What started off as a cold, clear and calm morning for the 10 birders on
today's Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows, quickly warmed up to a
warm, sunny day as we tallied 43 species. We held our annual Holiday Breakfast
with the Huntley Staff after the walk, and talked about the enormous numbers of
Green Wing Teal (250), Mallards (125) and Canada Geese (250+) we spotted in the
central wetlands.
Canada Goose 250+
Gadwall 3
American Black Duck 8
Mallard 125
Northern Shoveler 30
Northern Pintail 18
Green-winged Teal 250
Hooded Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Ring-billed Gull 35
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 15
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 200
Fish Crow 50
Carolina Chickadee 16
Tufted Titmouse 25
White-breasted Nuthatch 10
Brown Creeper 4
Carolina Wren 13
Winter Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 3
Northern Mockingbird 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Field Sparrow 5
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 35
Swamp Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 30
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 25
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 20
The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7 AM, is free of charge,
requires no reservation, and is open to all. Birders meet in the parking lot
at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA. For questions
call the Park at (703) 768-2525.
Note that next week's Monday Morning walk occurs on Christmas morning. The
walk will take place, but will begin at 8 AM instead of the usual 7AM, giving
us time to see if Santa brought us the new Swarovskis we asked for.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
