I have been incommunicado because of long-term computer problems.? So here are
recent and not-so-recent sightings of note.
In my yard:
4/13 house wren (can't access Avisys now, but I believe the usual date is
4/16-18)
siskins: all year in small numbers daily through today
fox sparrows: 1 or 2 regularly from 3/8-22
White Oaks Park
The last week: big numbers of RC kinglets, regular winter wrens and thrashers,
but no more than single yellow-rumps
4/10 -- first non-wintering warbler (a yellow palm)
4/8 -- last GC kinglet
4/7 -- first gnatcatcher
4/1 -- MERLIN (park first)
this spring: very few creepers
Huntley Meadows Hike/Bike Trail
4/12 -- tundra swan in wetland; VA rail; LA waterthrush; good numbers of
ruby-crowned kinglets and hermit thrushes; barn swallow; siskin; only one song
sparrow
4/11 -- 50+ rusties near Visitor's Center
4/3 -- last GC kinglets
3/8 -- pair of eagles locking talons and spirally down over Woodcock Meadow
2/28 -- LINCOLN'S SPARROW
Fox sparrow: through 3/15 (with the maximum: 10) -- they particularly liked the
prescribed burn areas near trees
On an out of bounds note, we went to Cape May for the first weekend in April.?
It wasn't good for passerines yet (just phoebes and gnatcatchers), but nice
seabirds: all three scoters, scores of red-throated loons by at Sunset Beach,
and many gannets following closely behind the ferry (best view I've had of them
this side of Newfoundland).
Good birding.
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
