I visited Burke Lake Park twice today; first between about 10:00 and 11:30 in
the morning, and I was so impressed with what I saw that I went back between
about 3:30 and 5:15 this afternoon.
The big attraction both times were the 200-300 Bonaparte's Gulls,
which were actively flying around and feeding on the lake. In the morning I
found two or three birds which appeared to have the black hood of the breeding
plumage. I could not relocate these in the afternoon. (But I did get some
photographs in the morning.)
In the morning there was a large raft of 250 or more Double-crested
Cormorants, tightly packed together over on the far shore of the lake. I assume
they were trying to keep out of the brutally stiff wind. By the afternoon they
were more evenly spread out across the lake
I also found, in one afternoon scope scan, at least 11 Common Loons, mostly
in breeding plumage. And, I found seven Horned Grebes, in varying degrees of
breeding plumage; and at least one, maybe two, Pied-billed Grebes.
Among the copious swallows flying over the lake, I found Tree Swallows,
Northern Rough-wing Swallows, Barn Swallows and several Purple Martins.
I saw the Eagles catch at least two fish and carry them back to the nest.
It was a very birdy place. I had never seen this many Bonaparte's Gulls
before.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
