Was my day to lead... and a beautiful day it was. Cool temps in the
morning did not rise all that fast and 16 or so birders turned out for
the regular walk starting at 8a.m. and ending at whenever. We mixed
and mingled w. Larry Cartwright's Breeding Bird Censusing Crew
throughout the morning and got a look at a few good birds.
A singing EASTERN WOOD PEWEE greeted the early arrivers in the south
parking lot. We were later told of one carrying food, possibly to an
incubating female. We saw and heard one GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER as it
moved around the picnic area. Scope views of the "power tower" BALD
EAGLE nest revealed one adult (tending to one chick I saw later from a
closer vantage point). OSPREYS are everywhere and the nest at the
marina boat launch now has PURPLE MARTINS nesting right under the
Osprey nest (as well as HOUSE SPARROWS) one flight down. WARBLING
VIREOS near the marina rest room and further down Haul Road on the
peninsula. Our group was able to confirm REDBELLIED WOODPECKERS
bringing food to young in a cavity just off the marina road. One LEAST
BITTERN put in a brief appearance as we stood on the last platform and
as we headed back in, we watched a male and female YELLOW WARBLER
forage together just off the boardwalk about halfway between the
platforms. Screech Owls have either fledged young or the nest failed
as we have not seen or heard them for maybe two weeks now....After the
walk, I went up to the Stone Bridge and added GREAT EGRET, CASPIAN
TERN, RB GULL to the list and located our pet TUNDRA SWAN on the inlet
near the golf course... Complete list follows...
Rich Rieger
Alexandria
C Goose 100
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard Duckies 10
DC Corms only 1
Least Bittern 1
GB Heron 3
Great Egret 6
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey (counting babies) 18
Bald Eagle (oneAd+oneimm) 2
RB Gull 18
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift only 1
RT Hummingbird 1
RedBellied WP 7
Downy WP 7
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
GreatCr Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
Warbling Vireo 5
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 8
Car. Chickadees 10
Tufted Titmouse 10
WhiteBreasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 6
Marsh Wren 1
BG Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 28
Euro Stars more than enuf
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 3
Song Sparrow 2 (one singing in Marina,
one in vicinity of first platform)
No Cards 18
Indigo Buntings 3
RW Blackbird 40
Common Gracks 12
Orchard Oriole 4
Baltimore Orioles 3
Am Goldenfinches 6
House Sparrow 6
