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-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Gaskill [mailto:KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 7:54 PM
To: (va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Subject: Northwestern Loudoun Co (mainly), 7/8/006
VA BIRDers,
I conducted an impromptu point count census along the eastern slope of the
Blue Ridge in NW Loudoun Co today. I started on William's Gap Rd, (Rt 711)
ca. ¼ mile north of Rt 7 and then stopped about every 0.5 mi for 5 minutes,
with diversions westward into the ridge (all dead ends, Tree Crops Rd [nr
Rt712], Appalachian Trail Rd [Rt713], Edgegrove Rd [Rt716], Sagle Rd
[Rt687], Sawmill Rd [Rt686] and Arnold Rd [Rt685] were the best); I ended
about a mile short of the Potomac River and the bridge to Maryland near
Harper's Ferry. Start time was 0610, end was 1315 and 54 stops were
counted. I was concerned that it was already into July and bird activity
would be down, but that was not the case as it was cool and reasonably birdy
for the entire trip. This leg netted 75 species with highlight 2 Cliff
Swallows over the end of Neer's Rd [Rt715].
After a bit of lunch, I went south and tried Allder Rd [Rt711] at 1400
heading east and then north on Purcellville Rd [Rt611] and continuing on
east for a bit [Rt693]. The goal was field birds. Unfortunately, this
route did not intersect too many fields and it was getting late, so I
stopped after about an hour and 12 stops; 50 species on this leg. Highlight
was a Sharp-shinned Hawk flying over a forest SE of Hillsboro.
On the way home I passed by Dulles Wetlands and visited for ca. 15 min. and
tallied a two new species, a juvenile Bald Eagle and Cedar Waxwing.
Based upon historical reports, I estimate ca. 104 species breed regularly in
Loudoun Co, at least in this section of the county, and the 82 species
observed today represent 75-80% of the regular breeders. Many of the others
can be best found via trails on the mountain ridges (for example, at the
Blue Ridge Center for Conservation and Environmental Stewardship, BRCES,
which is near Neersville and has monthly field trips organized by Joe
Coleman). The data are below, the first number is the total for the morning
54 stops and the second number is the afternoon 12 stops plus Dulles
Wetlands; breeding notes follow the entry.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 30
Wood Duck 1
Wild Turkey 1
Northern Bobwhite 0/1
Great Blue Heron 4/2
Black Vulture 6/3
Turkey Vulture 32/23
Bald Eagle 0/1, juvenile
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0/1, summer vagrant?
Red-shouldered Hawk 7/2, juvenile
Red-tailed Hawk 3/4 juvenile
American Kestrel 0/1
Killdeer 4
Rock Pigeon 11/8
Mourning Dove 32/1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6, CF
Chimney Swift 10
Ruby-throated Hummer 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed WP 1, adult
Red-bellied WP 16/2
Downy WP 15/2
Hairy WP 3
No. Flicker 3/1
PIleated WP 3/1
E. Wood Pewee 16/1
Acadian Flycatcher 6/1
Willow Flycatcher 2/2
E. Phoebe 12/1, juvenile + CF
Great Crested Flycatcher 6/1
E. Kingbird 14/5, CF
White-eyed V 1
Yellow-throated V 2
Warbling V 1
Red-eyed V 21/ 2, juvenile
Blue Jay 20, juvenile
American Crow 46/3
Fish Crow 11
Purple Martin 13/1
Tree Swallow 5/4
No. Rough-winged Sw 0/2
Cliff Sw 2
Barn Sw 42/22
C. Chickadee 11/2 (Black-capped Chickadees breed much further west)
T. Titmouse 20/1
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
C. Wren 32/2
H. Wren 14/6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5/2
E. Bluebird 27/4, CF
Wood Thrush 11/1
American Robin 18/4, juvenile
Gray Catbird 28/12, CF
No. Mockingbird 23/2, CF
Brown Thrasher 3/1, juvenile
E. Starling 57/10, CF
Cedar Waxwing 0/1
Blue-winged Warbler 1, Sawmill Rd
Cerulean Warbler 1, Arnold Rd
American Redstart 1, Arnold Rd
Ovenbird 0/1
Common Yellowthroat 5/6
Hooded Warbler 1, Arnold Rd
YB Chat 5
Scarlet Tanager 7/1
E. Towhee 17/2
Chipping Sparrow 29/3, CF
Field Sparrow 18/8, juvenile
Grasshopper Sparrow 9/5, CF, several were in few acres short grass lots on
the hillsides
Song Sparrow 23/9, CF
No. Cardinal 51/14, CF
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 44/6. CF
Red-winged BB 38/22, CF
E. Meadowlark 13/4
Common Grackle 10/13, CF (a bit late for this species to be feeding young)
Brown-headed Cowbird 14
Orchard O 6, juvenile
Baltimore O 1/2
House Finch 3/2
American Goldfinch 41/9
House Sparrow 17/2
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