Around 18 novice and experienced birders joined leaders Mary Ann Good and Laura Weidner for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s monthly birdwalk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on Saturday morning (Aug 9). Although the group saw 47 species, the lovely weather didn’t translate into increased bird activity. It was a fairly quiet morning, with flycatchers providing most of the interest. Pewees were continually heard and frequently seen, as were several Phoebes, Willow Flycatchers in two different locations (uncommon on the preserve itself until this year-although regular nesters at the nearby Dulles Wetlands), at least one Acadian Flycatcher, a family pair of Great Crested Flycatchers, and an Eastern Kingbird.
Mary Ann stopped for an hour’s survey of shorebirds and others at the Dulles Wetlands before the walk and found a large congregation of herons: 12 Great Blue Herons, 10 Great Egrets, and 9 Green Herons, together in the shrinking main pond. Shorebirds included 20+ Killdeer, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 or 3 Solitary SP, 4 Spotted SP, and 2 Semipalmated SP. Also present were families of juv. Wood Duck and Mallard and 2 adult Bald Eagles.
Birds seen by the group at Banshee follow: Black Vulture(1), Turkey Vulture(3), Canada Goose(30), Accipiter sp(1), Red-tailed Hawk(2), Pigeon(1), Mourning Dove(10), Yellow-billed Cuckoo(3), Chimney Swift(3), Red-bellied Woodpecker(2), Downy Woodpecker(4), No. Flicker(1), Pileated Woodpecker(2), E. Wood-Pewee(15), Acadian Flycatcher(1), Willow Flycatcher(2), E. Phoebe(3), Great Crested Flycatcher(2), E. Kingbird(1), Red-eyed Vireo(1), Blue Jay(3), Am. Crow(6), Tree Swallow(2), Barn Swallow(6), Car. Chickadee(6), Tufted Titmouse(4), White-breasted Nuthatch(1), Carolina Wren(6), E. Bluebird(20), Am. Robin(15), Gray Catbird(6), No. Mockingbird(12), Brown Thrasher(4), Starling(2), Am. Redstart(1), Yellow-breasted Chat(1), Scarlet Tanager(1), E. Towhee(3), Chipping Sparrow(2), Field Sparrow(30), Song Sparrow(2), No. Cardinal(8), Indigo Bunting(8), Baltimore Oriole(1), Orchard Oriole(3), House Finch(2), Am. Goldfinch(20), House Sparrow(1)