We visited Sully Woodlands in western Fairfax County this morning 26 January.
Highlights were a Common Raven and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.
The Raven did something really interesting.
We heard the croak, then watched it soar and circle overhead. We got great
looks at the diamond tail shape, and a smaller Amer Crow cooperated by passing
overhead so we could also see its neatly semi-circular tail.
But here's the cool part. While we watched, this CORA circled over the peak of
the small hill at these Woodlands, apparently kettling. It did gain altitude,
but then it tucked its wings in and dived (dove?) in a great impersonation of a
Falcon.
Of course it lost altitude from that. But then it resumed circling and
gaining, and then did the whole thing again. We watched for 5-10 minutes, and
the bird kettled, gained, and dived, at least 4 times. By then, it had drifted
slightly East, more directly over us, and it was no higher than when the whole
thing started. I believe it gained at least 100 feet altitude (difference) at
its peak.
So why oh why, was this Raven kettling and diving over and over? In training
to become a Falcon?
Other spp. included Flicker, Bluebirds, Robins, Yellow-Rumps, Song Spa, WT Spa,
Junco, and Towhee. I tried, but failed, to turn some of the Song Spa into
Savannahs, which I often see here in the summer.
We re-discovered one of the joys of winter birding today: walking comfortably
through a field we would never enter in warm weather. It is usually muddy, and
always full of ticks.
Steve Johnson
Fairfax, VA
