VA BIRDers,
After about 15 early morning hours in the field spanning June 16 to 30,
Peter Ross, Gerry Hawkins and myself observed a total of 1346 individuals of
72 species at Mason Neck SP (1813 acres). Top species in abundance was
Common Grackle (136) followed by Tufted Titmouse (84), Acadian Flycatcher
(74), Red-eyed Vireo (72, note: NOT the number one neotrop!), Great Blue
Heron (62), Wood Thrush (55), Northern Cardinal (49), Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(47), Red-bellied Woodpecker (47), and Northern Parula (40). I estimate
about 50% of the park was covered and probably all habitat types were
well-covered. No attempt for owls were made but CBC data indicated that the
3 common owls (Great Horned, Barred and E. Screech) are present in the park.
The following summarizes the results. For additional details, please drop
me a line.
Kurt Gaskill
Canada Goose 65, all on Belmont Bay
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 2
Lesser Scaup 2, on Belmont Bay
Northern Bobwhite 1
DC Cormorant 1, Belmont Bay
Great Blue Heron 62, rookery at MN NWR
Green Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 12, many nests on Belmont Bay
Bald Eagle 8, var. ages, nests at MN NWR
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
buteo sp. 1
Ring-billed Gull 9, on Belmont Bay
Caspian Tern 6, on Belmont Bay
Mourning Dove 19
YB Cuckoo 47, pair
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 1
RT Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied WP 47
Down WP 21
Hairy WP 6
No. Flicker 3
Pileated WP 18
Eastern Wood Pewee 31
Acadian Flycatcher 74
Eastern Phoebe 6, nests under eaves at VC
Great Crested Flycatcher 18, juv
Eastern Kingbird 5, pair
White-eyed Vireo 4
Yellow-throated Vireo 7
Red-eyed Vireo 72, FS
Blue Jay 16, juv
American Crow 23
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 8, nests in boxes nr park
Tree Swallow 17, nests in boxes in park
No. Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 2, nests under docks nr park
C. Chickadee 35, juv
T. Titmouse 84, CF
White-breasted Nuthatch 29, FY
Carolina Wren 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 38
E. Bluebird 5, nests in boxes in park
Wood Thrush 55, juv
American Robin 10, CF
Gray Catbird 1
E. Starling 10, juv
Cedar Waxwing 2, pair
Northern Parula 40, FL
Yellow-throated Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 5, FY
Prothonotary Warbler 10, pair & agitated behavior
Ovenbird 28
Common Yellowthroat 12
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Scarlet Tanager 22
Chipping Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
No. Cardinal 49, juv
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting 3, pair
Red-winged BB 24, ON
Common Grackle 35, juv
Brown-headed Cowbird 13, juv with adults
Orchard Oriole 6
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 34
