VA BIRDers,
Rich Rieger and I ventured out to the Northern Virginia piedmont today plus
a short visit to Upper Thompson WMA along Freezeland Rd. We managed 73
species with a few highlights.
very few ducks encountered (Wood, Mallard) save for 17 Buffleheads at Silver
Lake (Pr Wm Co) late in the day
a fine raptor showing, albeit in low numbers for all the expected regular
species; the Peregrine was along the power line cut nr I-66 at Manassas
Battlefield, a kettle of 5 Broad-wingeds at Sky Meadows SP, and we missed
only Merlin
Red-headed WP various places along Rectortown Rd and nr the Bridle Trail at
Sky Meadows SP
Eastern Kingbird at Sky Meadows and Carr Rd
Warbling Vireo at the Rectortown Rd Bridge - my second earliest in No. VA
Horned Lark at Sky Meadows
Cliff Swallow (3) at Rectortown Bridge
Prairie Warbler at Silver Lake and Common Yellowthroat (6) in various places
Eastern Towhee were numerous at Upper Thompson (15)
Chipping Sparrow gave good totals today with 27 tallied
Vesper Sparrow in the fields east of the Bridle Trail start at Sky Meadows
Grasshopper Sparrow (2) in the fields east of the Bridle Trail start at Sky
Meadows
White-crowned Sparrows singing in various places
Purple Finch singing at the Rectortown Rd Bridge
Let me add that Upper Thompson was productive mainly in ravens, raptors,
towhees, and Chipping Sparrows - nothing else of note this afternoon.
Kurt Gaskill
