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Fw: [va-bird] Another fine birding day in Northern VA - YH Blackbird, etc.

From:

Jay Keller

Reply-To:

Jay Keller

Date:

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:57:46 -0500

MDOspreyers,

I am forwarding my post to VA-Birds from today regarding the Yellow-headed Blackbird I observed at Occoquan Bay NWR.  When the bird flew out of sight, it was heading due east toward the Potomac, so it is possible or even likely that it made it over to your side of the river.  Time of observation was approximately 8:45 AM.  See paragraph 6 below:

Take Care,

Jay

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Hello Everyone,

The birding in the northern Virginia area continues to produce.  It seems like the recent winds blew in some great birds.  I started early this AM owling in the Lorton area and later searching for sparrows, then moved to Belmont Bay, followed by Occoquan Bay NWR, and finally back to Lorton for hawks.  84 species were recorded, and highlights are below for each location.

LORTON AREA:
I started at 5:45 at the (closed) gate at Sandy Run Park near Lorton (Van Thompson Rd).  I got out of my car and immediately heard a BARRED OWL.  After a fair amount of prompting, I was elated to hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL from not too far away.  This is my first Saw-whet away from the mountains.  It gave the rather emphatic "twoot twoot twoot twoot" in rapid succession, not the breeding "toots" which are delivered more slowly & calmly.  This can be heard on the Stokes CD following the "toots" recording.  Waiting for the Saw-whet to vocalize again, I heard two GREAT HORNED OWLS join in.

I later visited a couple of spots that have been productive for sparrows and other passerines in the past, and one of them is a pull-off along Furnace Rd.  It delivered with the following highlights: BROWN THRASHER, and sparrows including TOWHEE, CHIPPING, FIELD, SAVANNAH, SONG, LINCOLN'S (singing), WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED (singing) & JUNCO.  Another (permission-only) area held many of the above plus SWAMP, as well as a few EASTERN MEADOWLARKS.

BELMONT BAY:
The overlook at Belmont Bay was decent, and there are now several little silt bars out in the water where gulls can loaf.  Among the usuals were 10 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.  Ducks included BLACK, MALLARD, N SHOVELER, and a female BUFFLEHEAD.  At least five AMERICAN PIPITS flew over in a group.  Also there were more than a dozen PIED-BILLED GREBES.

OCCOQUAN BAY NWR:
The floodgates floweth!  Lots of birds here today, and some really special finds.  I added WOOD DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL (flock of 12), LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, and RING-NECKED DUCK to the waterfowl list.  

The best bird of the day came not long after my arrival, which was an overflying YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, my first for VA.  I heard this rather unique call note being repeated over my head, and when I got the bins on the culprit I was amazed at what I found, the yellow throat and breast standing out against the otherwise dark brown bird.  

Also along Bayview, I found a worn adult VESPER SPARROW as well as other sparrows that might be expected.  Amid a small flock of Goldfinches was a calling PINE SISKIN that I also was able to get on.  Along Easy Rd I found a bright (but streaky-breasted) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.  Amazingly, along the segment of Deephole Point Rd between Easy and Fox Rds, a late drab CAPE MAY WARBLER dropped into a small tree and called profusely for a couple of minutes before continuing south.  Other goodies included a HORNED GREBE, MERLIN, BROWN THRASHER, CATBIRD, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD (35+).

LORTON (again):
Still wanting more, I headed for the Lorton area again, this time near the intersection of Lorton Rd and Furnace Rd.  I added to my day's raptor list by finding HARRIER, COOPER'S, SHARP-SHINNED, RED-TAILED, and RED-SHOULDERED.  I missed Kestrel today, somehow.  After this at Occoquan Regional Park, I added a BROWN CREEPER and a few others before calling it a morning.  Needless to say, I had a blast today.

Take Care,

Jay Keller,
Arlington





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