Sorry for the delay in getting out this preliminary report on the Seneca
Maryland/Virginia Christmas Bird Count held last Sunday. December 17. A big
"thank you" to all the folks who participated in this count in Montgomery
County, MD, and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in VA.
The weather cooperated and, based on reports so far, so did the birds. My
preliminary count is 96 species for count day. Beyond the usual suspects, we
also had several more unusual species. What may be last year's same male
Eurasian Wigeon was found again this year in the same place in Montgomery
County. Two Sandhill Cranes that probably are the same ones who spent part of
last winter in our area, traveling back and forth across the Potomac, were
found in Montgomery County. What may be last year's LeConte's Sparrow was
found back in the same area in Loudoun County.. We also have reports of
American Woodcock in Montgomery County, Horned Grebe (not sure of location)
and Cackling Goose, and Rough-legged Hawk in Virginia. There is a report of a
Ring-necked Pheasant in Montgomery County, though most likely a released bird
since the species has not been reported since 2004 for the Seneca CBC anywhere
in our circle, and the only recent reports in eBird are of a single bird that
wandered the area of the C&O Canal and the McKee-Beshars Wildlife Management
Area last winter. Dog trainers release exotic birds in this general area, and
the pheasant may could be from those or an escapee from a private collection.
Jim Nelson, Compiler
