On this long weekend, we (and come companions) birded several times in
Loudoun with the following highlights:
- Saturday at Algonkian Park <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48970811>
- mosquitos were terrible and I literally had as many bites as species, but
found FOS Brown Creeper and 4 warbler sp (Bay-breasted, Magnolia,
Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green)
- Sunday - Tried to refind Jane's Connecticut Warbler (no such
luck) at Mountain
View Elementary <https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49018192>
(Purcellville) - FOS White-throated Sparrows, Swamp Sparrow and 9 warbler
sp (Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, Cape May, Northern Parula, Blackpoll,
Black-throated Blue, Palm, Pine, Black-throated Green)
- Monday - Started at Morven Park
<https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49043969> with a good bit of fog -
Pectoral Sandpiper, FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets,
and 7 warbler sp (Black-and-white, Northern Parula, Magnolia,
Black-throated Blue, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green)
dominated in numbers by Yellow-rumped Warblers . We witnessed a shocking
sight as a Cooper's Hawk captured and killed a Blue Jay.
- Followed up with a trip to Rust Nature Sanctuary
<https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49052933> - Decent raptor migration
overhead with Broad-winged Hawks, Cooper's Hawk, and Merlins. Also had 3
very vocal Common Ravens. But highlight of the walk surely was the
serenade by the many Red-breasted Nuthatches (the area by the pond is
filled with them). 4 warbler sp (Yellow-rumped, Magnolia, Blackpoll and
Northern Parula) dominated by Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also had fantastic
views of a late Yellow-throated Vireo.
- Then we headed for a brief trip to the Lucketts area - Wild Turkeys,
Meadowlarks and Kestrels were the highlights (and fairly expected species)
there.
All told, 89 species were found.
Hope your birding was good too,
Bryan and Allison
