I visited the ponds in King George Co, then brief visits in Leedstown
(Westmoreland Co), Singerly Pond, and Mulberry Island (private) in Richmond Co.
I don't have the complete list since I haven't entered them into ebird yet, but
the highlights included...
1. My first greater white-fronted goose of the year, Farley Vale Farm near
Sealston(King George). I asked Mrs Blanton if it would be ok for birders to
look for this bird. She said yes, if they stay on the main dirt road that goes
between the ponds (NOT the side road that goes between the two ponds on the
left). It was with Canada Geese in the pond on the right, however, the
waterfowl here move around a lot, so also check LaGrange Lane (stay on the
paved road, off the grass) if you can't find it at Farley Vale. Don't confuse
the white-faced Canada Goose hybrid-of-some-sort that has been here for years
(and was also here today) with this bird.
2. A pair of redheads in Dogue (King George)
3. Over 2900 ring-necked ducks, 40 Pied-billed Grebes, 12 tundra swans, and
over 630 coots (King George Ponds, mostly at LaGrange)
4. 2 fox sparrows and a latish white-eyed vireo in Dogue
5. 22 male hooded mergansers displaying for 13 females at Singerly Pond
6. a merlin, black-crowned night heron, and marsh wren at Mulberry point marsh
at dusk
7. 8 harriers (3 might have been the same bird), 3 kestrels, and 21 bald eagles
9. 8 Bonaparte's Gulls at LaGrange Lane
10. I unsuccessfully tried to find the blackbird flock that was found last week
with the yellow-headed blackbird.
All the best
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
