VA Birders,
Joanna Taylor and I spent Thursday morning, Oct. 20, birding at Fort C.F.
Smith Park in Arlington Co. The highlight of the day was a Blue-headed Vireo
which came to the park's Bird Stream, giving us excellent views at eye-level
and below of a bird that we usually see only high up in the trees. After some
hesitation, this vireo finally took a few splashes in the stream, making it
the first Blue-headed Vireo, and the 4th vireo species we have recorded at the
stream! (The other 3 are Red-eyed, White-eyed, and Philadelphia Vireos.)
Later, as I was about to leave (Joanna had already left), I saw a sight
that I do not recall ever having seen before. About 30 Turkey Vultures, in a
very tight group, came flying toward me--actually sailing on bent wings--and
just before they reached me, they formed a kettle, like Broad-wings do, and
started spiraling upward. I got distracted by a Sharpie and a Cooper's Hawk
flying over, and when I looked again, the Turkey Vultures were gone. The
vultures
must have been migrants, but I have never seen them in a tight group like this
before. Is this unusual?
We also saw 3 Bald Eagles, all in view at once, but I'm not sure if they
were migrants or winter residents in the area, and 4 Red-tailed Hawks.
Good birding,
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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