The meadow at Riverbend Park (Fairfax Cty) continues to support a large
number of sparrows (500 plus?). The dominant sparrows are White-throated and
Song,
but there are also Fox, Field, Swamp, and Juncos, and also an Eastern Towhee.
Ducks on the river included at least 100 Ring-necks, 20 Buffleheads, 6 Common
Mergansers, 7 Wood Ducks, and Mallards. A Horned Grebe changing into breeding
plumage was also near the Virginia shore just south of the visitor center. (I
had gotten a brief unsatisfactory glimpse of this bird on Thursday morning
before it dove. I never saw it re-emerge despite a ten minute vigil. An adult
winter plumaged bird was on the far shore at the time, so Riverbend has been
hosting at least two Horned Grebes).
Only a few Ringed-billed Gulls remain on the river. Several Great Blue
Herons were about and a single Killdeer remains. Two bald eagles were perched
across the river.
At Great Falls, Phoebe and Pied-billed Grebe were back.
Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA
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