This AM I spent an hour (8:30 to 9:30) on the upper school campus of Flint Hill
getting set-up to do some banding later in the week. The large numbers of
chipping sparrows were there again, but most of the song sparrows and the
white-crowned had disappeared overnight. The biggest treat was superb views of
a Marsh Wren in the thickets and cat-tails at the NW side of the campus. A
silent meadowlark flew over to the south with its distinctive shape, size and
flight pattern, as did a calling american pipit. Six yellow palm warblers
flitted about the thickety edges and among the trees that are scattered through
the open areas. The 23 bluebirds along the outfield fence, in the stormwater
retention dry pond, and eating viburnum berries, is probably the largest number
I have seen on campus. There was also a good number of house finches, totalling
about 80, down from this year's high of 130 on Oct 5.
Will be going outside a couple more times today so might have more to report
later.
All the best
Fred
Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
