In spite of the dense fog this past Saturday which was only starting to lift as we finished the walk and a lack of diversity in species, the 15 people on the regular monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks appeared to enjoy themselves.
While the birds were especially quiet early they did became more active as the morning continued though nothing very unusual was spotted and a number of species one would expect to see this time of year proved to elusive. And while the dense fog may have kept the birds down it also made the winter forest and the Goose Creek more attractive. And it made it int’g to watch an immature Bald Eagle flying along the Goose come out of the fog and a Sharp-shinned Hawk who flew directly over our heads slip away in the fog.
See below for the complete list of birds seen.
The regular monthly free bird walk (every 2nd Sat) at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (www.loudounwildlife.org) and the Friends of Banshee Reeks (www.bansheereeks.org); information on both and their upcoming events can be found on their websites.
Good birding,
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve – MFF08, Loudoun, US-VA
Jan 12, 2013 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
31 species
Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker,
Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch.