I couldn't bear to stay cooped up for another morning, and took a chance on
the iffy weather Sunday morning to walk the Hike/Bike Trail. I'm glad I
did. The hawks also decided to take a chance as well. When I remembered to
look up, I saw a total of 2 COOPS, 2 SHARPIES, and a PEREGRINE migrating
overhead. It's my first peregrine at Huntley (and only my fourth in Fairfax
County).
The other highlight was having a perfect close and long view of a beautiful
LINCOLN'S SPARROW and immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW simultaneously (to the
right of the platform at the end of the trail). I also saw what was
probably a different Lincoln's sparrow elsewhere.
I also so huge numbers of birds for the first time this season. I was there
early enough to see endless streams of crows commuting south (to Prince
William Landfill maybe?). I estimated at least 550. There was also at
least one flock of many hundreds of grackles (although it could have been
multiple flocks, seen in different places over several hours). I also saw
at least 150 red-wings, 100 geese, 50 ring-billed gulls, and 50 goldfinches.
Other notables included:
Wood duck 9
GC kinglet 3
RC kinglet 7
Yellow-rump 7
Palm 1
Yellowthroat 3
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
