Bill Parkin and I started the morning at Lake Frederick for a few minutes
this morning, where we found 2 Great Blue Herons, a Belted Kingfisher, a
small flock of a Canada Geese, along with a lone Ruddy Duck and 3 Mallards.
(So far this fall the lake has had one Common Loon, one Horned Grebe, and
Pied-billed Grebes).
Our next stop was a 4 hour plus stay at Blandy Farm where it was pretty
birdy most of the time we were there. Of note were 5 American Wigeon and 4
Gadwall on Lake Arnold, across the road from the gazebo area, which is
Rattlesnake Spring. There were still 2 Tree Swallows flying over the spring.
Notable in that area were Purple Finches, a Winter Wren, and a House Wren,
to complement the singing Carolina Wren. However, we saw no House Finches
today, nor any Cedar Waxwings, which have been numerous out this way of
late.
The feeder area (and environs) near the office area yielded a Blackpoll
Warbler (perhaps 2), several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, at least one
Golden-crowned Kinglet, and 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches.
We were able to find all 7 local woodpeckers today in various parts of the
property.
Sparrows were plentiful today, notable recent arrivals being White-crowned,
White-throated, and Lincoln's. Best sparrow observation was at Rattlesnake
Spring, around the Chestnut enclosure near the horse paddock, across the
road from that area, and east on both sides of the road all the way down to
the sharp turn in the road.
On the way home we drove Featherbed Road hoping for a Loggerhead Shrike
(seen there the past 3 years with varying degrees of regularity), but none
yet this season. We did pick up an American Kestrel, which put us at 61
species for the day.
Dave Boltz
Lake Frederick
Blandy Experimental Farm/State Arboretum of Virginia, Clarke, Virginia, US
Oct 16, 2018 8:25 AM - 12:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
57 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 105
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 5
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 35
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 8
Cooper's Hawk 1
Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Great Horned Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 35
American Crow 30
Fish Crow 20
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
House Wren 1
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 7
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 25
Purple Finch 8
American Goldfinch 20
Chipping Sparrow 5
Field Sparrow 8
White-crowned Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 15
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 12
Lincoln's Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 8
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Common Grackle 35
Common Yellowthroat 2
Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Lacked the streaking of Blackpoll. Dark legs and
feet, also.
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 12
