My main goal today was to fill in more details about the distribution of
red-necked grebes in this amazing winter. So I visited several likely places in
King George, Westmoreland, and Richmond counties. At King George ponds along
route 3 there were 6 in the two larger ponds at LaGrange Lane but none at the
other nearby route 3 ponds (private). One of these birds was very handsome in
full breeding plumage. Three others were close to breeding plumage.
I then went to Washington's Birthplace in Westmoreland. Scanning with the scope
at the beach and in two places along Popes Creek (visitor center and picnic
area), I could find no red-necked grebes . There were 156 tundra swans at the
picnic area, 340 canvasbacks at the visitor center, and 355 surf scoters and 4
black scoters viewed by scope at the beach. Just downriver (Potomac) from the
Birthplace at the end of Muse Rd (rte 624) there were also no red-necked
grebes. A few gannets, horned grebes, long-tailed ducks (singing), goldeneyes,
and red-throated loons were also present here and at the Birthplace beach.
From there I scooted down to Currioman Bay (Westmoreland) where I could find no
red-necked grebes in the bay or river.
Next stops were in Richmond County where I stopped at Singerly pond and then
Fones Cliffs boat ramp on the Rappahannock. My first-ever Richmond county
red-necked grebe was in the river here. Singerly pond had no grebes but there
was snipe along the shore and several ring-necked ducks, lesser scaup, and
buffleheads.
I ended the day in Leedstown (Westmoreland) where I looked for grebes at
Horner's Mill Pond (black duck, mallards, and hybrid mallard/black) and in the
Rappahannock by the testing lab (lighthouse) and the campground. By the
campground I found my first-ever Westmoreland Co red-necked grebe, bringing my
county total to 244 species. There were still thousands (9000+) of Canada Geese
in the Parker farm fields along Leedstown Rd and among them was a small group
of 3 white-fronted geese (my third sighting in the county ever, all in
Leedstown, and all in late Feb/early March). At nearby private property I
ended the day with amazing views of a silent short-eared owl foraging back and
forth over a grassy field while swans, geese, spring peepers, leopard frogs,
wigeons, pintails, mallards and gadwalls provided the background music.
So I could not find red-necked grebes in the Potomac or its bays or in smaller
ponds, but could find them in some large ponds (lakes) and the Rappahannock
River. I saw a total of 8 for the day.
My total for the day was 89 species, but I did no pishing and very little
landbirding today. Best passerine was a catbird calling at dusk in Leedstown. I
also saw a couple good sized flocks of turkeys in farm fields along roads today.
All the best
Fred Atwood
Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood at yahoo dot com
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
