VA BIRDers,
It's actually interesting to compare birding in Northern Virginia during
January to that of July. Both are challenging months - in January weather
can be tough, the days are short and, well, sometimes a change of scenery to
warmer climes is necessary and so dedication can be weak. Yet, it's the
beginning of the year and there is this challenge to get the year's bird
list off to a good start. In comparison, July has longer days - but man are
those days hot and humid! One is lucky to get out for a few early morning
hours before retiring to air conditioned comfort. And bird song gets more
and more sparse - plus the birds start to disperse and get secretive! And
so, many of us just shut down in July, usually thinking (and going) to more
interesting climes. So you may think that comparing the bird species in the
two months leads to very different results - and yet some similarities can
be found. Of course, we see a change in species mixed in with the mostly
sedentary locals. Yet, productivity is surprisingly similar; for January, I
have recorded 160 species in 16 years and average about 104 species (best
was 119). For July I have recorded 179 species and average about 105 species
(best was 141). Both months see some migration - late winter species like
odd warblers or sparrows for January and the arrival of shorebirds in July.
Of course, I am sure I have missed a few species, probably due to the
weather and lack of time for each month.
This month I had some extra time (as you shall read) and decided to give
July another try for Northern Virginia locations - which are Fairfax, Prince
William, Fauquier, Loudoun, Stafford and Arlington counties plus included
cities and other jurisdictions. We are about half way through the month and
my total is 112 species - not bad, but there are many misses. Yet, a few
surprises have come about.
I began on July 6, after the holiday wrapped up. This day I started at The
Point, went to Prince William Forest Park Breckinridge Rd, then Julie Metz,
Occoquan Marina and finished at Dyke Marsh. The day yielded 79 species of
which 64 were at The Point after birding from 8am to 1030am. It was a hot
day and I rarely left my air conditioned auto comfort. The day's highlights
were few - all the species encountered were expected but there were a few
interesting observations. The best was an female Orchard Oriole building a
nest alongside Neabsco Creek - only the base was completed and so I surmise
the construction activity was no more than two days along. This is late for
Orchard Oriole - Roger Clapp's book on "Egg Dates for Virginia Birds"
indicates that for the coastal plain, 16 June is late. So, I guess I need a
to buy a mirror and put it on a pole.
Also noted that day was Worm-eating Warbler calling for young with food in
bill on Cockpit Rd. Family group of Eastern Kingbirds at Neabsco Creek.
And a Wild Turkey in the first creek you encounter along Possum Point Rd.
And I mean, "in the creek". And an adult Laughing Gull on Belmont Bay. In
contrast, not one Pine Warbler was heard or seen along Breckinridge Rd which
is roughly centered in this species' stronghold.
On July 7, I left home early and drove on Harrison Rd, Fauquier Co arriving
about 0515 and then moved west, arriving at Upper Thompson WMA about 0600.
Afterwards I drove Leeds Manor Rd, checked the Bridle Trail parking lot area
of Sky Meadows and then hit a few Loudoun Co spots near Upperville, calling
it quits near 2pm. I recorded 79 species for the day. Highlight was an
American Woodcock at the end of Freezeland Rd probing the edges of a puddle
in the road. This was pretty cool as I have never seen a woodcock in
daylight in July. The little pudge would fan its tail - only an inch or two
across! - which had a pattern reminiscent of a grouse with a line near the
circumferential edge. The other highlight was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak
squeaking and then seen singing in the area with the small fields (Years ago
I called this spot Catbird Heaven but only once has it held a plethora of
catbirds - it needs a new name). For those of you unfamiliar with No.
Virginia there are no good locations for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in the
summer. My only other location is in Loudoun Co just north of Rt 50 along
the ridgeline.
I heard only one Cerulean in Upper Thompson but several Ovenbirds still sang
and the Scarlet Tanagers were numerous. Juvenile American Redstarts, Hooded
Warblers and Eastern Towhees were noted. Along Leeds Manor Rd a Northern
Bobwhite called just south of Sky Meadows. And a Barn Owl in a silo. At the
end of the day I visited Occoquan Marina and noted 2 male Lesser Scaup on
the bay.
