A very large group of birders gathered for today's Huntley Meadows Monday
Morning Birdwalk. 24 of us spotted 45 species, including some surprising
sightings. Highlights continue to be the ducks in the Central Wetland.
Green-winged Teals dominated the count with over 100. Wood Ducks and Hooded
Mergansers were beginning bonding and courtship behaviors, with Wood Ducks seen
deep in the woods checking out the housing market. Other highlights included
an Eastern Phoebe seen near the Visitor Center, the 'pioneer' Tree Swallow that
has been around for a couple of weeks, and our regular Barred Owl, heard only
near the trail intersection at the beginning of the boardwalk. The star of the
week, however, was an Orchard Oriole perched in a tree on the edge of the
parking lot.
Canada Goose 16
Wood Duck 10
American Wigeon 3
American Black Duck 3
Mallard 44
Northern Shoveler 4
Northern Pintail 10
Green-winged Teal 100+
Hooded Merganser 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Wilson's Snipe 7
Ring-billed Gull 12
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 10
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 6
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 8
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 41
Tufted Titmouse 32
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 4
Carolina Wren 7
Eastern Bluebird 4
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 23
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 12
Swamp Sparrow 14
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 300+
Orchard Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 3
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, February, and most of 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. Unsafe winter 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
