The Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk gathered 21 birders today in warm,
humid conditions with occasional light rain. Our highlights this morning
included a very visible Red-winged Blackbird nest in a button bush located only
6 feet off the boardwalk. Two growing chicks impatiently demanded even more
food as the mother brought them many caterpillars. The Hooded Merganser kids
are getting bigger, and are more closely resembling their mother. And finally,
a large collection of Eastern Kingbirds seemed to join the Swallows in hawking
insects out of the air. The day was made perfect as a lilting Wood Thrush song
echoed through the forest.
Canada Goose 9
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 4
Hooded Merganser 17
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 2
Osprey 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 5
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Acadian Flycatcher 5
Eastern Phoebe 6
Eastern Kingbird 9
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 9
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 2
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 23
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 12
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 3
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 15
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 50+
Common Grackle 50+
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 4
The Monday Morning Birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7AM (8AM from November
through March), 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. Questions should be directed to Park staff during normal
business hours at (703)768-2525.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
