I spent the entire day visiting some of my favorite spots in King George and
Westmoreland counties. It was my first time there in a month so it was fun to
see so many of the summer residents back on their territories. I started at
the various King George Co ponds near route 3 and then went to a few spots in
the Leedstown area, Westmoreland. I finished the day listening to goatsuckers
along Winter Harbor Rd, Westmoreland, and also tried for them at Wilmont Rd
(Toby's Point) King George where the only birds I heard were some flight calls
of Swainson's thrushes.I found 110 species, with 12 shorebird species, only 4
duck/goose species and only 3 migrant warbler species. The spring frogs were
replaced by raucous choruses of singing cricket frogs, green tree frogs, Cope's
Gray Tree Frogs, and scattered green frogs.
Here are the highlights:1. A female REDHEAD near Dogue, King George
2. 7 Bobwhites in 4 locations3. 1 Great Egret at LaGrange La, King George4. My
highest count of Least Sandpiper in the NNK/MP in Leedstown (75). All of my
other relatively high counts have been during this same mid-May week in
previous years.'5. There were also 34 Semipalmated Plovers in Leedstown, my
second highest count in the region, and my highest in the upper parts of these
peninsulas. I found 19 others in 2 other locations too.6. A WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER in breeding plumage, in Leedstown. There were so many shorebirds
here because a farmer who manages his farm for wildlife did his regular
draining of his pond which made wonderful mud flats. This was only my 4th
spring record of white-rumped in the region.7. There was also a Dunlin at King
George ponds and one in full breeding plumage in Leedstown.
7. 9 Short-billed dowitchers at a private property at King George ponds. This
was also my highest count for upper parts of the peninsulas where it is fairly
rare.8. Teeming with thousands of gulls in the non-breeding season, it was
strange to see only one gull at King George ponds. A lone Laughing Gull. All
the rest must be at their breeding colonies.9. Two fledgling barred owls
calling invisibly at my property along Peedee Creek, Leedstown10. 6
chuck-will's-widows, and 5 whip-poor-wills, along Winter Harbor Rd just as dusk
turned to dark, between Route 3 and Twiford Rd, Westmoreland.11. 1 American
Pipit at King George ponds12. The only migrant warblers were 1 Northern
Waterthrush and 1 Magnolia warbler in Leedstown and a total of 24 Blackpolls,
including my 3rd highest regional count of 11 at a private farm in
Leedstown.13. Single lingering Savannah and Swamp sparrows. This is my second
latest spring date for Savannah sparrow in the region.
14. 27 Grasshopper sparrows at 7 locations.15. Two male DICKCISSELS singing at
the entrance to a private farm near King George ponds. One of them was
accompanied by a calling female. Singing males have also been found at this
location in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
16. This same farm had several Bobolinks. Any day with singing bobolinks is a
great day.17. Almost no mosquitoes, and the deer flies weren't too bad, so it
was great just to sit in one place and watch and listen without getting
bitten.18. Almost stepped on a very young fawn which had been lying still and
camouflaged next to my swampy pond in Leedstown.
All the bestFred
Frederick D. Atwood
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
