Hello VA-Birders,
My family and I went out to Sky Meadows State Park late this afternoon for some
R&R, and managed to get in some birding while we were out and about. The top
bird of the day came early, when we were stop-and-go in traffic and noticed a
largish bird flycatching from a snag right along I-66, approximately 3 miles
before the exit to Marshall in Fauquier County. The bird was close enough to
see the two white spots above the rump in the bins - probably the only time I
have ever been thankful for a traffic jam!
Going north from I-66 along Winchester Rd (17), I saw another good bird for
August, which was a DARK-EYED JUNCO which was gravelling along the road very
close to the intersection of Leeds Manor Rd. As we were passing I saw it fly
away from the road, and heard its characteristic series of chips as it flew
away. It was not with other birds.
We then visited the main visitor area of Sky Meadows, and noted some decent
birds, including some very active RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS of various ages. They
have a roost or nest hole in a very visible snag in the trees at the top of the
hill in the clearing, and anyone with a nice camera would find great ops. The
list of birds observed is below.
We left and drove along Leeds Manor Rd, which was very nice as always, and
found the below list of birds (Junco included).
Take Care,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
SKY MEADOWS SP
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 35
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 22
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 16
Fish Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 18
Carolina Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 9
American Robin 1
European Starling 15
Cedar Waxwing 1
Chipping Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 3
Indigo Bunting 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 22
LEEDS MANOR RD
Canada Goose 12
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 12
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Bank Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 10
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 12
Chipping Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Eastern Meadowlark 3
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 6
