Saturday morning May 20 a nice group of 10 of us birded Long Branch Nature
Center and Glencarlyn Park in Arlington as part of the county’s Bioblitz.
We found just over 40 species which I duly entered into iNaturalist as
requested by the event organizers. Nick in our group also maintained an
eBird checklist. Highlights included a very cooperative Yellow-billed
Cuckoo. We were watching 2 Red Foxes prancing about near the LBNC meadow
when Phil K noticed the silent Cuckoo perched high in a nearby tree. It was
distant but everyone was able to get good looks at the bird. Later, mobbing
Blue Jays and American Robins helped lead us to a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
perched with its Eastern Gray Squirrel prey, long tail dangling. And at
Sparrow Pond we all got great looks at a male Orchard Oriole perched by the
water’s edge. We also saw some cooperative male Eastern Towhees early in
the walk. And the weather was very nice – a bonus! Later in the day I was
able to add female Brown-headed Cowbird, Barred Owl (one well-heard call at
7:30 PM), and Chimney Swifts. My thanks to the nice folks who turned out.
Good birding and cheers, Steve Young, Arlington
