Hello birders,
Happy New Year. I did not find the Northern Shrike at Sully Woodlands,
yesterday or today. Last report I see for it is Dec. 22.
At Dulles Airport today, no Snowy Owl atop the mid-terminal buildings, but at
least one Rough-legged Hawk was there, towards the SW. Recommend if you go
there looking for either one, and you want anything more than minimal
identification field marks, bring a spotting scope.
Viewing from the parking structure, I could verify the absence of the owl; but
if it were there, it would be a round white ball through 12X binoculars.
Similarly, I could only get minimal field marks on the Rough-legged, at that
distance.
As far as time of day, in the afternoon you're looking into the sun, for the
Rough-legged. The best time of day, would be whenever they shut off all those
heat-producing jet engines. Let us all know please, if you find out when that
is.
Good luck and good birding!!
Steve Johnson
Fairfax, Virginia
