Led by Mary Ann Good and Joe Coleman, 8 people visited the privately owned Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project on a chilly, drizzly March 19, 2014 for a Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy bird walk. We found 32 species of birds and a multitude of animal tracks in the mud and lingering snow.
We were thrilled to find a family of beavers has moved in and dammed the spillway for the wetlands. While the dam has probably only raised the water level by 6-12 inches, the area around the wetlands is a flood plain, so the water has really spread out. The beavers have also done a nice job of radically pruning the black willows and Ash leaf maples, so it is a bit more difficult to approach the wetlands without the ducks becoming aware of you.
The highlights of the walk included the Bald Eagles on their nest, a flock (26) of turkeys crossing the road right before the walk, a Woodcock closely seen, and a Northern Harrier, who briefly checked out the area. While only a few people saw the turkeys and the Woodcock, most of the group saw one of the Bald Eagles bring prey in to the nest and leave with it shortly thereafter. The only significant difference from my scout of the wetlands the day before was the absence of a large flock of Widgeons and a single Hermit Thrush that were there previously. It was disappointing not to find a single Rusty Blackbird either day.
See below for complete eBird list of the birds seen on the walk.
While the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project is generally closed to the public, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has permission to occasionally lead walks there. Please check out the schedule on the website (www.loudounwildlife.org) for upcoming bird walks there and elsewhere in the county, in addition to the many other free activities.
Also, Mary Ann Good, who manages the bluebird trail on the wetlands, was thrilled that one of Wednesday’s participants volunteered to help with the trail this summer.
Good birding,
Joe Coleman
(nearby Bluemont, Loudoun Co)
eBird List
Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun, US-VA
- Mar 19, 2014 7:45 AM – 10:00 AM
- Protocol: Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz
- 1.0 mile
Comments:
Mary Ann Good and Joe Coleman led a walk for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on the privately owned Dulles Greenway Wetlands this morning. There was a chilly drizzle during much of the walk and not as many species as were expected; also, no Rusty Blackbirds.
32 species observed:
- Canada Goose X
- Gadwall 15
- Mallard 30
- Canvasback 6
- Ring-necked Duck 20
- Bufflehead 22
- Ruddy Duck 2
- Wild Turkey 26
NOTE: The Wild Turkey flock was seen crossing the road in front of one of the participants and behind another. They were moving from the edge of the wetlands north toward Oatlands.
- Northern Harrier 1
- Bald Eagle 2
- American Coot 6
- American Woodcock 1
- Belted Kingfisher 1
- Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
- Downy Woodpecker 2
- Northern Flicker 5
- Eastern Phoebe 2
- American Crow X
- Fish Crow X
- Carolina Chickadee 8
- Tufted Titmouse 3
- White-breasted Nuthatch 2
- Carolina Wren 1
- Eastern Bluebird 1
- American Robin 2
- Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
- Song Sparrow 4
- Swamp Sparrow 1
- White-throated Sparrow 12
- Dark-eyed Junco 6
- Northern Cardinal 8
- Red-winged Blackbird 20
- Rusty Blackbird 0
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17506357
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/VA)
Reported By Joe Coleman
Edited by Sarah Steadman