Twelve people came out this morning for the regular Loudoun Wildlife
Conservancy monthly bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship which was led by Bruce Johnson & Joe Coleman. Highlights of the
walk were the signs of Spring with at least five different flocks of Canada
Geese flying north in nice V formations, a flock of Ring-billed Gulls high over
the mountains, Eastern Phoebes and Field Sparrows singing in locations where
they usually nest, two Fox Sparrows, and more sightings of Song Sparrows
together and singing than one usually sees. Early in the morning Bruce, while
waiting for the group to gather, had a flock of a 100 Tundra Swans fly right
over his head; later during the walk we twice heard distant flocks of Tundra
Swans but were unable to find them. And as the day warmed up a number of
Red-tailed Hawks were seen soaring overheard. The two very vocal Ravens, which
were heard more than once, were also nice.
Today's walk took place on the southern portion of the center at the end of
Sawmill Road and along Arnold Road, the area which is slated to become a state
park in the future.
Information on the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship can be found
at http://www.blueridgecenter.org. Information on the Loudoun Wildlife ;
Conservancy and its many free activities can be found at
www.loudounwildlife.org.
Joe Coleman
The complete list, from eBird, follows:
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship - MFF01, Loudoun, US-VA
Mar 22, 2014 7:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
37 species
Canada Goose 200
Tundra Swan 100
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 15
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Ring-billed Gull 3 also saw a distant flock above the mountain moving
north which we didn't count
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
American Crow X
Fish Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 12
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 6
Eastern Towhee 2
Field Sparrow 4
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 22
White-throated Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 12
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
