VA BIRDers,
I went birding today despite the rain; an ANS field trip to the Mason Neck
area was scheduled and I was joining up with leader Larry Cartwright. But,
with the rain, the trip was literally washed out and Larry and I sat around
under a picnic shelter waiting for the (infrequent) reduction in vertical
water streaming. We managed maybe 1.5 hours of birding this morning. I
continued on, attempting to sample the various habitats at Mason Neck SP and
NWR (although I did not visit the Great Marsh since the Gunston Hall Rd trail
is STILL CLOSED! Going on 2 months now!) Although the day was a bit of
slog, it was still fun and I left the Mason Neck peninsula with nearly 90
species. I then visited the Lorton area and then drove to the Dyke
Marsh/Belle Haven Marina and thence to the Hunting Creek mudflats. I ended
the day as the next weather front started raining at 6:30 pm, totaling 105
species in Fairfax Co.
Highlights were Great Egret at the Mason Neck rookery (prob. breeding,
again!), Greater Scaup , Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser and
Ruddy Ducks on Belmont Bay, Wild Turkey, Boneparte's Gulls on Belmont Bay, YB
Cuckoo at Mason Neck SP, Acadian Flycatcher, American Pipit, Savannah
Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and 30 Bobolink in the grassy field at
Lorton across from the Nike sign on Furnace Rd. Below is the statistics for
the Mason Neck forest locations.
Kurt Gaskill
DC Cormorant 420
Great Blue Heron 65+, there is so many you just stop counting!
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 4
C. goose 18
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 2
Greater Scaup 1
Lesser Scaup 16
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 125
Osprey 8+
Bald Eagle 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
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