Two of us birded various sections of Algonkian Park in Sterling this morning.
The highlight may have been a close up mixed flock that we encountered on the
bank of the Potomac containing between five and ten Black-and-white Warblers
and some 20 Magnolia Warblers. Early winter birds included three Yellow-rumped
Warblers and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We also enjoyed a view of three Ospreys. *
Full list includes:
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Eastern Phoebe 10
Blue Jay 200+
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 20
Tufted Titmouse 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 20
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 20+
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5-10
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 5
House Finch 40
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 1
*Oh yes, and we also observed the Ear-splitting Tractor-Pulled Leafblower,
busily making the habitat suitable for those NVRPA patrons who prefer to
experience nature without fallen leaves.
Bill Brown
Herndon
