Came out early each morning to do my Site Survey for E-bird.  This is a
project where you take regular counts (at least once a week) over the same
area to get a feel for seasonal changes (and ultimately long range changes).
I selected Hunting Quarter Rd as my site which has been one of my winter
count routes forever, so at least once a week I will walk the entire length
of the road.  So far I have counted 13 times starting in late December 2009
and have recorded 79 species. On 4-22 I came back through the fields to the
car and on 4-23 along River Rd.  Today I also checked the impoundments
again.
       Good counts on both days-46 species on 4-22 and 49 species on 4-24
for a composite total of 60.  Migration is starting to pick up.  Arrivals on
4-22 were Green Heron (3), a singing Yellow-throated Vireo, and Prairie
Warblers (3).  Other notables were a Great Egret, 7 Blue-winged Teal, a
flyover Killdeer, and 5 Rusty Blackbirds.
     Today (4-24) I had my first Sora, a Prothonotary Warbler, a singing
Northern Waterthrush, and two Orchard Orioles.  Both days there were small
numbers of migrating Blue Jays.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA