Led by Mary Ann Good and Joe Coleman, 8 people visited the privately-owned
Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project on a chilly, drizzly March 19 for a
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy bird walk. We found 32 species of birds and a
multitude of animal tracks in the mud and lingering snow and were thrilled to
find a family of beavers has moved in and damned the spillway for the wetlands.
While the dam has probably only raised the water level by 6 inches to a foot,
the area around the wetlands is flood plain so the water has really spread out.
The beavers have also done a nice job of radically pruning the black willows
and ashleaf maples so it is a lot more difficult to approach the wetlands
without the ducks becoming aware of you.
The highlights of the walk included the Bald Eagles on their nest, a flock (26)
of turkeys crossing the road right before the walk, a woodcock closely seen,
and a Northern Harrier who briefly checked out the area. While the turkeys and
woodcock were only seen by a few people, most of the group saw one of the Bald
Eagles bring in prey to the nest but then leave with it shortly thereafter. The
only significant difference from when I scouted the wetlands the day before was
the absence of a large flock of wigeons and a single Hermit Thrush that were
there previously. It was disappointing to not find a single Rusty Blackbird
either day.
See below for complete eBird list of the birds seen on the walk.
While the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project is generally closed to
the public, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has permission to occasionally
lead walks there - please check out the schedule on the website
(www.loudounwildlife.org) for upcoming bird walks there and elsewhere in the
county as well as many other free activities. Also, Mary Ann Good, who manages
the bluebird trail on the wetlands, was thrilled that one of Wednesday's
participants volunteered to help with the trail this summer.
Good birding,
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun, US-VA
Mar 19, 2014 7:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Mary Ann Good and Joe Coleman led a walk for the Loudoun Wildlife
Conservancy on the privately-owned Dulles Greenway Wetlands this morning. There
was a chilly drizzle during much of the walk and not as many species as we
expected and no Rusty Blackbirds.
32 species
Canada Goose X
Gadwall 15
Mallard 30
Canvasback 6
Ring-necked Duck 20
Bufflehead 22
Ruddy Duck 2
Wild Turkey 26 The Wild Turkey flock was seen crossing the road in front
of one of the participants and behind another. They were moving from the edge
of the wetlands north to Oatlands.
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 2
American Coot 6
American Woodcock 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 5
Eastern Phoebe 2
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 12
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Rusty Blackbird 0
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17506357
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/VA)