Liygf
-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Gaskill [mailto:KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 4:10 PM
To: (va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Subject: Mason Neck count, Frfx Co, 4/8/06
VA BIRDers,
I did a spring Mason Neck count similar to my reports from spring 2004&05.
That is, I start early (ca. 0630) and do the Great Marsh Trail, stopping a
few times to make sure I note all the birds, then start on High Point Rd
that leads to Mason Neck SP, stopping every 0.3 miles to census for ca. 5
minutes. At the Visitor Center I survey Belmont Bay and then spend about 5
minutes on the land birds. Lastly, I go to the field complex (for which
permission is gratefully acknowledged) with 4 stops. Mason Neck is a
combination of upland forest about 50-75 yrs old interspersed with streams,
vernal pools, vernal swamps, wetlands (such as the Great Marsh) and a few
acres of fields and lawns and the area totals ca. 3200 acres. The weather
was warm and dry until about 0845 when there were a few sprinkles. It
started a steady shower just after I finished at 0930.
No unusual species noted. Highlights of the trail to the Great Marsh were
Wild Turkey, Common Loon, Hermit Thrush singing, LA Waterthrush, Rusty
Blackbirds, and Bald Eagle on nest. Highpoint Rd highlights were more over
flying Common Loons plus many on Belmont Bay, Wild Turkey, singing Winter
Wren, a Pine & Palm Warbler, and Savannah Sparrows. Today's total is below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 16
Wood Duck 11, incl 3 in the forest perched on trees
Gadwall 6
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 4
Lesser Scaup 29
Common Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 42
Ruddy Duck 12
Wild Turkey 4 incl. one strutting across Highpoint Rd
Common Loon 14
Pied-billed Grebe 3
DC Cormorant 314, incl. a large assembly in Belmont Bay
Great Blue Heron 27, prob. undercounted
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 7
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Bonaparte's Gull 38
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 1
Mourning Dove 7
Barred Owl 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 29
YB Sapsucker 2
Downy WP 6
Hairy WP 2
No. Flicker 5
PIleated WP 8
E. Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 8
Am. Crow 7
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 82
C. Chickadee 14
T. Titmouse 19
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
C. Wren 16
W. Wren 1
RC Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9
Hermit Thrush 2
Am. Robin 11
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 17
Pine Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
LA Waterthrush 2
E. Towhee 5
Chipping Sp 2
Savannah Sp 3
Swamp Sp 2
White-throated Sp 11
Junco 6
No. Cardinal 18
Red-winged BB 72
Rusty BB 2
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 14
Am. Goldfinch 19
House Sparrow ZERO
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