Perhaps it was the noise of the rain hitting the leaves in the forest, or the
near deafening chorus of frogs in the wetland, but something was making it very
hard to hear any birds on this morning's Huntley Meadows Monday Morning
Birdwalk. Rain or no rain however, 10 sturdy souls showed up and tallied 40
species despite the noise. Highlights were perhaps things not seen: no crows,
no White-eyed Vireo; no Sparrows; no Great Blue Herons. So, if the birds were
a little scarce, the very special quality found walking in the woods in the
rain helped compensate for it.
Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 9
Mallard 13
Hooded Merganser 4
Great Egret 2 0ne bird had only one leg
Green Heron 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Killdeer 1
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 5
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 18
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
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 (8AM 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
