On this beautiful spring morning 22 people showed up for the regular (every 4th Saturday except December) monthly bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun County. The first two and a half hours were spent near the Education Center on the Farmstead Loop though a small group did break off to take the Piney Run Spur before they met up with us again. After we finished on the north side of the center about 8 of us visited Arnold Rd and the Old Bridge Trail because of the different habitat there and added a few new species.
Searching for the Louisiana Waterthrush. Photo by J. Coleman
The highlights of the walk included a pair of Barred Owls in an area where we see them most springs, FOS Louisiana Waterthrushes, and for most of us, numerous FOS Tree Swallows. Both the Tree Swallows and the Eastern Bluebirds were in large numbers around the next boxes (there are three different trails there) with pairs sitting together on a few boxes. Many of the bluebirds were actively squabbling with each other over both boxes and mates. For the first time in many months Fish Crows were heard at the center; apparently they leave that area for the winter. Eastern Phoebes, Field Sparrows and Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen in healthy numbers with both of the former two in song at locations where they have nested in the past. Male Brown-headed Cowbirds chased females around. And while the only abundant wildflower in bloom was spring beauty, it opened fully in many spots as the morning brightened.
A number of people, Donna Quinn, Del Sargent, Bryan Henson, Allison Gallo, and myself, assisted with the walk. Information on the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship can be found here.
For a complete list of the 41 species see the eBird lists below.
Joe Coleman
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Loudoun, Virginia, US Mar 25, 2017 7:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.2 mile(s)
Comments: Regular monthly walk at BRCES; we spent most of our time on the Farmstead Loop though a small group broke off from the main group to also walk the Piney Run Spur.
38 species
Canada Goose 16
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 10 Numerous Tree Swallows flying & visiting, in pairs, nest boxes
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Eastern Bluebird 20 Numerous pairs visiting nest boxes & males squabbling over females
American Robin 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 2
Field Sparrow 9
Dark-eyed Junco 7
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
BRCES–Arnold Lane, Loudoun, Virginia, US Mar 25, 2017 10:50 AM – 11:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.75 mile(s)
Comments: After finishing on the north side about 8 of us went to Arnold Rd to visit the dif. habitat there.
27 species
Canada Goose 2
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 6
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
These reports were generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/content/