I braved the mud and perfect Spring weather this morning to visit Monticello
Park (Alexandria, VA) again this morning from 8:30am - 9:30am. I had been
yesterday and while the birding was still very good, it was a bit harder to
find non-red-eyed-vireos. :)
Today, however, was a different story. I've found that the tall tall trees
directly across from the park are as alive as the park itself, and so I began
watching the activity there. With an immediate neck ache, I strolled to the
first part of the stream and was brought to a stop. A female ROSE BREASTED
GROSBEAK bathed in the water next to a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER as a female
BALTIMORE ORIOLE joined them in the stream as well. A fourth addition to the
bathing group was a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. I'm glad no one was around, as they
would've seen me with my mouth gaping open in pure happiness. It was a Roger
Mayhorn photograph opportunity! :)
Trying to walk further into the park, I was tripped up by 3 male SCARLET
TANAGERS chasing each other in the trees. Those birds are truely
technicolored! I had at least one more sighting later of a male on the "ivy
hill path".
Singing all around were WOOD THRUSHes, NORTHERN PARULAs, and BLACK THROATED
BLUE WARBLERS, the latter of which were easily seen throughout the park. I may
have caught a glimpse of a Prothonotary Warbler, but don't quote me on it (I
don't typically see reports of those birds there, and I got bad views before it
flew away).
The highlight of the morning for me (besides the easy to view Bay Breasted) was
a spectacular male CAPE MAY WARBLER (a life bird for me) which was sitting out
in the open, mid-stream, on a tree branch drying off after what must've been a
stream visit. Nearby a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH worked the stream bed.
On the "ivy hill path" on the western hillside there were several AMERICAN
REDSTARTS and at least one CHESTNUT SIDED WARBLER. I spotted a VEERY up there
as well.
I also heard reports of Magnolia Warblers, but I only had an hour and didn't
find any for myself.
Spring birding at its best! Thank you for Peter Ross for posting his sightings
yesterday of Cape May's at CF Smith Park - because of him I studied my bird
book for Cape Mays and was confident in my life-bird sighting today!
- Renee Grebe
Alexandria, VA
