VA BIRDers,
I headed out this morning to stretch my legs and find a few interesting
birds. I went to Occ. Bay NWR but forgot it was closed for a managed deer
hunt. So, I continued south to Aquia Landing SP. Top birds there were:
Cackling Goose - flying around making this croak that is decidedly nothing
like a Canada Goose honk - it dropped down into a few Canada Geese and its
small size was very apparent; Tundra Swan with irregular shaped yellow lores
- we do not often see this feature, illustrated in various field guides like
Sibley, but it is quite showy; Virginia Rail calling near the boundary of
the west side of the picnic area and the marsh; Marsh Wren chipping away
about half way in on the entrance road - incidentally, there were 4 Winter
Wrens at the park; and Gray Catbird, near the entrance. Also notable were
the large numbers of waterfowl - Tundra Swans, Gadwall, Am. Wigeon, Am.
Black Duck, Mallard, No. Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead (about 100),
Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup (7), Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common
Goldeneye (2 males), Hooded Merganser, and Ruddy Duck.
An afternoon stroll in Huntley Meadows produced 3 Red-headed WPs near the
beginning of the boardwalk and a Rusty Blackbird walking the ice between
bushes near the observation tower. No ducks - just a bunch of Canada Geese
on the ice.
On thje way to GW Parkway I noted 4 No. Shovelers on a pond in the golf
course near Dyke Marsh. And then National Airport added the Snowy Owl to the
No. Virginia list (at least Google Maps claim is VA). Lastly, near the
outflow of Roach's Run was an adult Black-crowned Night-Heron.
Kurt Gaskill
