My first time for this location, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I started
out about 6:45, and to my dismay found the gate closed and locked, but I did
find a trailhead that gave access downstream of the dam. Through most of the
morning, the din created by large numbers of Am. Goldfinches made birding by
ear difficult. By mid-morning, numerous Ruby-cr. Kinglets added their voices to
the cacophony. Most of the birds were well up in the trees as well, so who
knows what I missed. The highlights were a Spotted Sandpiper, Gr. Yellowlegs,
and Kildeer out on the mudflats in the lake; Wood Ducks living up to their
name, perched high in the trees over Accotink Creek; a fly-over by a
Broad-winged Hawk; several Purple Finches singing (1 seen); and a lone
Blue-headed Vireo.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Gr.-w. Teal
Common Merganser (3- fly-over)
Double-crested Cormorant
Gr. Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-sh. Hawk
Broad-w. Hawk (1)
Red-t. Hawk
Kildeer (1)
Gr. Yellowlegs (1)
Spotted Sandpiper (1)
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker (3, 1 pair courting)
N. Flicker
Piliated Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Am. Crow
Tree Swallow
N. Rough-w. Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-cr. Kinglet (>12 seen, more heard)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2 nests spotted)
Am. Robin
N. Parula Warbler (3 singing, only one male seen)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (>7)
La. Waterthrush (2)
E. Towhee
Song Sparrow
Wh.-thr. Sparrow
N. Cardinal
Red-w. Blackbird
C. Grackle
Br.-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch (singing)
Am. Goldfinch (literally hordes feeding on the flowering and seeding trees)
Scott Priebe
Springfield, VA
