VA BIRDers,
Today's highlights were Cackling Goose at Sky Meadows (Fleetwood Farm Pont
#2 visible from Carr Rd as one looks north at about 0800) and several
Greater Scaup off the Great Marsh of Mason Neck. Other notables were
Redheads off Mason Neck Great Marsh, 3 Common Mergansers on Beaverdam
Reservoir, Horned Grebe at Beaverdam Reservoir and Mason Neck Great Marsh,
Ring-billed and Herring Gulls at Beaverdam Reservoir, Eastern Phoebe at
Mason Neck Great Marsh, Common Raven at Sky Meadows, Winter Wren at Mason
Neck, Savannah Sparrows at Harrison Rd (Fauquier Co), Fox Sparrow (Loudoun
Co, Green Garden Rd), and White-crowned Sparrow and 2 Common Grackles at Sky
Meadows. I tallied 80 species.
I am sure you guessed that I tend to bird frequently - mainly weekends due
to the same constraints most of you have. Having traversed much of Northern
Virginia over the last 16+ years I have learned a few things - the most
important being, that I have not learned enough! So, as a method to push
the boundaries, sometimes I do this most species in a month game. It does
not always work out (for the obvious reasons that you all have). Looking at
the history, November is a tough month for me - holidays, relatives, and
work related travel detract from the time I have available. But, I give it a
shot when I can. My best November in No. VA was 128 (set in 2003, and I
have no idea why that month went so well other than the list). Today I
added 4 more species and pushed this month's total to ... 127. Ugh! But,
it's still fun and a great way to lose sleep.
Today I left at 4 am hoping to find migratory owls in Prince William Forest
Park. I did a few stops - nada. Time was short so I arrived at the Harrison
Rd/O'Bannon Rd area near 0615. No Short-eared Owl but O'Bannon Rd produced
Barn Owl near the dog farm and Great Horned in the trees west of the low
spot. The first rays of sunlight brought forth a Northern Harrier (and then
another) on Harrison Rd and the geese were numerous on the small pond and a
few ducks were present, too. Two Savannah Sparrows ducked into the grass
from the roadside as I drove by.
I drove to Sky Meadows and the geese on Fleetwood Farm Pont #2 were well lit
to produce good looks at the Cackling - you only have to sort through 750 or
so of the Canada's - a scope would help.
My visit to the area near Upperville produced an overflying Horned Lark at
Green Garden Rd (north of the stream) and a flock of 18 American Pipits
nearby in the corn stubble. I headed towards Ashburn and checked Beaverdam
Reservoir from the Reservoir Rd entrance and noted similar birds as reported
by Elton. Missed the loon, but DC Cormorant present plus 115 Ring-billed
Gulls and 11 Herring Gulls. I now drove through Ashburn and a few big ponds
held ducks but only common - Mallards, No. Shovelers, Buffleheads, Ruddy
Ducks, and Pied-billed Grebes. I now motored to Mason Neck, about 45
minutes away (plus lunch).
The Great Marsh of Mason Neck was just past low tide but the number of birds
was still amazing. My vantage was not really good for inside the marsh, yet
in addition to the riverside birds I was able to tally a few of those
inside. Here are the totals of both (unfortunately, a few distant birds
went untallied):
C. Goose 285
Tundra Swan 800 - about 10X increase over last week!
Gadwall 380
Am. Wigeon 20
Am. Black Duck 380
Mallard 30
No. Shoveler 12
No. Pintail 5
Canvasback 395
Redhead 6
Ring-necked Duck 790
Greater Scaup 27, most were very close giving unmistakable views
Lesser Scaup 1200
Bufflehead 10
Hooded Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 70
Pied-billed Grebe 7
Horned Grebe 2
Plus Belted Kingfisher, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Hermit
Thrush.
On the way home along Gunston Rd, a quick visit to Pohick Regional Park
produced 2 Forster's Terns on Accotink Bay.
With that, I called it a day!
Kurt Gaskill
