I stopped by Mason Neck SP & NWR for a short time this afternoon, primarily to
check on waterfowl. Much of what was present was quite distant and probably
better seen from Occoquan Bay or Belmont Bay. However, FOS sightings for me
were Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and a lone female Common Merganser. There was a
flock of about 250 DC Cormorants feeding tightly together with a small mixed
flock of gulls and a large (350+) raft of Am. Coots in Belmont Bay. A nice
surprise was the 3 Horned Grebes not too far out from the Visitors Center. I
also had a small group of 3 Hermit Thrushes, all together in the same spot
along the entry road, still on the State Park side.
I stopped by Pohick Bay Regional Park on the return trip. Of note there were 12
Forster’s Terns perched on some of the pilings.
Dave Boltz
Alexandria/Fairfax Co.
