Hello VA-Birders,
Kurt Gaskill and I did some PW Co. birding this morning. We started early in
Nokesville, where there highlights were a vocal BARN OWL flying over a field, a
BARRED OWL perched on a limb, two WILSON'S SNIPE, and a couple of EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS as the day began to break.
Later, we visited Occoquan NWR where it was nice to see Ralph Wall who joined
us on our tour. We were in search of a few birds reported there recently. We
walked along Easy Road and found a cooperative BROWN THRASHER and GRAY CATBIRD
(with HERMIT THRUSH) in the fruiting sumac tree that Michael Bowen reported
from last week. As we walked back, we found a FOX SPARROW close to the
intersection with Bayview. Around the corner on Bayview, we had the bird of
the day: a surprising VESPER SPARROW, and with the several SAVANNAH SPARROWS
seen, we wrapped up a respectable 9 sparrow species at the refuge. On Charlie
Rd at the marsh, we heard then saw a KING RAIL, and later scoped a COMMON
GOLDENEYE (hen) from Taylor Point.
From here we visited the PW Landfill, where no notable gulls were found. At
this point we parted ways and I quickly visited the Great Marsh of Mason Neck
NWR (not part of the state park, as was pointed out to me after my recent
posting). The usual expected species were present, including several NORTHERN
PINTAILS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 84 TUNDRA SWANS. About 70 species were
noted for the morning.
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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