I've seen Common Nighthawks right at sunset twice this past week, over Fairfax
and Oakton. Can't recall if they've been reported here yet this season, or not.
Also today in Chantilly (western Fairfax County), a solitary Solitary
Sandpiper. Seems a bit late in the season?
The Sandpiper was in the drainage pond adjoining the Cub Run Rec Center. It
was repeatedly harassed, once by a Grackle and several times by a Killdeer. In
each case they seemed to go out of their way to cross the pond to go after the
Sandpiper, which was pretty much foraging quietly by itself.
I can understand the Killdeer competing for similar foraging ground. But the
Grackle? My best guess is that the pond is a summer resident resource, and the
local breeders were harassing an "out-of-place" bird. Any thoughts?
- Steve Johnson
Fairfax County
