August Birding at Banshee – Vireos were a Highlight

Twelve birders came for the monthly (second Saturday of every month) birding walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Loudoun County.  The monthly walk is sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservance and The Friends of Banshee Reeks.  A total of 44 species were recorded.  Most of the walk was along Arrowhead Trail with great looks at YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, WHITE-EYED VIREO and also GREAT-CREASTED FLYCATCHER.  Fortyfour species is about average for the August walks.  The complete list follows:
 
Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-pewee, Great-creasted Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo (these had been scarce at Banshee until this year), Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher (short tail, probably hatch year), European Starling, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grossbeak, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch
 
Del Sargent
Purcellville