VA Birders: This morning, the Northern Virginia Bird Club went to Blandy Farm
in Clarke county. It was a delightfully pleasant day despite the chilly start
-- no wind and a bit of sun kept us fairly warm. We collectively saw or heard
48 species. We started birding the successional field near the community garden
and found plenty of sparrows including White-crowned, Savannah and Field
Sparrows. A Merlin was flushed and briefly seen along the tree line north of
the community garden as well as a Gray Catbird along that tree line. We then
proceeded to walk south east across the field towards the hilltop in the center
of the field. From there we spotted the previously reported LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
all the way across the field hunting along a ridge closest to the tree line
along Route 50. The shrike put on a delightful show perching on the stalks bare
trees and sallying periodically after prey. Despite our efforts, we did not
find any American Tree Sparrows. Other good birds seen as we headed towards and
around the Pavilion were both kinglet species, several Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks perched up nicely, an Eastern Phoebe
at the pond below the Pavilion and Cedar Waxwings. As we headed through the
conifer grove, we heard a racket of noise being made by nuthatches and jays,
only to flush an owl out the conifers. My first thought was a Barred Owl -- a
big headed, earless owl in the conifers. We pursued the owl up the hill to
re-find it near the mobbing jays and realized much to our surprise that it was
a BARN OWL! The owl flew around the conifer grove, over several peoples heads
and eventually disappeared into the conifer grove to the north of the office
parking lot again still with Blue Jays chasing after it. A wonderful find at
the end our walk. Afterwards, several of us drove to Blandy Farm Road looking
for larks and pipits. Not much was found except a Horned Lark was heard as
well as hearing and then spotting a Common Raven. The two complete eBird
checklists are below. Elton MorelArlington, VA -----Original Message-----
From: ebird-checklist <ebird-checklist@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: eltonmorel <eltonmorel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sat, Dec 2, 2017 3:11 pm
Subject: eBird Report - Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia,
Dec 2, 2017
Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia, Clarke, Virginia, US
Dec 2, 2017 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: NVBC walk lead by Dave Boltz and Elton Morel.
45 species
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 1 Adult. Late flyover.
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 60
Barn Owl 1 Flushed from the conifer grove. Very surprise find!
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1 Heard only
Northern Flicker 6
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Merlin 1 Briefly seen along tree line north of the community garden.
Eastern Phoebe 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1 Seen to the south east of the community garden but all the
way across the field along a ridge closest to the tree line along Route 50.
Blue Jay 20
American Crow 4
Carolina Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 7
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 45
Hermit Thrush 1 Heard only
American Robin 50
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 20
European Starling 40
Cedar Waxwing 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Field Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco 25
White-crowned Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 40
Savannah Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 20
Swamp Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 1 Heard only
Northern Cardinal 18
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 18
American Goldfinch 20
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40860054
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia, Clarke, Virginia, US
Dec 2, 2017 12:05 PM - 12:20 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: NVBC walk lead by Dave Boltz and Elton Morel. Checklist for field
along Bland Farm Lane nearest Berry's Ferry Road.
13 species
Black Vulture 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 30
Mourning Dove 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
American Crow 1 Heard only
Common Raven 1
Horned Lark 1 Heard only
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 6
European Starling 25
Dark-eyed Junco 5
White-throated Sparrow 1 Heard only
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40860044
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
