Sherman Suter and I toured "southern" Fairfax Co. this morning and found some
birds of note.
Overlooking Belmont Bay, at the corner of Belmont Landing Rd and Old Spring Dr.
(part of the Meadowwood park area) there was a lingering RedBreasted Nuthatch.
Entrance road to Mason Neck (up to pay station) had YellowThroated Vireo and
Scarlet Tanager (and lots of Wood Thrushes) along w. a vocal pair of Barred
Owls near the WoodMarsh parking lot.
Moving on to Pohick Bay (if Dave Boltz can have a RN Grebe, so can we) No RN
Grebe so we settled for nice looks at a male RoseBreasted Grosbeak along edge
of parking lot at car top boat launch.
A brief stop at Meadowwood yielded up 3 (M) Blue Grosbeaks along the dirt
road/path north of pond. All 3 Mimids were at the pond as well - 2 Brown
Thrashers were doing a courtship display.
The Equestrian Center near Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton yielded up hoped for
Prairie Warbler. Catchment Pond visible on your right as you turn off Lorton Rd
held a solitary Solitary Sandpiper.
Our final stop was Burke Lake - still hoping for a RN Grebe - did not yield a
Grebe, but there were 5 Loons - 4 Common (one still in basic plumes) and 1
RedThroated. Great Blue Herons are nesting on the island near the Bald Eagle
nest.
Rich Rieger
Alexandria
