Hello, birders.
I visited Occoquan on Sun. morning to search for Woodcock, sparrows and
waterbirds.
I arrived at 6:45, 45 min. before sunrise. At the closed gate I listened for
displaying Am. Woodcock and briefly heard one. I saw the silouhettes of 2
Woodcocks a little afterward.
At dawn I also heard some sort of crowing coming from somewhere to the east.
Later I found the source of the crowing - a domestic chicken! It was calling
from the ground in a stand of cedars and other trees. This is located in
between the entrance road and the maintenance area. I tried to search for the
breed online but I haven't found a photo and at least some breeds appear to be
variable anyway. The bird was a rich red-brown which quickly blended to black
on the tail feathers. Another bird nearby, possible female? was silent. It's
plumage was off-white that blended to a light red-brown neck and head. Totally
unexpected and kind of neat. I wonder where they came from?
A Virginia Rail called from next to the maintenance area around this time and
at sunrise a King Rail repeatedly called from se. of the main parking lot. It
must have been in the marshy area along the little stream that runs southward
to the bays but it sure sounded a lot closer, like the bird was in the nearby
woods.
My first of year Osprey (8, 2 pairs on nests, 1 bird w/ nesting material) and
Tree Swallows (5) over Bayview Road were nice to see.
I counted 33 Rusty Blackbirds mixed in w/ Brown-headed Cowbirds, Com. Grackles
and Red-winged Blackbirds. Blackbirds were in the marsh area along Easy Road
and also in many areas along Deephole Point Road.
Waterfowl were not numerous - Occoquan and Belmont bays held only small groups
of some species.
A Wild Turkey ran across Easy Road.
Only the most common sparrows were found and those were largely Song Sparrows.
Although I walked by Delta Road I did have time to search for the Brewer's.
Scott Baron
Vienna, Va.
New email address: razorbill1 at msn dot com
