Perhaps the most stunning highlight on this morning's Huntley Meadows Monday
Morning Birdwalk was the illusion of a tree abruptly sprouting its leaves as a
large mob of mixed blackbirds covered it as they landed. Most of this group
were female Red-winged Balckbirds, but Starlings, Grackles, and at least one
Rusty Blackbird made up a foraging flock of hundreds of birds. Quite a sight!
There were nine birders on the walk and we spotted 43 species. Other
highlights
included Hooded Mergansers in courtship displays, the lonely, faraway hooting
of
a Barred Owl, and a variety of raptors adding angst to many birds on the ground
and in the water.
Canada Goose 39
Wood Duck 12
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 6
Green-winged Teal 19
Hooded Merganser 11
Great Blue Heron 3
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Wilson's Snipe 10
Ring-billed Gull 73
Mourning Dove 1
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 38
European Starling 12
Song Sparrow 15
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 100 - 200
Rusty Blackbird 1
American Goldfinch 2
The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7AM, (8 AM during December,
January and February), 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
