Grosbeaks, Vireos Highlight Banshee Reeks Birdwalk

Fifteen birders participated Saturday’s monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. The day was beautiful with a good bit of sun, but lower than typical temperatures and humidity.

We found 48 species of birds with Blue Grosbeaks making a couple great appearances. Close looks at a White-eyed Vireo provided another highlight.

The group also saw a number of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies:

Butterflies: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, Spicebush Swallowtail, Silver-spotted Skipper, Silvery Checkerspot, Zabulon Skipper, Red-spotted Purple.

Dragonflies/Damselflies: Common Whitetail, Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer,
Common Green Darner, Variable Dancer, Ebony Jewelwing

The monthly walk meets at 8 am in the parking lot on the second Saturday of the month. It is sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Friends of Banshee Reeks. The walk is free and open to everyone.

Bryan Henson

 

Canada Goose 4

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1

Mourning Dove 3

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4

Chimney Swift 1

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2

Great Blue Heron 1

Great Egret 3

Green Heron 2

Black Vulture 3

Turkey Vulture 10

Bald Eagle 3

Red-Shouldered Hawk 5

Red-headed Woodpecker 2

Red-Bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 1

Pileated Woodpecker 2

Eastern Wood-Pewee 9

Great Crested Flycatcher 1

Eastern Kingbird 4

White-eyed Vireo 3

Red-eyed Vireo 2

Blue Jay 4

American Crow 2

Carolina Chickadee 3

Tree Swallow 2

Barn Swallow 15

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5

Carolina Wren 5

Gray Catbird 6

Brown Thrasher 1

Northern Mockingbird 2

Eastern Bluebird 8

American Robin 4

Cedar Waxwing 20

American Goldfinch 12

Chipping Sparrow 1

Field Sparrow 8

Eastern Towhee 6

Yellow-breasted Chat 1

Orchard Oriole 2

Baltimore Oriole 3

Common Yellowthroat 2

Prairie Warbler 4

Northern Cardinal 14

Blue Grosbeak 5

Indigo Bunting 8

This list can be found at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58882846