Hello, birders. I apologize for the late report.
I led 9 birders on a productive late summer bird walk at Sky Meadows SP on
Sunday. The activity was largely confined to fields and edges while the woods
were quiet. We birded the Visitor Center area, the entrance road and the
Walnut Grove as far as the new picnic area. We started at 9am and ended a
little before noon.
The list is below. I've added birds that I saw before and after the walk along
Edmonds Lane and the entrance road and I've added a couple of species seen
after the walk by Greg Davis at the fishing pond.
Canada Goose, 1
Turkey Vulture, 2
Red-shouldered Hawk, 1 calling frequently in the Walnut Grove before the bird
walk.
Red-tailed Hawk, 1
Am. Kestrel, 2 (1 male, 1 female). The female's tail feathers were growing in,
she had a very short tail and it threw me off a bit.
Rock Pigeon, 3
Mourning Dove, 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 2 (both seen after the walk, one at the contact
station and one at the fishing pond).
Belted Kingfisher, 1 perched on top of birdbox in the entrance road pond.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 7, includes adults and immatures. Flycatching, calling,
foraging, etc. Fun to watch.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2
No. Flicker, 3
Pileated Woodpecker, 3
E. Wood-Pewee, 5 males
E. Phoebe, 4
E. Kingbird, 1
Blue Jay, 13
Am. Crow, 4
Barn Swallow, 9
Carolina Chickadee, 1 after the walk at the contact station
Tufted Titmouse, 1
White-br. Nuthatch, 2
Car. Wren, 5
E. Bluebird, 8 including at least 4 imm.
Am. Robin, 1
Gray Catbird, 3 (2 seen before the walk, 1 afterward at the fishing pond)
No. Mockingbird, 1
Eur. Starling, 200
Com. Yellowthroat, 2 males
Chipping Sparrow, 13 which includes approx. 10 imm. Most of these birds were
at the Visitor Center area, foraging in the fields.
Field Sparrow, 4 males
Grasshopper Sparrow, 1 silent individual perched on top of a fencepost near
Edmonds Lane before the walk
Song Sparrow, 1 male
No. Cardinal, 3
Blue Grosbeak, 3 males
Indigo Bunting, 9
E. Meadowlark, 2, one of them was carrying food.
Brown-headed Cowbird, 7 imm.
Am. Goldfinch, 12
House Sparrow, 2
Also 1 E. Chipmunk, 3 W.t. Deer, 1 ruddy toned Am. Toad, 5 species of
dragonflies and 27 species of butterflies. Swallowtails were especially
common. We observed 1 CHECKERED WHITE at the end of the walk. The last time
that I saw this species in the park was April 2000.
Scott Baron
Vienna, Va.
