Birders,
From all the reports it seems that it's been a good few weeks for Horned Grebes
in our region. I observed a Horned Grebe successfully fishing (appropriately)
on
the fishing pond at Sky Meadows this morning. When I left the area the bird was
resting, with head tucked in. First park record, I think. 3/4 of the way to
breeding plumage. Later in the morning I found this same bird on the entrance
road pond. I heard it vocalize at both locations. To my ears the call was
a gull-like cry. My first time hearing this species.
300+ Robins on the move in the fishing pond and farm ponds area. Lots of
sparrows, too. Song, Junco, Field, Fox, White-throated and 1 imm. White-crowned
(the latter in a sparrow flock near the Mt. Bleak house). Phoebes were common
so
they must be passing through.
1 Brown Thrasher singing atop a tree in a yard along Edmonds Lane.
Snow ended soon after I arrived. The light covering of snow had mostly melted
by
noon.
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
