May 10th IMDB Bird Walk at Banshee Reeks, plus more bird walks scheduled!

An even dozen of eager birders enjoyed a warm morning bird walk at Banshee Reeks, May 10^th, 2014.

The regular second-Saturday of the month bird walk is sponsored by Friends of Banshee Reeks and by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.  Additionally, this May walk also supported International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD).

A NASHVILLE WARBLER was the highlight of this walk.  It gave us all a healthy challenge to identify.  We used several field guides, compared those to the photo taken during the walk, and were ultimately convinced of the identity of this bird that is seldom seen at Banshee Reeks. What a find!  It just goes to show you how interesting birding during migratory season can be.

A total of 58 species were documented on this walk–WOW, what a variety (the list follows).
We encourage you to come out to our other bird walks and events as scheduled and seen online at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

Our next walk is this Saturday:
Birding the Blue Ridge Center — Saturday, May 24, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, a beautiful 900-acre preserve in northwestern Loudoun County. The property includes diverse wildlife habitats, including meadows, streams, and heavily forested slopes. Meet at the Education Center; bring binoculars. BRCES is located just north of Neersville at 11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671; detailed directions at www.brces.org. This walk is co-sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Northern Virginia Bird Club & led by Joe Coleman & Elton Morel. Questions: Contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

May 10th at Banshee Reeks bird count and list:

1. Canada Goose
2. Wood Duck 2
3. Mallard 4
4. Wild Turkey 1
5. Great Blue Heron 1
6. Black Vulture 6
7. Turkey Vulture 6
8. Osprey 1
9. Bald Eagle 1
10. Red-shouldered Hawk 1
11. Killdeer 1
12. Mourning Dove 4
13. Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6
14. Belted Kingfisher 1
15. Red-headed Woodpecker 2
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
17. Downy Woodpecker 2
18. Pileated Woodpecker 2
19. Eastern Wood Peewee 3
20. Acadian Flycatcher 5
21. Eastern Phoebe 1
22. Great-crested Flycatcher 3
23. Eastern Kingbird 2
24. White-eyed Vireo 1
25. Red-eyed Vireo 5
26. Blue Jay 4
27. American Crow
28. Fish Crow
29. Tree Swallow 4
30. Carolina Chickadee 4
31. Tufted Titmouse 4
32. White Breasted Nuthatch 2
33. Carolina Wren 3
34. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
35. Eastern Bluebird 3
36. Veery 1
37. Wood Thrush 4
38. American Robin 6
39. Gray Catbird 8
40. Northern Mockingbird 4
41. Brown Thrasher 2
42. European Starling 4
43. Nashville Warbler 1
44. Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
45. Prairie Warbler 8
46. Common Yellowthroat 10
47. Yellow-breasted Chat 1
48. Scarlet Tanager 3
49. Field Sparrow
50. Song Sparrow 2
51. White-throated Sparrow 4
52. Northern Cardinal
53. Blue Grosbeak 1
54. Indigo Bunting 4
55. Red-winged Blackbird 4
56. Common Grackle
57. Orchard Oriole 6+
58. American Goldfinch

Submitted by Del Sargent, Purcellville

Edited by Sarah Steadman