Fellow birders,
A morning of birding produced an interesting mix of winter
residents and migrants. Around the picnic area near the fishing pier at
Leesylvania State Park early this morning were several singing
Yellow-throated Warblers, Tree Swallows, Cedar Waxwings, Brown-headed
Cowbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, Osprey and an Eastern Towhee.
At the nearby marina at the end of Neabsco Road I saw my first of the year
Barn Swallows as well as Forster's Terns, Green-winged Teal and a male Wood
Duck. At Julie Metz Wetlands I encountered Rusty Blackbird (3), Brown
Thrasher (2), a singing Winter Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Hermit
Thrush (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) and Field and Swamp Sparrows. A brief
visit to Prince William Forest Park yielded a chasing, vocalizing pair of
Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in two locations, Pine Warbler
(2), Pine Siskin (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet (3) and several singing
Chipping Sparrows. White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos were seen
and in the former case heard singing at several locations.
Gerry Hawkins
Arlington, VA
