VA BIRDers,
Highlight of my birding walk from the boardwalk up Barnyard Run was a Common
Redpoll, flying out of bushes/greenbriars along B.R. edge, flying north
across same giving typical flight call. The location is well beyond the
turn as seen from the tower. Also notable was a Common Raven further down
B.R.
I started out about 745 and after leaving the boardwalk went off trail
checking various spots along B.R. I reached the power lines and the Fort
Belvoir border at about 1130; according to "runningmap.com" the distance is
about 2.8 miles (which gives one a good idea how long it takes to bird and
bush whack). The return trip had a few pauses in an attempt to fill in
holes in the list, which were many, and took about an hour. (Notable misses
were Great Blue Heron, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxing and
Yellow-rumped Warbler.) I finished the trip with 50 species. The list with
occasional comments is below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 39
Gadwall 6
Am. Wigeon 2
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 34
No. Shoveler 1
Green-winged Teal 62, the ducks were all in the main pond, partially
obscured by lots of vegetation
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1, over B.R.
Ring-billed Gull 2, over B.R.
Mourning Dove 4
Barred Owl 1, near visitor center parking lot; in winter if you arrive early
and are quiet, you can often find it near the beginning of the lot, west
side
Red-headed WP 1
Red-bellied WP 13
YB Sapsucker 3, a good winter for them at Huntley?
Downy WP 7
Hairy WP 4
No. Flicker 12
PIleated WP 3
E. Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 18
Am. Crow 14, at dusk one can see hundreds of crows flying north to roost
inside the beltway
Fish Crow 249, one group was about 240 strong
Common Raven 1, almost at the Ft Belvoir boundary line
C. Chickadee 13
T. Titmouse 17
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, in pines down near the Ft B boundary line
White-breasted Nuthatch 10
C. Wren 10
W. Wren 7, a better than average winter for this species
GC Kinglet 3
E. Bluebird 6
E. Towhee 6
Am. Tree Sp 1, in main marsh, east side, perched on top of a short tree
Field Sp 1
Fox Sp 2, the first was in the parking lot with White-throats, within 50
yrds of the Barred Owl
Song Sp 80
Swamp Sp 38
White-thr Sp 80
DE Junco 12
Red-winged BB 28
Rusty BB 3
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 2
Common Redpoll 1
Am. Goldfinch 15
