[Va-bird] No VA piedmont and ridge for migrants, 25 April
- From: "Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 18:55:02 -0400
VA BIRDers,
I had the odd idea of starting before dawn to listen at various grassy areas
for migrants - at least a few as sunrise was only 45 minutes after I
started. In any case, the early portion yielded only common birds. The
notable was 2 Virginia Rails in the marsh adjacent to and just north of the
Sky Meadows fishing pond at 7am.
I continued south and birded Pleasant Vale Rd - a seldom used road which was
quite birdy, but nothing too unusual - highlights were Red-tailed Hawk on
nest, Fish Crow nest building and a Pine Warbler.
From there I traveled up Freezeland Rd to Upper Thomson WMA - could there be
some warbler arrivals? Not for me. It was nearly freezing, 39F. I was
initially optimistic hearing the Scarlet Tanager in the trees south of the
new vinyard near the top. But...very few other migrants. Common Raven with
young in nest (Ravenettes?) under the phone repeater tower horn (so, have
you been experiencing weak signals lately?). A couple of Hermit Thrush, a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a House Wren, many White-throated Sparrows and 3
Common Loons flying over.
OK, let's try Lower Thompson at the fishing lake - Blue-headed Vireo and a
half-dozen RC Kinglets plus Tree, Northern Rough-winged, Barn Swallows and
Chimney Swifts and a few White-throated Sparrows. I head south on
Rectortown Rd, and south of Delaplane Grade Rd in corn stubble I find the
most interesting sighting of the day - 40+ American Pipits! This is the
largest number I have ever seen in April. Continuing on, the bridge has
Yellow Warbler.
As I near Harrison Rd I spy a Merlin heading for Belvoir Lake; located at
the end of Harrison Rd it is partially drained and contains nearly a 100
swallows plus Am. Wigeon (3), Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal (2), Ruddy
Duck (2), a DC Cormorant, and American Coot (3). But the real feast were
the 17 Greater Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and 3 Spotted Sandpipers
(one started a mating dance).
My last stop was UOSA lake in Centreville, Fairfax Co. 3 Pied-billed Grebes
and mixed in with the Tree and Barn Swallows were Cliff and Bank.
Kurt Gaskill
Other related posts:
- » [Va-bird] No VA piedmont and ridge for migrants, 25 April - Kurt Gaskill
