VA Birders,
My wretched computer did something to my draft before I finished it. I
don't know if it got sent or not, so I am starting over.
I too spent much of Saturday, March 10, birding on the Northern Neck, but I
did all of my birding in 2 places: the LaGrange Road (Rt. 605) ponds in King
George Co., and George Washington's Birthplace National Monument in
Westmoreland Co. I found very few birds at the LaGrange Road ponds, but had
better luck at Washington's Birthplace, where I spent most of my time. At the
LaGrange Road ponds, about all I found was a single Tundra Swan, a few Lesser
Scaup, some Buffleheads, and a Pied-billed Grebe. However, the scaup were my
first of the year, and I also had another first--a handsome male Tree Swallow
that perched on a nearby wire in good light.
Then I headed to Washington's Birthplace. When I walked into the Visitor
Center with my binoculars, the staff started telling me about the swans. I
decided to check the picnic area first, and as soon as I looked out into the
water, I counted about 100 Tundra Swans. I also found 4 Mute Swans there.
Then a pair of Common Mergansers flew by. Next was a raft of birds across the
water, which turned out to be at least 200 Am. Coots! Then, an adult Bald
Eagle and my first Osprey of the year flew into view. Finally, I spotted 2
female Common Goldeneyes and a male Greater Scaup (which appeared to have a
rounder head than the Lesser Scaup with their peaked heads that I saw earlier).
Also seen from the picnic area were 5 Canada Geese--the only geese I saw all
day--and at least 20 Ring-necked Ducks (one of my favorites, but not my first
of the year) close in at the picnic area. In all, I got 8 year birds for the
day before heading back to Fredricksburg, where I spent the night before
driving home on Sunday morning.
Good birding,
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
