On Aug 30, 2008, at 9:21 PM, Kurt Gaskill wrote:
VA BIRDers,
Additions to Marc’s report:
I stopped outside of Leesylvania SP about 0615 and glassed the Neabsco marsh. Picked up one American Bittern flying after 10 minutes.
Inside Leesylvania park, additions were a Glossy Ibis flying along the shoreline (curiously, north towards the mouth of Neabsco Cr), an overflying Bobolink, a very fresh looking Yellow-throated Vireo, House Wren, many Gray Catbirds, a Blue-winged Warbler, a Blue Grosbeak, an Orchard Oriole, about 7 Baltimore Orioles, 2 Purple Martins and dozen plus Chimney Swifts and Rough-winged Swallows. Also notable were two Prothonotary Warblers and two YB Flycatchers – only the second time I have noted 2 of the latter in one Fall day in No. VA. I also put down 2 Least Flycatchers (must have been a good flight given Larry Meade’s report at Huntley Meadows today). Of course E. Wood Pewees were double digits (it’s the peak of migration for this species). The park also totaled 5 YB Cuckoos and RT Hummers for the day. Raptors were 2 or 3 Bald Eagles, a few Osprey and a Red-shouldered Hawk.
After hearing of Marc’s good luck, Jan & I visited The Point and can add Yellow-throated Warbler and Wood Thrush to the day’s total find (but we missed the many goodies such as Philly V and Cape May). It was easy to find No. Parulas, Black & Whites, Am. Redstarts, and E. Wood Pewees. A couple of Acadian Flycatchers were noted including one which showed itself near the road. Also notable were juvie Scarlet Tanager (still sporting some downy feathers mid-body) with “dad” (who was only half scarlet) and a Summer Tanager. Two Spotted Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs on the ash pond. Raptors were a couple of Bald Eagles, several Osprey, a Northern Harrier and Sharp- shinned Hawk.
Our visit to Belmont Bay produced the summering Lesser Scaup and American Coot plus more larids including a few Caspian Terns. Also a few Pied-billed Grebes. Raptors were several Osprey and a Cooper’s Hawk.
Out last stop was Dyke Marsh were we found 3 Blue-winged Teal and a female (adult) Lesser Scaup. Forster’s Terns numbered near 30 and Caspians were near 35. The real payoff and the unusual bird of the day was found on the riverside mudflats – Black-bellied Plover. I’ve seen Black-bellied Plover at the Hunting Creek mudflats perhaps 2-3 times in the last dozen years. In Northern Virginia, the expected species is often said to be Am. Golden Plover. Oh well! …..I guess I will keep looking.
Kurt Gaskill
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ] On Behalf Of MARC RIBAUDO
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 2:15 PM
To: VA-BIRD
Subject: [Va-bird] Philadelphia vireo, flyatchers, warblers, Woodbridge
I had a fine morning along Cockpit Pt. Road and at Leesylvania State Park this morning, with 75 species tallied. I stopped first at Cockpit Pt. Road, where I came across several groups of migrants. They included an olive-sided flycatcher (I agonized over this one, but the vest was just too dark to be a pewee), Philadelphia vireo, acadian flycatcher, 11 warbler species (1 blue-winged, 1 Tennessee, 5 northern parula, 8 black and white, 3 worm-eating, 1 black- throated green, 1 Cape May, 4 magnolia, 6 American redstart, 1 hooded, and 1 common yellowthroat), 4 yellow-billed cuckoo, baltimore oriole and scarlet tanager. At the ash pond were 2 lesser yellowlegs, great egret, and a singing blue grosbeak. I went on to Leesylvania State Park where I met Kurt Gaskill and Jan Frye. I joined them for a little bit, and added prothonotary warbler, least flycatcher, and yellow-bellied flycatcher to the list.
Marc Ribaudo
Woodbridge, VA
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