Hi all,Following up on today's No. Virginia reports. Andrew Rapp, Walker
Catlett, Eve Gaige, and I took a trip up to Northern Virginia today and had
quite a successful day. We started off at Woodward Turf Farm (Fauquier) and
had 1 Kestrel, 100 Horned Larks, 5+ continuing LAPLAND LONGSPURS mixed in, 23
E. Meadowlarks.
Our next stop was over on Blackburn Rd where, although it took an hour, we
finally got satisfactory looks at the long-continuing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.
Other goodies here included 1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Field Sparrow, 2 White-crowned
Sparrows. Andrew was lucky enough to spot and photograph the continuing
LINCOLN'S SPARROW that unfortunately flew off before Eve, Walker, and I could
see it.
Up at Pohick Bay Regional Park (Fairfax) we immediately located (thanks to some
other birders present) the continuing (found yesterday by David Ledwith--great
find) EURASIAN WIGEON male among the mixed flock of Canadas, Gawall, Am.
Wigeon, 2 N. Shovelers, Canvasbacks, Redheads, 3 Greater & 100+ Lesser Scaups,
Hooded Mergansers, 3 Common Mergs, Ruddy Ducks, 2 Pied-billed Grebes,
DCCormorants, Am. Coots. Other Pohick Bay goodies included 4 Bald Eagles, 1
Brown Creeper, 2 Winter Wrens, 1 Hermit Thrush.Over at Dyke Marsh we had 120
Canadas (unfortunately we didn't know to scope the flock at the golf course for
G. White-fronted), 85 Am. Black Ducks, 200 Mallards, 30 N. Shovelers, 1 N.
Pintail, 40 Redhead, 2 Greater Scaup & 1 Lesser, 13 Bufflehead, 2 H.
Mergansers, 11 Commons, 9 Ruddy Ducks, 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Red-tailed Hawk.
Over at Belmont Bay Marina (Prince William) we successfully located Marc's
ICELAND GULL (juvenile Kumlien's -- gorgeous bird!) from yesterday but dipped
Bill H's L. Black-backed. However, to be honest, we were focused on the
Iceland mostly. Our other highlight here was 2 female Common Goldeneyes (1 was
also reported by Bill). We finished the day off at Occoquan Bay NWR where,
after much searching, located the continuing SEDGE WREN along Charlie Rd. We
also had 3 Winter Wrens and 1 Fox Sparrow at Occoquan, but unfortunately did
not see any A. Tree Sparrows. Our grand finale was a flyby AMERICAN WOODCOCK
at dusk.
Thanks to the entire group for a very fun day and to Eve for driving. Good
Birding all,Gabriel MapelNew Hope, VA
P.S. A few photos of the Wigeon and Iceland for anyone interested can be found
at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gabrielmapel/sets/72157650242877151/
