Woodpeckers, Kestrel and a Hermit Thrush Star at Banshee Reeks

Nineteen people participated in Loudoun Wildlife’s regular monthly (every 2^nd Saturday) walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on Saturday, November 11. While the day started off cold and not many birds were active at first, as the morning progressed we saw lots of sparrows as well as birds of prey and vultures taking advantage of the thermals. The highlights of the walk included an American Kestrel, a once common nester at Banshee Reeks who is not seen nearly as regularly as we used to, all the local woodpeckers except Hairy, and a Hermit Thrush who posed for much of the group. While we saw a lot of sparrows, they weren’t as diverse as we hoped they would be. 

The 19 included several students and their teachers from George Mason University who we think enjoyed the walk and we certainly enjoyed their company and enthusiasm in spite of the cold temperatures. 

For a complete list of the birds observed at Banshee Reeks see the eBird report, submitted by Jane Yocom, below. 

The regular monthly free bird walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks.

Good birding!

Joe Coleman, Jane Yocom, Mary Ann Good

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve

Nov 11, 2017

8:00 AM

Traveling

1.90 miles

190 Minutes

All birds reported? Yes

Comments: LWC monthly bird walk

Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.5.4 Build 149

1 Canada Goose

2 Mallard

4 Black Vulture

14 Turkey Vulture

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

3 Red-shouldered Hawk

2 Red-tailed Hawk

2 Red-headed Woodpecker

3 Red-bellied Woodpecker

3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

5 Downy Woodpecker

3 Northern Flicker

1 Pileated Woodpecker

1 American Kestrel

6 Blue Jay

6 American Crow

4 Fish Crow

2 Common Raven

5 Carolina Chickadee

6 Tufted Titmouse

3 White-breasted Nuthatch

5 Carolina Wren

4 Golden-crowned Kinglet

2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

8 Eastern Bluebird

1 Hermit Thrush

60 American Robin

5 Northern Mockingbird

30 Cedar Waxwing

1 Field Sparrow

12 Dark-eyed Junco

50 White-throated Sparrow

15 Song Sparrow

7 Eastern Towhee

6 Northern Cardinal

60 blackbird sp.

2 American Goldfinch

 

Number of Taxa: 37