Hello Everyone,
I hit some of the usual northern VA spots this morning and found some decent
birds totaling 60 species. Some highlights:
Belmont Bay Marina: 2 Wood Ducks were flying together up the Occoquan River.
Several unfortunate Canada Geese were struggling to free themselves of the ice
that had frozen around them overnight.
Occoquan Bay NWR: I estimate about 3,500 Lesser Scaup were present off Easy
Rd in one mass, with almost nothing else mixed in. I found 2 GREATER SCAUP
without much scanning, so there were probably more. One GRAY CATBIRD near the
intersection of Bayview and Easy Rd. Also here was a FOX SPARROW. A subadult
male NORTHERN HARRIER coursed over the fields near the entrance. I ran into
the Montgomery bird club folks while walking the refuge, so hopefully they
found some good birds.
Pohick Bay SP: Still no White Pelican. 8 COMMON MERGS were nice. There has
been this tight pack of over 450 AMERICAN COOTS swimming offshore for at least
a week, almost comical to watch them.
Mason Neck NWR Great Marsh Trail: 48+ TUNDRA SWANS calling all at once -
quite nice. A CANVASBACK, plus various other duck species. Like other spots
today, I noticed many BROWN CREEPERS, SAPSUCKERS and WINTER WRENS which may
have been more vocal than usual. 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS overflew. I could not find
or hear the Greater Yellowlegs that frequent the area.
Dyke Marsh: After something scared a couple of hundred Canadas off the
adjacent golf course, I was able to easily find the well-reported CACKLING
GOOSE in the water at Hunting Creek on the "inside" area of the bridge.
Have Fun,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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