Hello VA-Birders:
After being nearly bare of waterfowl during November and December, the
Potomac River around Riverbend Park (Fairfax County, VA) is now finally
filling up with ducks. Yesterday afternoon I walked about a half mile down
river from the Riverbend visitor center and saw 80-100 Buffleheads, 100 or
more Ring-necked Ducks, about two dozen Common Mergansers, and one
Long-tailed Duck. There were also about a dozen Bonaparte's Gulls on the
water.
This is the third time I have seen a Long-tailed Duck at Riverbend. The
other times were both in early November (2001 and 2002) and both the ducks
(one a female and the other a male) were in winter plumage. Yesterday's
Long-tailed, a female, was a great deal darker, matching Sibley's
illustration of a spring adult female.
Late afternoon is a good time for viewing winter waterfowl at Riverbend
Park, where in the morning you have the sun in your eyes as you look out on
the river. Note, however, that the park now closes at 5 PM, and birders
should be careful not to linger too long and be locked in.
Dorothy Tella
McLean, VA
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