'Exquisite' is one of my favorite words, but one I use sparingly to describe
only the most beautiful things. With temperatures in the low 70s, a cloudless
sky, and calm winds, 27 birders assembled for this morning's 'Exquisite'
Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk. Certainly the high turnout was in
part due to the Labor Day holiday, but also, I think, for the day. The
birding was great, with the group tallying 47 species. Highlights included the
season's first Green Wing Teals, and a Snowy Egret. Other highlights were not
bird related: the walk out to the boardwalk on Monday mornings usually is
routed past the 'Moth Wall' at the rear of the Visitor Center. Today's
diversion behind the VC yielded some spectacular moths and spiders. Also, one
of our sharper eyed walkers spotted a tiny Green Tree Frog on an Ironweed
plant. All in all, an Exquisite day.
Mallard 7
Green-winged Teal 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 11
Green Heron 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Solitary Sandpiper 5
Ring-billed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 11
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 3
Purple Martin 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 9
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Eastern Bluebird 6
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 3
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 30
The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7 AM, 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. For questions
call the Park during normal business hours at (703) 768-2525.
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
