Hello, birders.
For the VSO bird foray at Sky Meadows we covered more
territory than I normally cover during my informal
bird surveys, with virtually complete coverage on the
extensive trail system. That combined with the whole
park being surveyed at the height of the breeding
season in early June AND an apparently good year for
some uncommon species made for good diversity and
numbers. Virtually every expected summer species at
Sky Meadows was seen or heard during the survey. I am
very pleased with the results. On a personal note, I
can say that it was tiring but fun to bird the park
for both weekends of the foray.
I don't have all the data yet but the best birds so
far were an adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE with two almost
grown young (June 5), one PINE WARBLER along
Ambassador White House Trail, at least one singing
SAVANNAH SPARROW near barn/silo/farm ponds and one
singing BOBOLINK at treeline that runs E from Walnut
Grove to Rte. 17. We have only one record for Pine
Warbler, common in Virginia but normally absent from
Sky Meadows even in migration, an early migrating male
in late Feb. several years ago. There are no pines
were this bird was observed. There are no previous
summer records for Bobolink at Sky M. of which I am
aware. I hope he has found a mate and is nesting.
Others:
-Ruffed Grouse, 3
-Wild Turkey, 1
-No. Bobwhite, 3
-Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1
-Broad-winged Hawk, 1
-American Woodcock, 1 peenting before dawn near
fishing pond
-Red-headed Woodpecker, healthy numbers, nest found
-Willow Flycatcher, 3 singing males on E side of park,
good number
-Fish Crow, over a dozen. Normally scarce in summer.
-Yellow-rumped Warbler, 3 late migrants along Boston
Mill Rd. section of Gap Run Tr. on June 4
-Cerulean Warbler, many more than usual
-Kentucky Warbler, " " " " , nest found
-Grasshopper Sparrow, 1 SW of fishing pond, scarce in
recent years
-Rose-breasted Grosbeak, at least 1
Hope to see some of you at the park this summer.
Thanks to Alan Shreck, Linda Fields, Chuck Turner and
Roger Clapp for assisting in this avian population
survey.
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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