VA BIRDers,
I visited Mason Neck SP today exploring various census strategies in the field
and with the staff. The field work started at about 0800 along black-topped
High Point Rd (the entrance road from Gunston Rd which runs to the visitor
center). I stopped every ca. 0.2 miles and counted, adding what I saw or heard
in between points to roughly fill in the gaps. At the Belmont Bay overlook,
stopped at both parking lots and the boat launch area, then scanned Belmont Bay
- the wind kicked up two notches at that time. Elapsed time was a bit less
than 2 hours. Most of the area censused is upland with some creeks/wetlands
along the road.
As can be readily seen through comparison, differences in species arrival dates
between here and the Great Dismal may be at least a week. Route highlights
were only 3 species of warblers yet a fine display of early migrants was
encountered. In addition, the bay held many Horned Grebes, Bufflehead and
Boneparte's Gulls plus a female Long-tailed Duck mixed in. Here's the list:
Horned Grebe 60
DC Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 16
Canada Goose 20
Canvasback 3
Lesser Scaup 136
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 234
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 36
Ruddy Duck 245
Bald Eagle 3
Osprey 10
Wild Turkey 2, a beautiful Tom crossed the road!
Boneparte's Gull 500
Ring-billed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 4
Barred Owl 3: two were hooting at the same pitch whilst one looked on, about
1/4 mile before you pass the entrance station
Chimney Swift 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 12
YB Sapsucker 4
Downy WP 3
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 4
Pileated WP 5
E. Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 9
Am. Crow 1
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 10
No. Rough-winged Sw 1
Barn Sw 1
C. Chickadee 8
T. Titmouse 22
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 1
C. Wren 11
W. Wren 4, all singing
GC Kinglet 1
RC Kinglet 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
E. Bluebird 3
Hermit Thrush 4, one singing
Am. Robin 21
E. Starling 2
No. Parula 1
Pine 4
LA Waterthrush 1
E. Towhee 2
Chipping Sp 1
Fox Sp 1
Song Sp 5
White-thr Sp 12
Junco 16
No. Cardinal 11
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Com. Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 11
House Finch 4
Am. Goldfinch 10
Checking mileage on other roads later in the morning, I added Turkey Vulture,
Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Field Sparrow to the list.
Kurt Gaskill
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