Hello, birders.
Two birders, Mike Iwanik and Jean (from Winchester, sorry I forget her last
name!) joined co-leaders Bob Klarquist and me for a pleasant and birdy walk at
Sky Meadows on Saturday morning, trip sponsored by the Northern Virginia Bird
Club. No unusual species were seen or heard, but there were lots of sparrows
and raptors. We also saw all 7 species of woodpeckers. We liked watching a
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER excavating a hole in a snag, presumably the hole was for
a winter roost. In the process of throwing out sawdust from the hole, it got
sawdust on it's otherwise perfect, irredescent plumage. Big miss for the day
- T. Titmouse.
We birded the area near the Visitor Center, the contact station area, the
Walnut Grove (open woods) all the way to the group campground area, and part
of the Shearman's Mill Trail (Bridle Trail area, behind the barn and silo).
After everyone else left, I birded with two woman from Loudoun Co. (again,
can't remember names, sorry!) who helped me spot a beautiful, healthy looking
Red Fox in the woods that didn't seem concerned about us standing 30 ft. away.
List below with numbers. A number in parenthesis is how many were seen/heard
after the official walk.
-Canada Goose, heard during walk. Afterwards, saw them on nearby farm pond,
104.
-domestic goose, 1 with above
-Black Vulture, 6
-Turkey Vulture, 3
-Bald Eagle, 5. 3 ad., 2 imm., one of which was a 3rd yr.
-R.-tailed Hawk, 3
-Am. Kestrel, 3
-Rock Pigeon, (6)
-M. Dove, 9 (+1)
-B. Kingfisher, 1 (+1)
-Red-headed Woodpecker, 12
-Red-bellied Woodpecker, 5 (+2)
-Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 (+1 F)
-Downy Woodpecker, 3 (+1)
-Hairy Woodpecker, (1 F)
-No. Flicker, 7 (+6)
-Pileated Woodpecker, 2
-Blue Jay, 7 (+2)
-Am. Crow, 4 (+1)
-crow sp., 5 (+2)
-Com. Raven, 5
-Car. Chickadee, 2 (+1)
-W.b. Nuthatch, 3 (+1)
-B. Creeper, 3 (+1)
-Car. Wren, 8 (+3)
-G.c. Kinglet, 2 (+1)
-E. Bluebird, 7 (+2)
-No. Mockingbird, 5
-Eur. Starling, 35
-Yel.-rumped Warbler, 2
-E. Towhee, 2
-Field Sparrow, 15
-Song Sparrow, 50 (+40)
-Swamp Sparrow, 2 (+3)
-Wh.-throated Sparrow, 15 (+40)
-Wh.-crowned Sparrow, (1 imm.) This otherwise healthy looking, alert bird
had some sort of problem with its right eye. It appeared that it was placed a
little lower on the face and was perhaps partially closed or smaller than its
other eye.
-D.e. Junco - 12+
-No. Cardinal, 2 (+2)
-R.w. Blackbird, 2
-E. Meadowlark, 7 (+2)
-Am. Goldfinch, 8
-House Sparrow, 1 F
Mammals
-E. Gray Squirrel, 1
-E. Fox Squirrel, (1)
-E. Chipmunk, 1
-Red Fox, (1)
-W.t. Deer, 4 (+9)
Butterfly
-Clouded Sulphur, (1)
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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