On a warm, rainy morning, the Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Bird Walk drew 14
birders who managed to count 50 species. Of particular interest was a singing
Veery in the woods near the east end of the boardwalk, and a flock of 10
Semipalmated Plovers that flew in, circled the central pond, and kept on going.
The Veery is an unusal Huntley occurance. We saw one a week or so ago, but I
can't remember hearing what Peterson describes as the etheral descending call
of this thrush. While not in its usually reported range, breeding Veery's in
the Washington area were reported in the 1940s and '50s. Stay tuned.
Canada Goose 13
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 4
Hooded Merganser 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 3
Green Heron 6
Osprey 1
Semipalmated Plover 10
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 7
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 18
Carolina Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 4
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 3
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 31
Common Grackle 4
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
The Monday Morning Birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7AM (8AM from November
through March), is free of charge, requires no reservation, and is open to all.
Birders meet in the parking lot at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd,
Alexandria, VA. Questions should be directed to Park staff during normal
business hours at (703)768-2525.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
