VA BIRDers,
I arrived at the Sawmill entrance to BRCES at about 7 am and
then birded the power line area between Sawmill and Arnold Lane for the next
3 hrs. It was a mixed bag with a few warblers and vireos, I nice flycatcher
assortment including 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, and one surprising
species - a Brown Creeper (car turnaround area of Arnold). This latter bird
is not expected as a migrant in Northern Virginia until late Sept/early Oct.
One could consider it an early migrant (which may not be surprising given
the generally dry conditions to our north) but there are prior reports that
this species may be an occasional breeder in mature woodlands, esp. along
rivers such as the Potomac (just a few miles away from BRCES). Whatever the
case, it was a very pleasant surprise! Today's list of 57 species after 3
hrs is below to give you a feel for the birds in this area and in case the
Loudoun Co folks want to record the results for their database.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 12
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Coopers Hawk 1, HY
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 3
YB Cuckoo 1
C. Swift 2
RT Hummer 5
Red-bellied WP 6
Downy WP 8
No. Flicker 2
Pileated WP 4
E. Wood Pewee 11
Yellow-bellied Fly 2
Acadian Fly 1
Trail's Fly 2
E. Phoebe 2
Great Crested Fly 2
White-eyed V 8
Yellow-thr V 1, singing
Red-eyed V 9
Blue Jay 4
Am. Crow 7
Com. Raven 1
Tree Sw 1
No. Rough-winged Sw 2
Barn Sw 1
C. Chickadee 6
T. Titmouse 9
White-br Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 1
C. Wren 7
H. Wren 2
BG Gnatcatcher 4
E. Bluebird 9
Gray Catbird 7
Brown Thrasher 3
E. Starling 12
Cedar Waxwing 2
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Nashville 1
Chestnut-sided 1
Magnolia 6
Com. Yellowthroat 4
Canada 2
Scarlet Tanager 3
E. Towhee 4
Chipping Sp 20
Field Sp 11
Song Sp 1
No. Cardinal 7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, singing
Indigo Bunting 20
Com. Grackle 246
Am. Goldfinch 13
