Lake Fairfax & Riverbend park
ctaylor@seamail.nos.noaa.gov
Mon, 16 Nov 98 12:30:38 -0500
Hi all,
On Saturday morning there was a single ruddy duck and a single bufflehead on
Lake Fairfax. The Osprey was still there as of Friday. They have stocked the
lake with trout for the local fishermen, so I wonder if that is why the osprey
has chosen to stick around. It is successful at catching fish each time I see
it. I've never seen a bufflehead at the lake before.
Sunday (4:30PM)Riverbend Park - At least 5 pileated woodpeckers - very vocal. 3
wild turkeys on the Maryland side of the river, viewed from the Virginia side on
the park trail. This was wierd, because I had just mentioned to my husband that
for some odd reason I had never come across any wild turkeys, ever, and that I
would really like to see one, since I've been birding for a good 5 or 6 years
now. He's seen them a few times when I did not go hiking with him. He replied,
"they'll just be there some day when you don't expect it". So I'm scanning the
other side for herons or ducks, not ten minutes after I mentioned wanting to see
wild turkeys, and bang - 3 turkeys on the other side, just where I happened to
look! This happens to me a lot. I'll fix my sights on something, and suddenly
I'll see it. For instance, least bittern was the last of the herons to elude my
searches. I really looked for this bird for a while, but I wasn't overly
determined. Finally I just said to myself, I'm taking the cannoe to Dike Marsh
and I'm going to find me a Least Bittern. Well my husband and I drove to the
park and paddled to the most likely spot, waited 10 minutes, and one flies right
in front of us. Anyone have experiences like this (Greg Miller need not reply -
I know the answer)?
Riverbend continued ...No ducks except mallards. Many Canada Geese. Didn't get
a chance to see much else, since the puppy was pulling me along the trail. Oh,
and 2 killdeer on a rock in the middle of the river and the usuall suspects
(chickadees, titmouse, cardinals, etc...)
Chris Taylor