Prothonotary Warbler.
Nine birders participated in the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy walk at Bles Park on Sunday May 16. The clear highlight of the walk was excellent looks at a Prothonotary Warbler loudly singing across Broad Run. Other wondrous sights included singing Indigo Buntings, Wood Duck babies chasing after their mom, and a conveniently perched Ruby-throated Hummingbird. We also saw the very large, very dark gray wings of a Great Blue Heron before he/she appeared to duck down out of sight into the tall grass, where she probably had a nest.
In total, the walk yielded 38 species of birds and provided the participants with an excellent introduction to the park. The full list can be found below or online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88265724. The Bles Park walk is currently being held on the third Sunday of each month at 8:00 a.m., and the number of participants is limited due to the pandemic. Registration is required for all bird walks.
Species List:
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 10
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 4
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 4
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) 4
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 4
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 6
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 3
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 5
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 12
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 3
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 60 high count. Multiple flyover flocks.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) 1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 8