This morning's Huntley Meadows Birdwalk was a bit of an endurance test.
Temperatures at the 7 AM start were already in the 80s, and it got warmer as
the morning wore on. But despite the heat, 45 species were spotted by 8
birders. The highlight wasn't a bird . . well, sorta': a huge snapping turtle
floating the carcass of a Great Blue Heron through the central wetland to who
knows where. Several shorebirds were present, but too far away to positively
identify.
Canada Goose - 11
Wood Duck - 10
Mallard - 5
Great Blue Heron - 2 (plus one corpse)
Great Egret - 1
Green Heron - 5
Killdeer - 3
Solitary Sandpiper - 2
Unidentified "peeps" - 5+
Mourning Dove - 3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 3
Chimney Swift - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 3
Acadian Flycatcher - 6
Eastern Wood Peewee - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 2
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 1
Purple Martin - 23
Tree Swallow - 12
Barn Swallow - 5
Carolina Chickadee - 8
Tufted Titmouse - 10
Carolina Wren - 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 6
American Robin - 20+
Gray Catbird - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Brown Thrasher - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 5
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Northern Cardinal - 6
Indigo Bunting - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 15
Common Grackle - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 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.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park