Sorry I’m posting this late but we still wanted to share some of the fun we had exploring the Blue Ridge Center. It’s one of Loudoun’s really great places — please support it as you can.
Field trip report by Jim McWalters, November 10, 2012:
Unseasonable mild temperatures made for a really nice walk around the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship this past Saturday. Paul Miller and Jim McWalters led a small group around the Farmstead Loop past Wortman Pond, Demory field, and the old historic cabins before ending at Mountain View Vista. The group spotted several bird species including a White Throated Sparrow, Turkey and Black Vultures, Red Shoulder Hawk, Cedar Wax Wing, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Dark-Eyed Junco, Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Crows, and a Downy Woodpecker.
Along the way, we spoke about some of the invasive plants that grow in the area such as the Multiflora Rose and the ailanthus (tree-of-heaven). The group also discussed the many tree species and plants that lined the trail including Honey Locust, Hackberry, Hickory Nut, Spicebush, Black Raspberry, Greenbrier, Ironwood, White Oak, Black Walnut, Fox Grape Vine, Sycamores, Yellow Poplar (Tulip Poplar) and Beach trees. Despite it being the second weekend in November, several butterflies were even spotted including a Buckeye and a Sleepy Orange.