Howdy!
Yesterday, April 18, I started at about 7:15 at the ponds along route 3 between
Sealston and King George where there was very little in the way of waterfowl (2
ring-necked ducks, 1 bufflehead, and a couple pairs of mallards). (The strange
hybrid Canada/barnyard goose that looks a lot like a white-fronted goose is
still there). But I did get great scope views of a near-breeding plumage
Red-necked Grebe here, as well as my first Caspian Terns (9) of the year and an
adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. I also found my first Yellow Warbler, Eastern
Kingbird, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Common Yellowthroats of the year here. And
a couple Bank Swallows (also f.o.s) were hanging around the sand cliffs where
they have nested in the past. The martin boxes on Lagrange Lane were full. From
there I headed to Leedstown and the area of Washington's Birthplace in
Westmoreland County.
It was my first time back at the Birthplace since the tundra swans had left and
it was strangely quiet and empty looking. But a large flock of 1350 Ruddy
Ducks composed of 75-80% males, many in amazing plumage, and a group of 70
Buffleheads (only 10 male) and both species of Scaup (12 Greater, 15 Lesser)
were nice to see at the beach there. Off the end of Muse Rd (rte 624) in the
Potomac R there were several horned grebes in bizarre and beautiful plumages, 3
Red-throated Loons, and a couple gannets sitting in the water.
At Peedee Creek in Leedstown I found my first Blue-headed Vireo and Green Heron
of the year. At a friend's farm in Leedstown I was dazzled by the brilliant
iridescence in the back feathers of two gobblers casually strolling through a
field. I had no idea there was so much rosy-red in good light. And their
fleshy faces and wattles were also bright pink and blue. Stunning. Two
Blue-winged Teals, 4 Green-winged teals, 2 Black Ducks, a Bobwhite, and 5
Greater Yellowlegs were also at this farm along with two Killdeer with one very
cute, very young, gangly fluffling. At sunset I was at Mothershead RRVNWR
where I heard no woodcocks and saw no short-eared owls, but three harriers were
flying back and forth swooping and plunging into the grass accompanied by the
sounds of Great Horned Owls, yellowthroats, field sparrow, bobwhites, and a
medley of amphibians (fowler's toad, american toad, copes gray tree frog, and
spring peepers).
A few purple finches and a pine siskin flew over during the day and a few
white-crowned sparrows charmed me with their songs for perhaps the last time of
the season. Warblers included ovenbird, parula, yellow-rumped, yellow-throated,
yellowthroat, black-and-white, palm, prairie, pine and yellow. Surprising
misses included black vulture, junco, catbird, sapsucker, snipe, barred owl,
rusty blackbird, and waxwing. I was also expecting prothonotary warblers and
lousiana waterthrushes in their usual haunts, but they had not returned yet. It
was a WONDERFUL day with a final count of 99 species and no mosquito bites
despite the torturous effects of the pollen on my sinuses all day.
I hope you have a great week!
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
