Today (14 October) I got out to the Sully Woodlands (on Pleasant
Valley Road, in western Fairfax County). In one of the big fields, a
clump of low bushes held an American Tree Sparrow together with 2-3
Song Sparrows and about a dozen Savannah Sparrows. For some reason,
most of the sparrows perched up high in plain sight and stayed still
for a long time. I noted the eye stripe, rusty side spot, gray face,
dark chest spot, and otherwise unstreaked off-white chest and belly.
Apparently the dreary overcast morning was dark enough to get a Barred
Owl calling. From the woods west of Elklick Run, he repeatedly
inquired about the identity of the chef, around 10:30 AM.
It was also a good day for raptors: an adult Red-Tailed and immature
Red-Shouldered Hawk, and an American Kestrel. The only other bird of
note was a Meadowlark. No other migrants or winter birds today.
- Steve Johnson
Fairfax, VA
