VA BIRDers and MD BIRDers,
The Fort Belvoir CBC, which straddles the Potomac River south of Alexandria
to the Indian Head and Mason Neck area (and somewhat beyond), was conducted
for the 71st time Sunday, Jan 4, 2015. We have preliminary reports on
highlights and total species, both of which may change in the next few days
as completed data is not yet available. At this time, the circle reports
113 species, which is within one species of average. The predawn birding
was wet with intermittent showers but these subsided by sunrise and the
afternoon saw 64F temperatures, although there was a strong breeze off the
Potomac River.
Highlights in the rare category (5 times or less in 20 yrs, the number of
reported years are in parenthesis) were:
Cackling Goose (5), Veteran's Park, this species was split off less than 10
yrs ago, so the rarity value is misleading.
Osprey (3), an incredible find over the Potomac R off the Ft Hunt area
Sedge Wren (1), found during scouting 2 days before the count and completely
unexpected. Habitat management at Occoquan Bay NWR undoubtedly is playing a
role.
Clay-colored Sparrow (new to the circle), off the north side of Neabsco Cr,
amazing!
Lincoln's Sparrow (4), off the north side of Neabsco Creek - there is a
spate of LISP sightings in No. VA this winter.
And there is an honorary entry to the rare club, Surf Scoter, a first winter
male off the Great Marsh of Mason Neck mixed in with Lesser Scaup and
possibly the same one as reported on the DC CBC off Dyke Marsh on Dec 20.
There is evidence that this species is more rare than records indicate
(recorded 8 times in 20 yrs but more likely less than 5 times) due to
"species inflation" in the recorded data a dozen+ years ago.
Other highlights were Great Egret off Meadowood at Belmont Bay (13), Merlin
at the Great Marsh, Burke, and Occoquan Bay NWR (15), Virginia Rail at
Occoquan Bay NWR (6), Lesser Black-backed Gull off Meadowood at Belmont Bay
(9), Common Raven in Burke and Ft Belvoir (6), and Pine Warbler at Mason
Neck (12).
All the perennial favorites were found, often in multiple places, such as
Tundra Swan, Wood Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, American
Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe,
American Woodcock, the 3 local owl species, Red-headed Woodpecker,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, E. Phoebe, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Winter Wren, both kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher,
American Pipit, American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,
Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Pine Siskin and Purple
Finch.
It's hard to pin down a miss, although Bonaparte's Gull (18) must be
considered as it was observed the day before off Mason Neck SP!
Count week birds were Snow Goose at Huntley Meadows, American White Pelican
off Mattingly Park off Mattowoman Creek, Bonaparte's Gull off Mason Neck SP,
and White-eyed Vireo at Occoquan Bay NWR.
Let me give a special Thank You! to all the counters who came out on Sunday.
And, my grateful thanks goes out to all the Sector Leaders and organizers of
the count who did an incredible job, especially when confronted with
enhanced count logistics problems!
Kurt Gaskill,
16th year compiling the Ft B CBC
