VA BIRDers,
I visited Leesylvania SP for early morning migrants today and found a few but
nothing much out of the ordinary. Top migrants were No. Rough-winged
Swallows, Chimney Swifts and Common Grackles. Also observed a good showing of
E.
Wood Pewees, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, and Brown-headed
Cowbirds.
Of the group today, the HY male Canada Warbler was the best although at least
two groups of the colorful Great Crested Flycatchers were thoroughly enjoyed.
Nearly all of these were found along the river's edge or along the road.
Here is a summary of some species of interest:
Osprey 4
Bald Eagler 1 (2nd yr)
YB Cuckoo 2
Chimney Swift 60
RT Hummingbird 9
E. Wood Pewee 13
Trail's Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 6
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 12
No. Rough-winged Swallow 100
Barn Swallow 5 (the majority are gone now)
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13
Am. Robin 12 (all HY)
No. Parula 3
Am. Redstart 3
Com. Yellowthroat 1
Canada 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 2 incl one red-spotted fellow
E. Towhee 1
Indigo Bunting 6
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Com Grackle 130
Brown-headed Cowbird 26
Baltimore Oriole 2
Other places and species:
I dropped by the Possum Point Rd area just south of Leesylvania SP later in
the morning and noted a wonderful HY Cooper's Hawk flying circles about the
road - causing a Baltimore Oriole couple to seek shelter in the deep woods. A
small group of Cedar Waxwings flew by whilst this was happening.
I went to Occaquan Bay NWR to wait up for Mark Ribaudo and Kim and Vaughn
Peacock. Here we noted 2 more Cooper's - obtaining fine diagnostic views.
Marc
pulled a Bank Swallow out of the No. Rough-wingeds and Tree Swallows present
near the parking lot.
We headed to the piedmont to a private wetlands mitigation bank near Cedar
Run. We hunted over the shorebirds and found a fine juvenile Baird's Sandpiper
mixed in with other shorebirds which were dominated by Killdeer with a handful
of Semipalmated Plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpipers,
one Semipalmated Sandpiper, a few Least Sandpipers, and a single Short-billed
Dowitcher. Also spotted was a HY Red-shouldered Hawk hunting the field.
During our observations, the sky would be filled by successive waves of
Laughing
Gulls - I initially thought migrants but perhaps these were just elements
wandering from the PW Co. dump? About 275 all told.
We parted company and I drove to the Hunting Creek mudflats near Dyke Marsh,
arriving just after mid-afternoon. No big changes at this location although a
single White-rumped Sandpiper was noted as well as a dozen plus Short-billed
Dowitchers. Forster's Tern numbers have dropped by about half from peak and
numbered ca. 50. I noted the first arrival of 4 HY Herring Gulls to this
location.
I am pleased to report that the last Barn Swallow nest at Dyke Marsh marina
fledged yesterday, 8/23/03 with 2 young. This must rank as one of the latest
dates in Virginia. We believe the high Potomac River waters of May and June
delayed successful incubation of Barn Swallows at this location.
Lastly, in the late report catagory, on 8/22/03 I noted HY Hooded Warblers
still being fed by female parent at Prince William Forest Park. During my
travels there, 2 Hoodeds sang.
Kurt Gaskill
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