Twelve people joined walk leaders David Ledwith and me for a Northern
Virginia Bird Club sponsored event at Mason Neck State Park this morning.
Waterfowl and water bird numbers are increasing. The group observed two
large rafts of birds on the Kanes Creek (east) side of Belmont Bay. The
first, a closer group, included large numbers of American Coots, and a more
distant second raft contained about 1000 Lesser Scaup. Other species
intermixed with these two rafts. The whole spectacle was highlighted with 30
Pied-billed Grebes and 4 Horned Grebes for good measure. The award winner
for pure laziness goes to a sleeping Ring-billed Gull that remained on the
same floating log in Belmont Bay for two hours.
Cedar Waxwings and American Robins brought the Visitor Center grounds to
life as both species foraged for berries still being offered by trees and
bushes. A mixed flock of Eastern Bluebirds and American Goldfinches also
added a nice touch. It was a wonderful day to be outside.
Mason Neck State Park - CMN08, Fairfax, Virginia, US Dec 12, 2015 8:15 AM -
11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.3 mile(s)
Comments: Lead by Larry Cartwright and David Ledwith
51 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 170
Tundra Swan 22
Gadwall 41
American Wigeon 11
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 400
Northern Shoveler 2
Canvasback 150
Redhead 15
Ring-necked Duck 70
Lesser Scaup 1000
Bufflehead 50
Hooded Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 100
Pied-billed Grebe 30
Horned Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 4
Accipiter sp. 1
Bald Eagle 3
American Coot 1500
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 7
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 7
crow sp. 50
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 4
Eastern Bluebird 12
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 250
Cedar Waxwing 100
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Dark-eyed Junco 8
White-throated Sparrow 18
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 6
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 12
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26252897
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx>