Occoquan NWR in Woodbridge was a pure joy this morning. Gorgeous weather and
tons of birds. Nothing outstanding, but I found 64 species ibetween 7:30 and
10am on the trail between the parking lot and Taylor Point (Bayview Rd.,
Charlie Rd., and Delta Rd.). The first bird I saw as I got out of my car was a
merlin flying over the field. Shortly after a sharp-shin flew over and dove
into the brush out towards the middle of the large field. Over a hundred small
birds erupted from the field and circled into the sky (too far away to id).
Yellow-rumps, and palm warblers were everywhere and seemingly intent on chasing
anything with wings. Of the sparrows, Savannah, song, and field sparrows were
most common. There were also good numbers of swamp sparrows and white-crowns
(all juvenile). White-throats, Lincoln's, chipping, and eastern towhee rounded
out the sparrows. Besided palms and yellow-rumps, I found 1 magnolia and 1
black and white. The river held Caspian and Forster's terns, pied billed
grebes, and large rafts of lesser scaup (300+) and ruddy duck (150). The marsh
along Charlie Road held a flock of over 30 rusty blackbirds, the largest flock
I have seen in quite a while.
For those interested, here is a complete list. I sure there were other species
out there.
pied-billed grebe - 3
double-crested cormorant - 100+
great blue heron - 2
canada goose - 100
wood duck - 12
mallard - 10
northern pintail - 1
lesser scaup - 300+
ruddy duck - 150
turkey vulture - 1
bald eagle - 1
sharp-shinned hawk - 1
Cooper's hawk - 2
merlin - 1
ring-billed gull - 25
herring gull - 3
laughing gull - 100
Caspian tern - 1
Forster-s tern - 15
rock dove
mourning dove - 6
chimney swift - 2
belted kingfisher - 1
red-bellied woodpecker - 3
downy woodpecker - 1
northern flicker - 6
pileated woodpecker - 1
eastern phoebe - 6
tree swallow - 2
northern rough-winged swallow - 2
golden-crowned kinglet - 1
ruby-crowned kinglet - 8
carolina wren - 8
gray catbird - 1
northern mockingbird - 2
eastern bluebird - 25
american robin - 3
carolina chickadee - 2
blue jay - 5
american crow - 12
fish crow - 1
starling
magnolia warbler - 1
yellow-rumped warbler - 100+
palm warbler - 50
black and white warbler - 1
eastern towhee - 2
chipping sparrow - 1
field sparrow - 25
savannah sparrow - 40
song sparrow - 60
Lincoln's sparrow - 3
swamp sparrow - 15
white-crowned sparrow - 10
white-throated sparrow - 8
northern cardinal - 10
red-winged blackbird - 100
eastern meadowlark - 7
rusty blackbird - 30+
common grackle - 10
brown-headed cowbird - 4
house finch - 8
american goldfinch - 12
house sparrow - 4
Marc Ribaudo
Woodbridge, VA
