Hello Birders,
I birded along the border of the Chantilly National Golf Course today.
(Fairfax county) The access is along a right-of-way off Braddock Road. There
are always large standing pools there after rain, and I usually find some good
birds along the way or looking out onto the course.
Today's two notable sightings were a trio of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a
flyover pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. The WP's are regularly found near this
location on Christmas counts and also in spring, so these might have been local
breeders - still trying to find and confirm that. They are confirmed breeding
for the Atlas at Conway Robinson State Forest, 8 miles away, but I believe they
are also breeding in the Cub Run Stream Valley parkland, both north and south
of the golf course.
The Grosbeaks consisted of an adult female and two immatures foraging together
in a small tree with House and Song Sparrows. The two young ones were
remarkably smaller than the adult, and I was glad to be able to compare with
nearby SOSP to be sure of my species ID. The chest streaking, slight rosy area
on the flanks, weak facial markings, and of course the large bill all showed
that these two (significantly smaller than the adult) birds were also R-B
Grosbeaks.
One of the immatures begged briefly - but not from the adult, from the other
immature!! So it appeared to be a family group that has begun their migration
together.
The only other probable migrants there today were a Redstart and a Parula.
Cheers!!
Steve Johnson
Fairfax, Virginia
