[MDOsprey] Report on Prince William Forest and Possum Pt, VA

KurtCapt87@aol.com
Sat, 26 Jun 1999 18:56:47 EDT


Folks,

Today, Todd and I birded Prince William Forest, outside of Dumfries, VA today 
from about 0645-1200 and then lightly birded the road to Possum Pt on the 
Potomac River just outside of Dumfries until about 1400.  The weather was 
partly sunny, from 68-93 F with a light breeze at times.  Highlights were a 
significant concentration of Hooded Warblers as well as excellent numbers of 
many woodland neotrops.  The trip netted 64 species, mostly passerines, 43/37 
Prince Wm Forest/Possum Pt.

Prince William Forest has a land area of more than 17000 acres and is the 
greatest expanse of Piedmont forest in the National Park system and the 
largest natural park area in the metropolitan Washington area.  It is about 
35 minutes from Rt 1 and the beltway at Alexandria, VA.  We could only bird a 
small portion of the park, mainly along the south fork of Quantico Creek, the 
scenic drive and the geology area near parking lot E.  The Hoodeds were 
concentrated mainly near parking lot E and also along the scenic drive to 
Burma Rd.

Kurt Gaskill

(first data is PW Forest then dash and the next is Possum Pt)

Gr Blue Heron 	0-16
Canada Goose 	0-45
Mallard 		0-7
Black Vulture 4-0
Turkey Vulture 10-2
Osprey 0-3 (2 ad, 1 juvie in nest, another dead juvie hanging by fishing line 
fr nest)
Red-tailed Hawk 0-2 (a bird of the year)
Killdeer 0-1
Rock Dove 0-4
Mourning Dove 1-1
Chimney Swift 0-6
Ruby-thr Hummer 0-1
Belted Kingfisher 2-0
Red-belly Wood 6-0
Downy Wood 6-0
Hairy Wood 1-0
No. Flicker 2-1
Pileated Wood 3-0
E. Wood Peewee 10-0
Acadian Fly 34-2
E. Phoebe 9-0 (juvie Phoebe and on nest for second brood)
Gr Cr Fly 1-0
Purple Martin 0-24
Barn Swallow 4-6
Am Crow 10-6
Fish Crow 0-1
Carolina Chickadee 18-0
Tufted Titmouse 18-0
White-breasted Nuthatch 10-0
Carolina Wren 1-0
House Wren 1-1
Blue-gray Gnat 4-1
E. Bluebird 0-4
Wood Thrush 45-0 (one on nest)
Am Robin 7-0
Gray Catbird 1-0
No. Mocker 2-3
Br. Thrasher 1-0
E. Starling 0-4
White-eyed Vireo 0-2
Yellow-thr Vireo 1-0
Red-eyed Vireo 32-4
No. Parula 8-1
Pine Warbler 16-0
Prairie Warbler 0-2
Am. Redstart 1-0
Ovenbird 28-0 (juvie being fed by parent, attack of observers by parent)
LA Waterthrush 5-0
Com Yellowthroat 0-8
Hooded Warbler 6-0
Yellow-br Chat 0-2
Scarlet Tanager 9-0
No. Card 1-2
Indigo Bunting 2-10
E. Towhee 1-0
Field Sparrow 0-2
Song Sparrow 0-6
Red-wing Blackbird 0-10
Com. Grackle 1-4
Brn-headed Cowbird 4-0
House Finch 1-2
Am Goldfinch 3-2
House Sparrow 0-6