all that the Wilson's Phalarope numbers at the Hunting
Creek mudflats has increased to 4 with the addition of a nicely patterned HY
bird seen yesterday and today in the late afternoon. Also, both Sanderling
and Red Knot were still at the location, along with a few Stilt Sandpipers
and 15 dowitchers (all appeared to be Short-billed but these are worth a
second look in the morning with favorable lighting).
The mudflats are about 1/4 mile south of the beltway along the GW Parkway or
about 1/3 of mile from the north end of the Belle Haven picnic area of Dyke
Marsh. Public parking is nearby either at Dyke Marsh or near the tall
apartment/condo buildings on the river side (a sign at the parking lot of the
condos near the mudflats indicates it is private and towing is possibility -
park at your own risk). Best viewing is usually on a rising tide (from about
1-2 hours before high tide until the area is inundated with water) in the
morning as the sun will be favorably positioned and the shorebirds will be a
bit more concentrated on the mudflats.
Since the SAV mats on the Potomac are currently extensive, many of the
shorebirds will fly out to the river at high tide and forage on those mats.
Last night I saw one of the Wilson's Phalaropes with some yellowlegs on the
mats as I was scoping the dozen plus Pied-billed Grebes, Am. Black Ducks,
Blue-winged Teal and Black Terns with Bart Hutchinson.
Kurt Gaskill
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