brief note on Hunting Creek, VA

KurtCapt87@aol.com
Fri, 23 Oct 1998 19:31:24 EDT


Folks,

On the way to lunch I saw 4 Bald Eagles circling near the Hunting Creek
mouth/bay on the Potomac (just south of the beltway at Alexandria, off the GW
Parkway), so after lunch I dropped by with a co-worker and set up the scope.
We saw 7 Bald Eagles on the mudflats.  This is a historically large number for
this time of year (late Oct), usually such numbers are found in mid-November.
Perhaps it is an indicator of things to come???

The ducks are still out there in good numbers.  They were joined by the first
2 Buffleheads of the season today.  Two days earlier Gadwall and Ruddy's were
steaming about.  Knowing this, with a bit of effort enterprising birders may
be able to see the following 25 species:  Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Green-wing
Teal, Black Duck, Mallard, No. Pintail, No. Shoveler, Gadwall, Am Widgeon,
Canvasback, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs,
Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, Black-backed, Caspian, and Forster's.  And a
quick drive south to Ft. Belvoir nets Cinnamon and Blue-wing Teal!

Kurt Gaskill, kurtcapt87@aol.com