The big cold forecasted in this morning's hysterical weather reports hadn't
struck yet as 11 birders set out on the Huntley Meadows Monday Morning
Birdwalk, but it was rainy and sort of cold. The usual collection of waterfowl
were in the central wetland with a noticeable decline in numbers of
Green-winged Teal and a corresponding increase in Pintails marking the day.
The sighting of an American Pipet near the boardwalk past the loop highlighted
the walk and substantiated earlier reports of this species at Huntley.
Canada Goose 163
Gadwall 21
Mallard 95
Northern Shoveler 8
Northern Pintail 100+
Green-winged Teal 12
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 6
Mourning Dove 4
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 29
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Pipit 1
Field Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 9
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 19
Dark-eyed Junco 25
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 36
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
The Monday Morning Birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine (except during electrical
storms, high winds, and treacherous ice on the trail and boardwalk), at 8AM
(7AM from March through October), 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
