While taking an after-dinner stroll in my neighborhood (Fairlington Village)
yesterday evening (Aug 26), I believe that a raven flew overhead. It was just
a bit before sunset and I was near the South Utah Street ball field and dog
park when I heard the distinctive croak of a Common Raven coming in my
direction from the west (that is, from the area of Shirlington). By the time
it penetrated my subconscious, it was directly overhead at a height of perhaps
a hundred feet and heading east toward the Parkfairfax development across
Quaker Lane in Alexandria. I only got to see it for a second or two as it
crossed a sky gap between trees and buildings before it was out of sight and
hearing.
I have lived in this neighborhood for over 41 years and have never seen or
heard a raven here, but am very familiar with their vocalizations and flight
style from time spent at my second home in the mountains where they are fairly
common. The call was, to my ears, unmistakeable and very different from that
of our two local crow species, including the odd calls of juveniles. This was
a big bird with a slow, rowing flight style that is distinctive and typical of
the species. While my view of the body, especially the distinctive
wedge-shaped tail, was not long enough to be completely satisfying, I did get a
sense that the tail was more like that of a raven than that of our local crows.
I recognize that this is neither a definite sighting nor one of a rare species,
but if truly a raven, it would certainly be unusual for this area and a first
for me. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.
Good birding
Dave Davis
