For the second day in a row I, too, went to Pinewood Lake and still did not see
the BB Whistling Ducks. They were also not at Huntley Meadows early this
morning between 7:15 and 10:15. So, perhaps they have moved on? Please post a
message if they are seen again.
I also went to Sandberg Middle School on Fort Hunt Rd. and was also fortunate
to see one Misissippi Kite right over the school's athletic fields, just
briefly, around 11 a.m or so. Just a word of caution on visiting that site. I
parked as far away form the school as possible and was nowhere near the
building in the parking lot very close to Ft. Hunt Rd. A school bus driver saw
me and stopped to inquire what I was doing. When I told him, he suggested that
was not a good idea during school hours, or that at least I should go check in
at the main office and let them know I was there. In today's atmosphere of
school shootings, etc. it is easy to see how someone on school grounds with
binoculars might be viewed suspiciously. I'd suggest using this site only on
weekends or after school hours (about 3:30 p.m.), as it's probably not worth
the hassle of trying to get permission from an administrator. The school
parking lot does offer a pretty expansive view of the skies around that area,
however.
Dave Boltz
Alexandria, VA
----- Original Message -----
From: VBKitchens@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 4:08 PM
Subject: [Va-bird] BB Whistling Ducks--No; MS Kites--Yes
VA Birders,
This morning, after rush hour, Joanna Taylor and I went to look for the
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Pinewood Lake in Fairfax Co., but we did not
find them. Then we went and checked the nearby Jack Abbott Wetlands. We did
not find them there either. By then it was beginning to get quite warm, but
there was a nice breeze, so we decided to check the Carl Sandburg Middle School
parking lot on the way home to see if any kites might be flying there. We
arrived at the school (which is located on Fort Hunt Rd. opposite Waynewood
Blvd.--which connects Ft. Hunt Rd. & the G.W. Pkwy.--in Fairfax Co.) about 1:30
pm,
and about 5 minutes after we arrived, we watched a MISSISSIPPI KITE come up
over the trees on the south side of the lot and circle overhead! It was soon
joined by a second MS Kite, which I thought looked a little bigger than the
first one. They soared and circled overhead for a minute or 2, and then they
both disappeared behind the trees.
Good birding,
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA************************************** See what's free at
http://www.aol.com.
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