On the last Sunday of every month, the Prince William Conservation Alliance
sponsors a public birdwalk at the Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area in
Nokesville. This morning we drew four birders and were able to spot 34
species. This was the first birdwalk for one of our guests, and only the
second for another, so we moved fairly slowly and deliberately, teaching as we
went. Teaching and developing nature skills is a core Conservation Alliance
activity, and we explored thourghly with our two new birders. Our highlights
included a couple of Yellow-breasted Chats, two Ovenbirds, and a pair of Wood
Thrushes serenading in the forest.
Turkey Vulture 1
Mourning
Dove 3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Acadian Flycatcher 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 5
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Eastern Bluebird 6
Wood Thrush 2
Gray Catbird 2
Ovenbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Prairie Warbler 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 4
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 7
The Merrimac Farm WMA is located on Deepwood Lane in Nokesville. Most GPS
devices can find Merrimac Farm, and any good map of Prince William County has
it. Merrimac farm is accessible every day, and is subject to the entry fee
described on the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website.
Harry Glasgow
Nancy Vehrs
