Supplementing Kurt Gaskill's report of an afternoon visit to Dulles Wetlands
on September 3 , a small group of Loudoun birders visited the Wetlands from
6-30 a.m . Highlights were a HY Bald Eagle begging for food subsequently
joined by an adult which leads to the strong probability that a pair did breed
successfully on the nest built in the large sycamore on the southern end of
the
property , 2 HY Northern Harriers ( early date ) , Marsh Wren , shorebirds
as Kurt's list ( Pectoral SP ,Least ,Semi-palmated SP , Lesser Yellowlegs ,
Killdeer , Solitary SP , Semi-palmated Plover etc ) plus a Wilson's Snipe seen
by Laura Weidner's group. Up to 6 Great Egrets were visible at any given time
and interesting waterfowl were 2 Blue winged Teal ( early ) , 2 Green Winged
Teal (early ) and 4 Wood Duck. Cooper's Hawks flew over several times and 5
+ Blue Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers were feeding of the vine grapes.
Note access to the Dulles Wetland Mitigation Project property is by
written permission only ,otherwise view it from Oatlands Mill Road which runs
along the western boundary.
John Drummond
Ashburn
Loudoun County.
