NVBC had a nice trip to Mason Neck this morning - a bit chilly but plenty of
sun. While waiting in the parking lot for people to assemble at the Great
Marsh Trail, I had some of the usual birds, Titmice, Chickadees, Downy, RB
Woodpeckers - a Pileated went off some distance away as a YB Sapsucker flew
into a
nearby pine. Our group of 6 walked out to the platform overlooking the marsh
where we were treated to a nice display of waterfowl...Tundra Swans ~ 250,
Gadwall (10), Am Black Duck (~300), a few No. Shoveler, No. Pintail (75),
Canvasback
(12), Bufflehead (a few), Hooded Merg (4) and Common Merg (20), Lesser Scaup
(200) and 1 PB grebe along w. the C. Greese and Mallards. We also tallied 19
G. Yellowlegs.
On to the visitor center overlooking Belmont Bay, we added Ruddy Duck to the
mix, maybe 100 present in many small groups. A few more Tundra Swans, Common
Mergs and one huge raft of Scaup - easily 3,000 or 4,000 birds - closer to
Occoquan NWR and too far to scope effectively. The Bald Eagle display was very
nice w. 7 or 8 adults birds and 4 imm.
A few of us motored on to Occoquan Regional park in an attempt to Notch the
Nuthatch.
The little guy made fleeting appearances and tooted once or twice for lucky
observers. Another nice bird observed at the park was a PINE WARBLER observed
in the same mixed flock....
Thanks to Larry Meade for helping out, Rob and Crystal Young, Bill Sain and
Cliff Otto for their observations as well...
Rich Rieger
