Thankfully, this week's count was back up to 38 species. I was becoming
worried that too many more sub-30 species days and I might get fired. There
were 16 of us on this morning's Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk on a
beautiful morning with tempreatures in the 50s and a very calm breeze. The
ducks appear to be returning, with sightings of some Northern Pintails, Hooded
Mergansers, and Green-winged Teal among the Mallards. We were entertained by a
group of Cedar Waxwings hawking insects like flycatchers from their perches in
a tree in the Central Wetland. Finally, the Sparrow population seems to be
increasing with Field Sparrow, a Fox sparrow, and the Monday Group's FOS
Dark-eyed Juncos.
Canada Goose 41
Mallard 24
Northern Pintail 4
Green-winged Teal 3
Hooded Merganser 4
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 7
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
crow sp. 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 30
Cedar Waxwing 7
Field Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 10
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 11
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 50 +
American Goldfinch 35
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 November,
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. As winter approaches, unsafe conditions on
the trails and boardwalks may cause a last minute cancellation of the Walk.
Questions should be directed to Park staff during normal business hours at
(703)768-2525.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
