Happy Independence Day!
Last week another birder gave a negative report of the Least Flycatcher that
was
found on June 25. I was also informed that a possible Blue-winged Warbler was
heard near the Shearmen's Mill Trail on the same day.
I decided to check out both areas, plus I wanted to get in some hiking.
After some searching of the area I finally heard the Least Flycatcher singing
in
the same location as last weekend, just north of the intersection of Rte. 17
and
Edmonds Lane, behind the 45mph sign. This time I walked through the tall
vegetation to the fence to try to see the bird and to try to determine if I
could find evidence of a mate, etc. No mate or nest that I could determine but
I was able to see the bird for about a minute as he sang and flycatched on the
other side of the wood edge, about 20' away from the fence. Between the strip
of woods and the corn field is a stream which flows through a grassy area.
Next I walked most of the trails through the fields on the east side of Rte.
17. I also walked the Shearman's Mill Trail. No Blue-winged Warblers. The
most common birds include Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting
and
American Goldfinch.
It was fun to watch a Red-headed Woodpecker try to catch what appeared to be a
large bee in flight. After a few seconds of trying it returned to a perch
empty
handed.
Scott Baron
Vienna, Va.
