VA BIRDers,
I visited the Point, starting early this morning, but the activity was a bit
muted - and considerable construction (3 locations) at the Dominion Power
Plant property making birding very difficult plus incredible car/truck
traffic on this residential road (future visits on Sunday are recommended,
but there still could be construction!). Ugh! Although most of the local
breeders were present and often could be seen, it took a lot of
perseverance. In any case the highlight was a single female Common
Merganser near the marshy bits (it was high tide). A couple of Blue-headed
Vireos, one posing quite well, 4 Chestnut-sided Warblers that were mostly
seen well, Blue-winged and Wilson's Warblers, and both species of orioles
easily seen. The local eagles and osprey put on their usual show.
I tried Breckinridge road in Prince William Forest Park looking for migrants
but only breeders were seen - easy looks at Hooded and Pine Warblers.
Continuing on to Nokesville added a few species like White-crowned Sparrow
and Red-tailed Hawk on nest plus a pair of Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and
Solitary Sandpiper. I went back east and ducked into Occoquan Bay NWR and
noted a few Yellow-breasted Chats.
I then went to the Occoquan Marina area which paid off reasonably well - 6
Redhead on Occoquan Bay! In 2012 I came across a family group of Redhead
near here (apparently, the first breeding record in VA, at least in modern
times) and in 2014 I found some in May. Of the 6 today, one was a male and
the others appeared to be female. Associating with the group was a male
Canvasback. Also on the bay a few Lesser Scaup, and 3 Ruddy Ducks. Plus
Bonaparte's Gull, RB Gull, Caspian Tern and Forster's Tern.
Kurt Gaskill
