VA BIRDers,
Now that the breeding season is pretty much over (save for a few of the
later breeders like Yellow-billed Cuckoos), I have become interested in the
use of the upland forest at Mason Neck NWR during the period between
breeding and when the winter migrants come through to stay for the winter
season. Today I did ca. 10 point counts of about 10 minutes each which
included much pishing and noise-making since it was sooooo quiet in the
forest; these areas included some grassy/marshy edges (which yielded the
highest diversity today). The sightings give some information as to usage
and relative abundance at MNNWR. The Red-eyed Vireos are still about, but
Wood Thrush and Acadian Flycatchers are down by about 5X from June
concentrations. Today's highlight was one obvious migrant - Blue-winged
Warbler - which is not to say that some of the other birds weren't migrants,
I just cannot separate them from local breeders. The other highlight was a
single Ovenbird. One! Amazing! The numbers follow (the extensive Great
Marsh was not visited and so there is a lack of Red-winged Blackbirds,
etc.).
Kurt Gaskill
Bald Eagle 3, adults
Wild Turkey 5, adult with young-un's
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 9
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummer 2
Red-bellied WP 8
Downy WP 8
Hairy WP 2
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated WP 4
E. Wood Pewee 7, incl some obvious juveniles
Acadian Flycatcher 6
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 23
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
C. Chickadee 20
T. Titmouse 13
White-breasted Nuthatch 16
Carolina Wren 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Eastern Bluebird 2
Wood Thrush 3
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Northern Parula 7
Pine Warbler 1
Ovenbird 1
Hooded Warbler 1, a brilliant adult male
Northern Cardinal 9
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 3
