My friend Sharon and I spent about 7 hrs birding in Westmoreland County
last Wednesday. We got a late start, about 10;15 there, but did well
anyway. We were especially looking for Blue Grosbeaks and Summer Tanagers
and found a bunch of both. We found a male and female Grosbeak sitting
together on a wire at Rt 637 and Berry Farm Rd.; found another at GWBP and
three more at Westmoreland St, Pk.
Our first Summer tanager was a variegated red/yellow bird in the pines near
the picnic area at GWBP. We saw, and heard, three more males and one female
at the St. Pk., and heard another male as well. One of the males was down
close to the ground and only about 30 -40 yards away. Nice look!
Saw a nice Pine warbler and heard several more; heard lots of Prairies,
Chats; saw and heard countless Indigo Buntings; saw Orchard Orioles, Brown
Thrasher, White-eyed vireo, E. King Bird, Great-crested flycatcher, Scarlet
Tanager,some chippies, Meadow Larks, Bluebirds, Cedar waxwings, a couple of
humming birds, Barn Swallows, Osprey, Red-tail and Red-shouldered hawks and
a bunch more stuff. As we were leaving we heard a Bobwhite Quail at about
5:30, again at Rt. 637 and Berry Farm Rd.
Nice day; good birds. Thanks to Fred Atwood for some tips on where to look.
--
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.
