Cinnamon Teal 9/26 at Ft. Belvoir
Rob Hilton (robert@csa.com)
Mon, 28 Sep 1998 14:20:11 -0400
at the refuge along Accotink Bay/Creek, Ft. Belvoir. Note that this bird
was first reported on Sep. 17. On Sept. 17, another eclipse male was
reported from (north)western Pennsylvania.....
CINNAMON TEAL
Ft. Belvoir--refuge at Accotink Creek
1 eclipse male with 75+ Bluewings
Sep. 26 2:00 to 2:30 pm, when we left it. We waited for at least 30
minutes until it showed.
better directions (off the top of my head; maps in car; i'm in office)--
To reach this spot, turn off US Rt 1 onto Belvoir Rd; there is a traffic
light and a sign for the Visitor Center. Take a right turn and proceed two
or three blocks to Gunston Road. Turn left on Gunston Road. Watch for
Warren Rd, and turn right. Follow Warren to Accotink Creek/Bay and make
another right. Proceed along the shoreline to the archery range. The
flock of teal is usually seen near the Osprey nesting platform and an old
pier. Morning light provides the best viewing conditions. Try to go at
high tide, which will be 28 minutes before high tide in DC. (DC tides are
listed in the Washington Post Metro section each day.) If the ducks are
not close, take the trail from the end of the lot and walk 1/2-3/4 mile; go
left at the sign for the duck blind.
We (Lisa Shannon and I) saw the bird from the duck blind -- it was in a
side creek and gradually swam out to join the main group of birds. It was
with a female Blue-winged Teal. Also there were three Bald Eagles, one
adult bathing, and two immatures.
Rob
Rob (Robert) Hilton--robert@csa.com--Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Lal Waterson 1943-1998
"and you wonder why when your heart has died that your feet go stumbling on"