Fw: Re: [Va-bird] Colonial Parkway - 12/24
- From: "Tad Finnell" <tadcipiter@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:10:06 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time)
-------Original Message-------
From: Tad Finnell
Date: 12/25/07 09:43:04
To: Meredith Bell
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Colonial Parkway - 12/24
Seeing Meredith's report and her comments on Cedar Waxwings reminded me
of a post I saw yesterday about the Newburyport Christmas Bird Count in Mass
They had an unprecedented 760 (if I remember correctly) Bohemian Waxwings
tallied on that count, and that may well be a bird to be associated with the
finch invasion year. I had my first in a flock of Cedar Waxwings. With the
huge numbers of Cedar Waxwings in Northern Va. it might be well to
familiarize yourself with that specie. I'd love to chase one in Virginia
next year.
Merry Christmas to all.
Tad Finnell
-------Original Message-------
From: Meredith Bell
Date: 12/25/07 08:58:50
To: BIRD, VA-
Subject: [Va-bird] Colonial Parkway - 12/24
VA-Birders,
With the beautiful sunny day, we decided to get outside and enjoy the birds.
We started in Yorktown and drove up the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown Island
The Colonial Parkway has an amazing variety of birds due to the various
habitats encountered along the way. We tallied 57 species and had some very
special experiences.
Highlights of the day:
- 50+ CEDAR WAXWINGS in the Yorktown Visitor Center parking lot. Many came
very close to us as they flew down 12-15 at a time and drank water from a
puddle left by the recent rain. Several EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and 30+ DARK-EYED
JUNCOS were also in the parking lot. (This parking lot is an excellent
birding spot at other times of the year as well).
- 1,500+ Ruddy Ducks at their usual hang-out on the York River - the Cheatam
Annex Overlook and east. There were 4 LESSER SCAUP mixed in with them. We
also saw 44 HORNED GREBES and two BROWN PELICANS from that spot.
- 5 BALD EAGLES (3 adult and 2 immature) along the Parkway
- At Jones Mill Pond we had GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER and great
looks at a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flying overhead.
- At College Creek there were another 100+ RUDDY DUCKS.
Jamestown Island was really fun - lots of bird activity on the Island Drive,
and we were there in the afternoon between 12:30 and 3:00 PM! At the first
bridge there were 36 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS. Along the drive we saw every
Woodpecker species except Hairy, including 7 RED-HEADED (1 adult and 6
immature). At one point a HERMIT THRUSH landed on a bare limb right next to
us. Immediately after that, we saw a male RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET flash his red
head at the same time that a male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET showed his yellow
streak. Very cool! On the James River at the far end of the drive were 6
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Other treats included good looks at BROWN-HEADED
NUTHATCH and EASTERN TOWHEE.
As we were leaving we counted 54 KILDEER sitting along the bank of the east
side of the island entrance! That was a record number for us. And as we
approached College Creek we spotted an AMERICAN KESTREL sitting on a bare
branch.
GREAT birding - and Merry Christmas to all!
Meredith and Lee Bell
Hayes, VA
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