VA Birders,
Birded Huntley Meadows as the moon set and the sun rose this morning, and was
delighted with all the waterfowl, and a Fox Sparrow. The trail connecting the
main trails to the Hike-Bike trail is not yet open, so I moved on to Mason Neck.
The Great Marsh Trail on the Refuge was warm and beautiful with the sky so
clear. The platform at the end allowed clear views across toward the Wood Marsh
Trail platform and 17 Tundra Swans. After observing them and the 15 Greater
Yellowlegs, I was about to leave about 9:45 when the wailing calls began. The
swans came circling in from a few different flocks, one of 10 birds that stayed
high and continued South, another flew low right over the platform toward
Pohick Bay.
Counted 80 birds landing, and another 10 arrived a few minutes later, so there
were well over 100 when I left after 10AM.
Phil Silas
Woodbridge, VA
