VA Birders:
A field trip sponsored by Montgomery County Bird Club, Maryland
Ornithological Society, visited Occoquan Bay NWR today, followed by
briefer visits to Julie Metz Wetlands and Leesylvania State Park, all
in Prince William County. (This is the second time in January that
our club has come to Prince William.)
As usual, we had a most enjoyable time birding. Highlights of our trip were:
Horned Grebe, Bufflehead, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Wood Duck and
Green-winged Teal at Occoquan, Bald Eagles several places, Merlin and
Northern Harrier at Occoquan, Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Julie Metz and
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Leesylvania. We also had American Tree
Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark at Occoquan early in the day. At one
point on our tour around Occoquan, we had 2 Gray Catbirds, a Brown
Thrasher, and a Hermit Thrush in the same tree. That was special.
Ducks were in relatively low numbers, although there were plenty of
Lesser Scaup and a few Ruddy Duck on Belmont Bay. Leesylvania was
particularly disappointing for waterfowl. Maybe late winter will be better.
Mike Bowen
MBC/MOS
Bethesda MD
D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowen@xxxxxxxxx