The next highlight was Mikey Lutmerding's American Avocets at Hunting Creek
Bridge on Thursday, July 11. A great sighting (and resulted in my finally
recording the species in Fairfax Co). Most local birders know that Dyke can
be extremely productive - I have recorded 251 species there (prior to the
avocet my new species was the McGillivray's Warbler this past January) in 16
years and suspect I have missed a few species.
Friday July 12 was a bonus birding day. This was because the wise and
learned leaders of our country gave over half a million people the day off -
without pay! Such generosity and foresight cannot go unrewarded; I plan on
donating my paycheck for that day to each and every one of these wonderful
stewards. And so, despite a torrential downpour, I made it to Breckinridge
Road at Prince William Forest Park to listen to silence overlaid with rain
patter. At dawn I could just make out the distant cadence of a
Whip-poor-will singing deep in the forest. No owls made a peep, which was
not surprising given the rain. On the way to Nokesville, I finally heard a
Pine Warbler - a quiet period for this species seems to be the conclusion.
In the Nokesville area I found a Northern Harrier flying over the sod farms
near Manassas Airport. I have recorded harrier one other time in July in 16
years (and, incidentally, one other time in mid-June) so this is decidedly
an unusual bird; it was an adult female with worn and faded plumage.
Portions of the fields were going to seed, which the harrier dove into.
Nearby were Horned Larks. I returned to the coastal plain and tried The
Point again - and lucked into a Louisiana Waterthrush singing on Cockpit
Point Rd. I can only hope that the slated development is not extensive so
it preserves the wild areas that exist today. On the nearby ash pond were
10 Bald Eagles and most were less than 2 yrs old (there is probably 3 eagle
nests on Quantico Creek); then a Peregrine flew past- brilliant! I also
visited the Orchard Oriole nest along Neabsco Cr and it was complete. A
nearby male sang. After a few minutes, the female flew out of the nest -
obviously a-going affair! I ended at Dyke Marsh Stone Bridge and one
American Avocet was still present. The only ducks were Mallards. 84
species for the day despite the crummy weather.
Saturday, July 13 was my trip to the northwest area of Loudoun County,
including the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Conservation (BRCES). I
stopped at a few places that in the past held Willow Flycatchers but none
were found this time. At BRCES, the areas near the power line cut and
Arnold Rd are best for birds - and I was not disappointed with 2 Blue-winged
Warblers at the cut. Three Ceruleans along lower Sawmill and Arnold Rds -
all males as two were singing and I got good looks at the third which only
chipped. Makes you wonder how many there really are in these forested
mountain locations. I ended the day with 66 species.
Rich Rieger joined me Sunday, July 14 as we continued the quest for Willow
Flycatcher as well as raven and Broad-winged Hawk plus the last "easy"
warbler, Prothonotary. We started at Dyke at the Stone Bridge near 630 am
and found nothing unusual. We tried 3 spots at Dyke for Prothonotary and
none were seen or heard! Ouch! We then headed west to a great spot Rich and
Dave Boltz found in June that held Willow Flycatcher. This was a wonderful
conservation easement south of Middleburg just north of Logan's Mill Road.
It produced the Willow Fly plus several chats, thrashers, catbirds, an
Orchard Oriole and others. Great spot - and only one tick! We headed west
to the Sky Meadows area - finding a silo with a Barn Owl - and then spotted
soaring birds over the ridge from Leeds Manor Rd. We got out the scopes and
the first was a Cooper's Hawk, then some vultures and the last was a
Broad-winged Hawk. We ended the day at 68 species.
And that catches you up to the current status in my quest. Lots of misses
such as odd ducks, Night-Herons, Mississippi Kite, rails, a few larids, the
local owls, raven, Cliff and Bank Swallows, Marsh Wren, etc. Yet, the chase
can be fun. Let's see what next Friday brings, eh?
Kurt Gaskill
PS for locations, consider using Google to get maps and locations
