VA BIRDers,
With permission, Peter Ross and I visited Mason Neck SP this morning. We
arrived early hoping there would be some night migrants. Not really. Heard
one Gray-cheeked Thrush. It was very overcast with some light ground fog.
When sunrise came (told by the clock, not the sky) it started to lightly
drizzle. The moisture continued on and off until 10am. But, we stuck it
out anyway. Diversity did not seem large. Highlights were Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher (which briefly sang) and a one second look at a HY Connecticut
Warbler. Top species in terms of numbers were Red-winged BB (300, contained
in cattails covering a tenth of an acre), Blue Jay (190+, good migratory
groups flew overhead once the drizzle let up), Chimney Swift (125), and Wood
Duck (67, at the NWR). I am ignoring Canada Geese. Warblers were dominated
by Northern Parula, Black & White and American Redstart. Peter left at 11
and I visited a few places in the NWR (which added gnatcatcher, kinglet,
Chestnut-sided and RB Grosbeak). Below are the statistics - hopefully
nothing was forgotten due to rain smudged notes.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 90
Wood Duck 67 - large single group at the NWR
Mallard 7
Lesser Scaup 4, on Belmont Bay for some time
Pied-billed Grebe 1
DC Cormorant 28
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 6
American Coot 10, on Belmont Bay for some time
L. Gull 24
RB Gull 15 - there were many more gull sp, ca. 1000, distantly seen in dawn
light
Caspian Tern 3
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 125
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 3
Hairy WP 2
No. Flicker 8
Pileated WP 3
E. Wood Pewee 11
YB Flycatcher 1
Trails Flycatcher 2
E. Phoebe 8
Red-eyed V 4
Blue Jay 190
Am. Crow 8
Fish Crow 2
No. Rough-winged Sw 7
C. Chickadee 4+
T. Titmouse 8+
White-breasted Nuthatch 3+
C. Wren 7
H. Wren 3
RC Kinglet 1
BG Gnatcatcher 1
E. Bluebird 4
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 2
Am. Robin 1
Gray Catbird 14
Brown Thrasher 2
E. Starling 7
Tennessee 1
Nashville 2
No. Parula 18
Chestnut-sided 1
Magnolia 5
Black-thr Blue 1
Black-thr Green 3
Palm 2
Bay-breasted 1
Blackpoll 3
Black & White 14
Am. Redstart 15
Connecticut 1
Com. Yellowthroat 6
Song Sp 1
No. Cardinal 7+
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 10
Bobolink 2
Red-winged BB 300
Baltimore O 1
Am. Goldfinch 2
