I drove down to the King George county sand and gravel ponds on Wednesday
afternoon for a short while. Boy was it chilly! An immature Bald Eagle flew
over Rt. 3 as I approached the railroad tracks. There were Canada Geese and
Hooded Mergansers, Canvasbacks and Ring-necked Ducks, Buffleheads and a few
Ruddy Ducks. A Northern Harrier flew over causing some Horned Larks to move
closer to me. I didn't even know they were there until I heard their alarm
calls and saw them settle down. I saw a Red-tailed Hawk and a Red-shouldered
Hawk on the drive back to Fredericksburg.
On Thursday I drove through the Battlefield Park at Spotsylvania Court House.
The fog was giving way reluctantly to weak sunshine. There was an American
Kestrel on a power wire before I got to the park. Juncos and Cedar Waxwings
were working opposite ends of the same trees. Actually most of the Juncos were
on the ground under the trees. I kept hearing White-breasted Nuthatches and in
looking for them saw a Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpeckers, Golden-crowned
Kinglets, Carolina Chickadees and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Two Hermit
Thrushes seemed to be playing tag. Tufted Titmice, a Hairy Woodpecker, Robins
and Bluebirds were actively feeding. Finally I saw a White-breasted Nuthatch
and suddenly they were everywhere I looked. Song Sparrows, Goldfinches,
Cardinals, a Northern Flicker and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were in a patch of
trees and brush where there is a stream and pond. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched
in the very top of a tree overlooking a battlefield.
Lee
Lee Loudenslager Adams
ladams42@xxxxxxx
