Kurt

We did get Bonoparte's Gull-sorry I forgot to mention.  And I had the Pine 
Siskin, you recall.

Will get list off tonight after get a confirmation on the WCSP.

good report.

carol


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kurt Gaskill" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 8:59 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Fort Belvoir CBC Summary


> Initial Summary of Ft Belvoir CBC, 1/2/05
>
> The Fort Belvoir CBC took place Sunday, Jan 2, 2005.  This was the 61st 
> count for the modern circle established by Jackson Abbott in 1941 and 
> centered nr Pohick Church in Fairfax Co.  The following summary is based 
> upon preliminary reports; nearly all teams and Sectors have reported.  A 
> total of 116 species were tallied for the circle (pending acceptance of 
> documentation for at least one); average = 116 (N=20).
>
> The highlight of the count was 2 Common Ravens over the BLM Meadowood 
> Property near Gunston Rd in Fairfax Co – there are no prior records of 
> this species in the circle.  Congratulations to Chris Kessler, Ron Staley 
> and Lucy Uncu for finding these birds!  The addition of Common Raven 
> brings the total number of historical species found to 175.
>
> The following unusual species (noted 5 times or less in the previous 20 
> counts) were reported.
>
> American Bittern, 2/20, last = 12/31/95, Occoquan Bay NWR in Prince 
> William Co by Jay Keller and Kurt Gaskill, called during commotion of King 
> Rails responding to our audio playback.
>
> Rough-legged Hawk, 1/20 (2 in 36yrs), last = 12/30/01, power line cut nr 
> Ox Rd (Rt 123) in Fairfax Co by Larry Brindza and Roger Loudon, prob. 
> female.
>
> Virginia Rail, 2/20 (5 in 36 yrs), last = 1/4/04, Occoquan Bay NWR in 
> Prince William Co, fide Jim Waggener.
>
> Thayer’s Gull, 1/20 (2 in 36 yrs), last = 1/3/99, Occoquan River and Rt 
> 123 between Fairfax and Prince William Cos., observed by Jay Keller and 
> George Ledec, first winter individual, pending acceptance of 
> documentation.
>
> The following “rare” species (reported between 6 and 10 times in the last 
> 20 years) were noted:  Black-crowned Night-Heron (9/20, last = 12/31/00), 
> Merlin (6/20, 6 in 36 yrs, last = 1/4/04, Huntley Meadows in Fairfax Co by 
> our favorite Kansan Kerrie Kirkpatrick), Greater Yellowlegs (10/20 & 
> nearly all in the last 10 yrs, winter range expansion), Lesser Yellowlegs 
> (6/20), Palm Warbler (9/20, 12 in 36 yrs, last = 12/29/02), Chipping 
> Sparrow (10/20, 13 in 36 yrs, last = 1/4/04).
>
> The following hard-to-find or irruptive species (11 to 18 times in the 
> last 20 yrs) were reported:  Black Vulture (13/20, easy to find NOW - 
> great example of winter range expansion; 15 years ago you would be hard 
> pressed to find Black Vulture in the circle!), Snow Goose (16/20), Mute 
> Swan (14/20, Prince Georges Co), Wild Turkey (11/20, recently established 
> breeding population in several locations), King Rail (11/20, last = 
> 1/4/04, 3 individuals at OBNWR noted), Laughing Gull (12/20 & nearly all 
> in the last 10 yrs), House Wren (16/20), Brown Thrasher (17/20, Fort Hunt 
> and Accotink Refuge), Common Yellowthroat (13/20, Great Marsh of Mason 
> Neck), White-crowned Sparrow (16/20, Mason Neck SP and the Lorton area), 
> and Pine Siskin (15/20).
>
> Species of general interest that were reported yet are found 19 or 20 out 
> of 20 yrs were Northern Shoveler, Redhead (Pr Georges Co), Greater Scaup 
> (off the Great Marsh of Mason Neck), Northern Bobwhite (Pr Georges Co and 
> OBNWR), American Woodcock (peenting and displaying, e.g. at OBNWR), 
> Red-headed WP (over a dozen found!), Red-breasted Nuthatch (e.g. Accotink 
> Wildlife Refuge area), American Tree Sparrow (most accessible locations 
> are OBNWR and Huntley Meadows), Rusty Blackbird, Fox Sparrow, and Purple 
> Finch.
>
> Count week species were Lesser Black-backed Gull and Blue-gray 
> Gnatcatcher.
>
> Biggest misses were Horned Grebe (18/20, third count in a row now), 
> Boneparte’s Gull (19/20), and American Pipit (17/20).
>
> Special thanks to the Sector Leaders who once again did an outstanding 
> job: Georg Morduch, Mary-Carroll Potter, PJ Dunn, Sherman Suter, Greg 
> Fleming, Bart Hutchinson, Linda Millington, Larry Brindza, Jim Waggener, 
> Carol Ghebelian, and Rich Rieger.  I also owe over 140 thank you’s to a 
> fantastic group of volunteers who came out and beat the bushes to find 
> birds and add to our understanding of winter bird life in this 
> metropolitan area.  Also, I must mention my appreciation to Charles 
> Studholme of One Good Tern for sponsoring this CBC.  Lastly, special 
> thanks to Cher who provided homemade potato-leak soup, ham sandwiches, a 
> selection of dips, brownies and cheesecake (from Linda), and various 
> beverages to the lot of us who made the species tally and joked about who 
> fell into what mud hole.
>
> Great Times!
>
> See ya-all next year!
>
> Kurt Gaskill, compiler and clean-up technician, Ft B CBC
>