VA BIRDers,
Linda Millington and I spent this cloudy, somewhat rainy day birding the
parks at Mason Neck - the refuge and the SP - to add information to their
database. Rich Rieger joined up with us in mid-afternoon. It was good day
although it seems the big numbers and diversity are just not quite here. But,
it is definitely breaking open! Top bird today was Cape May Warbler in
warbler bunch at the Great Marsh overlook. We also encountered good warbler
waves (mostly Dendroica Coronata) and a few of the bigger neotrops. Lots of
swifts and swallows in the air. An adult Red-headed WP near the end of the
Bayview Trail boardwalk. Also, an excellent Boneparte's Gull movement with
about 750 foraging over Belmont Bay. The list follows.
Kurt Gaskill
Common Loon 3
DC Cormorant 113
Great Blue Heron ca. 1000 (there are ca. 1000 active nests at the rookery, it
is Grand Central Station out there with herons constantly coming and going.)
Great Egret 1, flying from rookery, a likely breeder for several years here
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Canada Goose 25, includes 3 ca. 1 week old goslings at MNSP
Wood Duck 30
Gadwall 5
Mallard 5
Lesser Scaup 18
Ruddy Duck 168
Osprey 13
Bald Eagle 10, incl bird of the year out of the nest
No. Harrier 1
Wild Turkey 2
Am. Coot 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Boneparte's Gull 750
Ring-billed Gull 102
Herring Gull 14
Great Black-backed Gull 12
Caspian Tern 4
Forster's Tern 5
Mourning Dove 4
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 159
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed WP 1
Red-bellied WP 13
Downy WP 4
Hairy WP 2
No. Flicker 2
Pileated WP 8
E. Wood Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 7
White-eyed V 5
Yellow-throated V 1
Blue-headed V 1
Red-eyed V 32
Blue Jay 4
Am. Crow 9
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 40
Tree Swallow 50
No. Rough-winged Sw 2
Barn Sw 6
C. Chickadee 15
T. Titmouse 24
White-breasted Nuthatch 7, FC at MNSP
C. Wren 2
H. Wren 2
M. Wren 1
RC Kinglet 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 48
E. Bluebird 1
Wood Thrush 16
Am. Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
E. Starling 1
No. Parula 45
Yellow 3
Cape May 1
Yellow-rumped 160
Black-throated Green 1
Yellow-throated 2
PIne 1
Prairie 3
Palm 7
Black & White 4
Prothonotary 8
Ovenbird 19
Com. Yellowthroat 4
Hooded 1
Scarlet Tanager 3
E. Towhee 8
Chipping Sp 2
Field Sp. 1
Swamp Sp 5
White-throated Sp 51
No. Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Com. Grackle 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
Orchard O 6
House Finch 1
Am. Goldfinch 12
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