Headed down to Neabsco Creek along Blackburn Road (at the first pull-off) in
hopes of sighting the Clay-colored Sparrow, arriving @ 7:30 AM. Had a brief
glimpse (~ 1 sec) of the CCSP along the "trail" at the bottom of the road
embankment across from the culvert, which is on the north side of the road.
Also saw an imm. Chipping Sparrow here just a couple of minutes before the CCSP
popped up. Second lifer in 2 days (saw the Greater White-fronted Goose @
Hunting Creek yesterday). The view was long enough to ID, but not satisfying.
Later at 11:15, I had an extended, open view (15 seconds), which was most
satisfying, at the west end of the pull off, perched on green briar at the base
of the third tree in from the west. Both times I saw the CCSP, it was in a
mixed flock of Song and Field Sparrows.
Other highlights were a Great Egret (flyover) and on the mudflats east of the
second pull off, a Lesser Black-backed Gull in the same scope view with 3 Great
Black-backed Gulls, in the midst of ~900-1000 Ring-billed Gulls (also 6 Herring
Gulls).
Scott D. Priebe
Springfield, VA
Species: 29
Canada Goose 31
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 900
Herring Gull 6
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Wren 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Chipping Sparrow 1
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 16
Song Sparrow 32
Swamp Sparrow 9
White-throated Sparrow 23
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 40
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 8
