Blue Ridge Birdwalk Shows Migration Has Begun

On Saturday (the 28^th) 24 people gathered for Loudoun Wildlife’s regular (every 4^th Saturday) monthly bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center of Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun County. While it was clear migration had started it was also clear it wasn’t in full swing yet due to several misses that have turned up on April walks in the past. The group found 64 species of which the highlights included several FOS birds for many of the participants, a displaying Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a posing male Scarlet Tanager, a very cooperative Common Raven, only six warbler species, including great looks at a Louisiana Waterthrush and an Ovenbird, and a mid-morning fly by Barred Owl seen by about half the group,. Before the walk Mary Ann Good and Joe Coleman, who were doing their Birdathon effort that day, saw an American Kestrel and after the walk a female Wild Turkey ran across Harper’s Ferry Rd near the main entrance. For a complete list of the birds pls see the eBIrd list below.

While it was quite comfortable with temps around 70 at the end of the walk, it was in the 40’s at the beginning of the walk.

The walk was led by Gerry Hawkins and Joe Coleman who were ably assisted by many others, including Mary Ann Good, Bryan Henson, Allison Gallo, Jane Yocom, Andy Rabin, and the others. All in all a great morning of birding with wonderful company!

Joe Coleman

VA-Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship – MFF01, Loudoun,

Virginia, US Apr 28, 2018 7:48 AM – 12:01 PM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

Comments:     Composite list of birds encountered by co-leaders Joe Coleman and Gerry Hawkins and other participants in the monthly field trip to the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

64 species (+1 other taxa)

Great Blue Heron  1

Turkey Vulture  3

Osprey  2

Bald Eagle  3

Red-shouldered Hawk  3

Broad-winged Hawk  1

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Mourning Dove  2

Barred Owl  1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1

Red-headed Woodpecker  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Downy Woodpecker  2

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2

Pileated Woodpecker  4

Eastern Phoebe  1

Great Crested Flycatcher  4

Eastern Kingbird  1

White-eyed Vireo  2

Yellow-throated Vireo  2

Red-eyed Vireo  2

Blue Jay  4

American Crow  5

Fish Crow  1

crow sp.  2

Common Raven  2

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1

Tree Swallow  6

Barn Swallow  2

Carolina Chickadee  6

Tufted Titmouse  6

White-breasted Nuthatch  3

House Wren  1

Carolina Wren  6

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  12

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2

Eastern Bluebird  4

Wood Thrush  1

American Robin  2

Gray Catbird  1

Brown Thrasher  2

Northern Mockingbird  2

Ovenbird  2

Louisiana Waterthrush  2

Common Yellowthroat  4

Northern Parula  2

Black-throated Blue Warbler  1

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  2

Grasshopper Sparrow  1

Chipping Sparrow  8

Field Sparrow  6

White-throated Sparrow  10

Song Sparrow  4

Swamp Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  6

Scarlet Tanager  3

Northern Cardinal  12

Indigo Bunting  1

Eastern Meadowlark  2

Red-winged Blackbird  2

Brown-headed Cowbird  15

Common Grackle  2

House Finch  2

American Goldfinch  20

 

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45028703

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)