Hello birders, As hoped for, the lower temperature and surprising clear morning
today produced a lot of nice birds at Sully Woodlands (Fairfax county). The
highlights would be more of the continuing wave of migrating raptors,
Alder/Willow Flycatcher, 8 warbler species, and Scarlet Tanager. Below is the
full list. I have not seen a single Tree Swallow in Virginia since the end of
July!! They seem to have vacated all my western Fairfax birding spots. But
today there were about 8-10 all flying steadily S or SW, not circling, not
apparently foraging. Looked like a migration flight to me. About 50-100 Blue
Jays were doing the same thing, similar to what Fred Atwood reported in Oakton.
Good birding,Steve JohnsonFairfax, Virginia
Sully Woodlands, Fairfax, Virginia, US
Sep 28, 2018 8:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.1 mile(s)
Comments: loop around NW corner N and W of the stables; also short loop W of
stream crossing near 38.8717, -77.4947
37 species (+3 other taxa)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 12
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 10
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1 gave a long chase to an immature
Red-Tail. RTHA just kept flying low, straight south.
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1 immature hanging around the N end of
the park, probably fledged here this past spring.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 one adult kettled with vultures.
another immature flew over low, straight south, crop full, chased relentlessly
by a COHA.
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) (Empidonax alnorum/traillii) 1
Empid with very weak eye ring, substantial sized bird, so eliminated Least.
That leaves Alder or Willow, but it was silent. studied closely at far NW
corner of meadow. first perched 6 feet up, fly catched, then re-perched less
than 2 feet above the ground. grabbed something (probably insects) several
times without leaving this very low perch. stayed there for 10+ minutes,
allowing me to creep in quite close.
Empidonax sp. (Empidonax sp.) 1 at the stables; no species field marks
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 1 in a nice mixed flock in the open grove
W of the stream crossing
Philadelphia/Warbling Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus/gilvus) 1 good enough
look to eliminate Red-eyed, but that was all. with mixed flock in the open
grove W of the stream crossing
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 55 includes 5 in the park and at least 50
more all flying over S or SW, steady stream of flocks, 5-22 each, probably
migrating
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 8 flying over S or SW, just like the
Jays - looks like migration to me
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 2 with mixed flock in the open
grove W of the stream crossing
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 7 a mimid trifecta today, including
the most Catbirds I've ever seen here
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1 with mixed flock in the open
grove W of the stream crossing
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1 with mixed flock in the open
grove W of the stream crossing
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 6
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 3 two were with mixed flock in the
open grove W of the stream crossing
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3 one was with mixed flock in the
open grove W of the stream crossing
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2 including one with mixed flock in
the open grove W of the stream crossing
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 4
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) 3 one of these was with mixed flock in
the open grove W of the stream crossing
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1 with mixed flock in the open grove W
of the stream crossing
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 2
