Hello Everyone,
This morning I visited some spots in Prince William County and ended in Lorton.
I started at 6:10 AM the gate of Occoquan Bay NWR hoping to hear some AMERICAN
WOODCOCKS. Two were peenting and displaying and I heard them as soon as I got
out of the car. Target achieved, I decided to run to the nearby Julie Metz
wetlands (until the 7 AM OBNWR opening) for the off chance of a Sora or
Virginia Rail, Snipe, Bittern or Owl, but none of these were found. Back at
the refuge, I immediately drove the 'wildlife drive' and saw a very close KING
RAIL fly to an open spot in the marsh about 8 feet from my car and look around
while pumping its tail. Nice view of a spectacular bird! Another called from
a distant area of the marsh. No other rails here either. I was pleased to
hear a WILSON'S SNIPE calling from the marsh as well. My main focus for this
location was sparrows, so I looped back to the parking lot and walked around
Bayview Rd and later down Fox Road to the gazebo to view Occoquan Bay. No Tree
or Fox Sparrows, but did find 3 SAVANNAH SPARROWS along Fox Road. Also along
Fox Rd was an EASTERN MEADOWLARK easily observed singing from a sapling.
After scoping Belmont Bay (nothing of note), I proceeded to the Great Marsh at
Mason Neck SP. Here I found a drake and a hen AMERICAN WIGEON, which can be
tough to find in northern VA this time of year. I was also hoping for Wood
Ducks and Blue-winged Teal, but didn't see them. I thought it to be unusual
that no Greater Yellowlegs were present. 17 TUNDRA SWANS loafed in the marsh
as well.
To wrap up the morning, I went to Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton to re-find
the Brown-headed Nuthatch we discovered on the CBC, and catch up with the PINE
WARBLER reported by Rich Rieger et al from a recent NVBC walk. No Nuthatch,
but after reviewing Stokes I realize, as I expected on location, that the loud
and distinctive chip note I kept hearing was the "seet" call of the warbler.
It never came out of a group of pines it was in. Later, Larry Meade showed up
and we first heard then saw the wintering COMMON RAVEN fly from the landfill
toward the quarry where it probably roosts.
Best to all,
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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