Sixteen members of the Northern VA Bird Club greeted John Drummond and myself
on Saturday morning for a walk around the facilities at Airlie. Warm
temperatures and autumn colors were a delightful bonus. We started at the
Sladen
residence on Blantyre Road where the lower pond yielded American Wigeon, Black
Ducks, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks and a lone Coot. Four Rusty Blackbirds
perched briefly nearby before flying on. On our leisurely stroll around the
grounds
we found Field, Swamp, Song, White-throated sparrows, Juncos, Bluebirds and a
nice flock of about 60 Cedar Waxwings. A few Phoebes were about, along w.
Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We managed to locate one Creeper as well and
a
small flock of Purple Fichii...
After the walk around HQ - Dr Sladen was kind enough to give us the cooks
tour of the conference center. Stopping to look at the family of resident
Trumpeter Swans near the Conference Center, we encountered a few RB Nuthatches
in the
pines along the road. At the reservoir, Bill introduced us to the collection
of hybrid swans that make their home at Airlie. (I know when I go back I'll
fail the test - see Cliff Ottos previous post for one example - the
"mumpling").
The reservoir held one PB Grebe, many more Ring-necked Ducks and we picked up
some Savannah sparrows along the fence line.
The NVBC wishes to thank Dr. Sladen and the folks at Airlie for the
generosity extended to our group allowing us to visit this exceptional
facility. For
more info on Airlie, please visit their website at www.airlie.org. Complete
list
follows...Rich Rieger
PB Grebe - 1
GB Heron - 1
C. Goose - 150
Am. Black Duck - 18
Mallard - 8
Gadwall - 2
Am. Wigeon - 20
Ring-necked Duck - 100
Bufflehead - 12
BVulture - 6
TV - 20
Coopers Hawk - 1
RS Hawk - 2
RT Hawk - 3
Coot - 1
Kingfisher - 1
RB WP - 2
Downy WP - 2
Flicker - 2
Pil. WP - 2
E. Phoebe - 2
BJay - 8
AM Crow - 14
Fish Crow - 12
C. Chickadee - 6
Tufted Titmouse - 6
RB Nuts - 2
WB Nuts - 3
Brown Creeper - 1
Car Wren - 2
GC King - 2
RC King - 6
Bluebirds- 4
No Mocker - 2
Cedar Waxywings - 60
YR Warb. - 15
No Card - 8
Field Sp. - 7
Savannah sp - 2
Song Sp - 18
Swamp sp. - 2
White-throateds - 20
Juncos - 12
Rusty Blackbirds- 4
Purple Finch - 8
AM Goldfinch - 6
