VA BIRDers,
Kim Peacock, Lara Bainbridge and myself birded a few No. Virginia areas today.
Kim and I started south near Julie Metz and then drove north, picking up Lara.
Highlights:
Julie Metz: We looked in vain for the Clay-colored, but noted instead lots of
Field Sparrows plus a few Trees and at least one singing Fox. We heard from
others that the Metz monument Harris's Sparrow was seen today - the other
Harris's was last reported during the CBC further to the west. If you visit,
you may wish to bring an offering to the Metz! On the way out noted a fine
looking adult Cooper's perched on the marsh edge. Killdeer pair at the marina.
Initial evidence of nice icterid migratory flight noted with several groups of
Com. Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds flying over. Two Rusty Blackbirds were
singing.
Leesylvania SP: E. Bluebirds hanging around nearby boxes close to the entrance
- a good sign considering the population crash in 2003! A couple of Greater
Scaup in Powell's Creek mixed in with Lesser and some Common Mergansers.
Hundreds of Lesser Scaup to the south towards Possum Pt. Three Canvasbacks off
the first boat launch area. Icterid flight heating up with ca. 600 flying over
Powell's Cr in one formation.
Quantico Cr and Possum Pt Rd: Mostly dull save for a half dozen Double-crested
Cormorants on some wooden scafolding and ca. 200 Tundra Swans at the west end
of Quantico Cr Bay. No unusual gulls in the morning despite fine overall
numbers. Scattered groups of Red-winged Blackbirds noted, lots of song. The
only location with significant Fish Crow (ca. 30) presence observed today.
Will Fairfax Co ever end its crow extermination program?
Western Fairfax Co: Mainly the Bull Run PO Rd area which yielded several
Red-tailed Hawks and a female Northern Harrier over the owl field. A few
blackbirds noted.
Loudoun Co: We drove north birding a few locations. No big hawk numbers
(perhaps the winds made it harder???) - Beaverdam Reservoir yielded several
Common Mergansers on the small portion that was open water. Dulles Wetlands
exhibited Am. Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers plus another Red-tailed.
Thanks to Lara's keen eyes, 5 tom Wild Turkeys were found under a power line
easement whilst enroute. A gas station stop near the outlet malls of Leesburg
netted another Cooper's Hawk flying over a scottish fast food restaurant.
Lucketts area: We drove about for a couple of hours but found few hawks. One
Rough-legged - intermediate, male-type in pattern - on the east side of Rt 15
in the area just west of the big horse farm. At least one and possibly two
intermediate types were briefly seen twice on the west side of Rt 15 but closer
to the highway than the backroads. Northern Harrier count was 3 - all females
- the Red-tailed count was 8, and 2 Am. Kestrels pestering one of the Red-tails
were noted. Big icterid flocks observed - one at least 3500 strong. Another
Common Grackle flock of about 3000. Separate flocks of other Com. Grackles and
one group of 300 Red-winged Blackbirds.
We met up with Tom Ewart and chatted about various movies and, while waiting
for the Short-eared Owls on Montressor Rd near the same named farm, 5 Tundra
Swans flew past. Several high flying Vees of Canada Geese were distantly
noted, flying nearly over the Potomac R. One C. Goose Vee held a Snow Goose, a
relatively rare bird in these parts. One small group of teal at dusk that most
closely matched Green-winged in identity flew over - considering the lack of
open ponds I thought this was interesting.
Probably 2 and maybe 3 Short-eared Owls noted fairly late, about 615pm. The
first was seen well across the fields to where Montressor Rd bends north; this
bird then disappeared from our view. Soon, a bird reappeared near the box like
structure and flew south over the road (and nearly over the heads of many
standing by!) into the nearby farm and pond area. We could not re-find it. A
few minutes later another Short-eared was sighted near the box structure - it
sat down in front of the box and posed for several minutes.
Kurt Gaskill
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