What could be better than starting the day with a skein of 40 tundra swans
flying high in a vee over the parking lot? Other highlights of the
40 species tallied by our group of 13 were waxwings, bluebirds and robins
galore. Next we spied two male flickers seemingly playing a game, a
sleepy barred owl just off the trail, hermit thrushes and a very cooperative
phoebe. A small flock of fish crows were mobbing a turkey vulture. On the
river were ruddy ducks and two eagles at the nest. All in all it was a
beautiful day with lots to see.
All are welcome to join this regular Sunday walk that meets at 8:00 AM, rain or
shine, in the visitors center parking lot. -- Marshall Rawson, McLean VA
Canada Goose 50
Tundra Swan 40
American Black Duck 5
Mallard 10
Common Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 10
Turkey Vulture 5
Bald Eagle 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 22
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 5
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 50
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 12
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 2
Carolina Wren 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Eastern Bluebird 60
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 125
Cedar Waxwing 100
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 12
Northern Cardinal 2
Common Grackle 30
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 10