A beautiful display of waterfowl at Pohick this afternoon. When I got
there at 2:30pm the light was perfect, the ice on most of the bay caused
the birds to be concentrated within easy scope distance and the numbers and
variety were great. Perhaps the largest number of Redheads I've ever seen
in one place. Oh... and a Eurasian Wigeon male (reported earlier by David
Ledwith). The biggest problem was finding the one Eurasian Wigeon among all
those Redheads and American Wigeons.
The birds were widely dispersed in varying densities making estimating
numbers very difficult.
Pohick Bay Regional Park - CMN06, Fairfax, US-VA
Jan 11, 2015 2:30 PM - 3:40 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Observations from boat ramp and from the end of the parking
lot. Spectacular display of waterfowl. Light was excellent at first but
then clouded over. Estimated about 4000 total waterfowl. Species
estimates are mostly too low since they don't total anywhere near 4000.
23 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 30
Gadwall 500 Rough count based on estimate of 4000 total waterbirds
present and relative frequency.
Eurasian Wigeon 1 Seen clearly from boat ramp and parking lot.
Similar to male Am Wigeon but with reddish head and creamy forehead.
American Wigeon 500 Rough count based on estimate of 4000 total
waterbirds present and relative frequency.
Mallard 250
Northern Pintail 5
Canvasback 20
Redhead 600 Rough count based on estimate of 4000 total waterbirds
present and relative frequency. Most common species appeared to be Redhead.
Ring-necked Duck 200
Greater Scaup 1
Lesser Scaup 40
Greater/Lesser Scaup 50
Hooded Merganser 150 Rough count based on estimate of 4000 total
waterbirds present and relative frequency.
Common Merganser 40
Ruddy Duck 250
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 36 Actual count of birds visible from the parking
lot. There were a few more seen from the boat ramp but they may have moved.
Bald Eagle 3
American Coot 200
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 20
gull sp. 100
Mourning Dove 6
American Crow 150
Winter Wren 1
--
Alexandria, Va
