Seventeen birders from the Northern Virginia Bird Club came out for a pleasant
morning of birding at Riverbend Park in Fairfax County, We started at the
meadow on the Nature Center side in search of warblers and other migrants. We
only found a few warblers: American Redstarts, a Canada Warbler, and a Common
Yellowthroat. We also tallied Red-eyed Vireos, a Yellow-throated Vireo, many
Eastern Wood-Peewees, several RT Hummingbirds, Indigo Buntings, and a Scarlet
Tanager. We then moved over to the Visitor Center side and checked out the
river. Here we experienced an unexpected raptor show with close looks at a
Cooper's and a Red-tailed Hawk. Soon after that, a Red-shouldered Hawk and an
Osprey began circled above our heads. We counted forty-nine species in total.
We had a non-avian highlight when we saw the International Space Station high
overhead glinting in the early morning sun. We also watched a Swift River
Cruiser dragonfly laying eggs in the river when it suddenly was grabbed by a
fish. The insect struggled and was briefly upside down in the water, but
managed to escape and fly away to pose for photos.
Larry Meade
Vienna, VA
