VA BIRDers,
Rich Rieger and I visited a few locations for waterfowl in Fairfax County
this morning. Best highlight was a female Bufflehead on Pohick Bay as
viewed from Pohick NVRP. We also noted two small rafts of Lesser Scaup on
Belmont Bay and a fine group of Ruddy Ducks near the mouth of the Occoquan
River. Also on Belmont Bay were a few Canvasbacks. The mouth of the Great
Marsh of Mason Neck had a fine assembly including Northern Shoveler (but we
did not visit the interior of this or any marsh). Some totals of
interesting species are below.
Kurt Gaskill
Wood Duck 12
Gadwall 38
American Wigeon 67
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 24
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Shoveler 20
Canvasback 6
Ring-necked Duck 30
Lesser Scaup 380
Bufflehead 1
Ruddy Duck 500
Pied-billed Grebe 24
DC Cormorant ca. 750, most in Belmont Bay
Great Egret 8
Bald Eagle 7
American Coot 154
Greater Yellowlegs 34
Caspian Tern 17
Forster's Tern 79
Tree Swallow ca. 100
Palm Warbler 3
