Hi VA-Birders,
I just had one of my best mornings ever at Kent Gardens Park in McLean
(Fairfax County), but I only had time for a quick visit, and it was cool and
windy. Best bird was a prothonotary warbler, the first I've ever seen in the
park. It was singing and very active at dawn, but I didn't hear or see him
after 6:30. I don't think he's a breeder-the habitat isn't right-but he
seems on the late side for a migrant. Other highlights were a skulking,
non-singing male Canada warbler; and a flyover heron that was probably a
night-heron but I only got a glimpse. There must have been some good eatin'
below the canopy, because even the parulas and red-eyed vireos were giving
me good looks. The chestnut-sideds were challenging to ID because they were
singing several different songs.
On Friday morning in the park, highlights were a flock of cedar waxwings, a
softly-singing Swainson's thrush, and a beaver rooting around near the
creek. I didn't see any evidence of a dam on Friday morning, but I saw more
evidence today.
Peter Frechtel
Falls Church
Location: Kent Gardens Park
Observation date: 5/9/10
Notes: from Beverly Rd bridge, upstream to double bridge; then
downstream about 150 yds from Beverly Rd bridge. All the "good" birds were
just downstream from the bridge.
Number of species: 33
Canada Goose 1 flyover
Mallard 3 flyover - might have been wood ducks. Got only a quick
look.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 1 tail-less one - must have been a
fledgling
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2 drumming
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
American Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Parula 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 singing several different songs
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 4
Prothonotary Warbler 1 just downstream from the Beverly Rd bridge;
very active and in full song; didn't see or hear him after 6:30
Common Yellowthroat 2
Canada Warbler 1 not singing! 95% sure of ID.
Scarlet Tanager 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
American Goldfinch 6
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
