A beautiful Autumn morning greeted 14 birders on today's Huntley Meadows Monday
Morning Birdwalk. With temperatures in the 40s and 50s under a partly cloudy
sky, we tallied 42 species. Highlights included a Northern Harrier skimming
the tops of the vegetation in the central wetland, A Great Blue Heron chasing
a Belted Kingfisher (no contest!), the growing abundance of sparrows, including
a small flock of newly arrived White Throated sparrows, and a large flock of
female Red-winged Blackbirds performing synchronized aerial acrobatics over the
central wetland.
Canada Goose 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Northern harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Wilson's Snipe 7
Ring-billed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 11
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 10
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 4
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 175
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 1
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
