VA Birders:
Thirty-one birders participated in this morning's NVBC's bird walk at the Hike
and Bike Trail on the backside of Huntley Meadows. The walk was led by Dave
Boltz and me. We collectively tallied 74 species.
Notable species included scope views of singing Acadian Flycatcher just beyond
the parking lot on the left side of the road before the split to the
maintenance yard, a male Blue Grosbeak and male Indigo Bunting in the first
meadow, a Black-throated Green Warbler just past the first meadow, scope views
of a perched Northern Waterthrush near the 2nd entrance of the trail to the
pond on the right, scope views of Purple Finches -- especially of a male --
just a little past the entrance trail to the woodcock meadow, multiple high
flyovers of migrating Common Loons in breeding plumage, a couple of
Yellow-billed Cuckoos flying back and forth in front of the observation deck
and a singing Yellow Warbler along the gravel road to the right of the
observation deck afforded some fairly good views. At the observation deck, we
had excellent comparisons of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary and
Spotted Sandpipers. Frustratingly, we had rather fleeting and limited views of
a singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole and a
Chestnut-sided Warbler -- the latter along the edge of the meadow to the left
of the observation deck. Oh . . . and lots of singing Common Yellowthroats,
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (including a pair nest building) and migrating flocks of
Blue Jays. At the tally in the parking lot, we ended with nice flyovers of
Purple Martins. Notable missed species that we should have seen or heard were
Great-crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Northern Parula, Orchard Oriole and
Yellow-breasted Chat.
Below is the complete eBird checklist. If there is anyone on this morning's
walk who I have forgotten to share this list, please send me an email.
Elton MorelArlington, VA
Huntley Meadows Park--Hike and Bike Trail, Fairfax, US-VA
May 2, 2015 6:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Comments: NVBC bird walk led by Dave Boltz and Elton Morel.
74 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 10
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 7
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Loon 10 Multiple flights of high flying, migrating Common Loons all in
breeding plumage.
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 3 Two flyovers plus a heard bird.
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 2
Cooper's Hawk 1 Distant flyby
Bald Eagle 2 High flyover
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 4
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2 Flyovers
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Heard only
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 11
Blue Jay 80 Many flocks migrating
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1 Heard only
crow sp. 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 30
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 25
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
House Wren 1 Heard only
Carolina Wren 3 Heard only
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 3
Northern Waterthrush 1
Blue-winged Warbler 1 Heard only
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 25
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Heard only for most, a few participants saw the bird.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 8
Song Sparrow 2 Heard only
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 20
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 4
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Rusty Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Baltimore Oriole 2
Purple Finch 4 1 male, 3 females mixed with American Goldfinches. Good scope
views of the male.
American Goldfinch 30
House Sparrow 4 Heard only at the parking lot.
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23177030
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
