Sherman Suter and I set out to look for some good Fairfax Co birds today and
did pretty well... we headed out for Mason Neck -
Our first stop at the stables at Meadowwood provided a Chipping Sparrow near
the stables (my FOS)
We then walked out the Great Marsh Trail and lucked into one (1)
Yellow-throated Warbler along the trail - the marsh was relatively empty but we
did see 2 Lesser and 11 Greater Yellowlegs on a log not far from the platform.
pushing on to Pohick Bay, there was a pair of Trashers at the edge of the boat
rental parking lot and across the way 20 Foresters Terns roosting on a few
snags. (and BTW - 0 Bald Eagles...?)
Our route then takes us up to the Equestrian center in Lorton near the
Workhouse Art Center where Sherman was able to spy a Vesper Sparrow as it dove
into the bushes, never to be seen or heard by me. Consolation prize for me was
a much sought after Fairfax Co.Raven that flew overhead croaking.
If you like DC Cormorants, Burke Lake was the place to be today. We counted
180 in a few groups and a few more singles and doubles scattered around the
lake. We scored 2 FOS C. LOONS, our target bird for the lake and there was also
a flock of 18 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.
Buoyed by our successes, we headed for Lake Accotink where we were able to tick
our last "good" bird for the day - one LA WATERTRUSH in the creek below the
dam, about 150 yards from the parking lot.
Rich Rieger
Alexandria, VA
