Red-tailed Hawk.
Photo by Michael Sciortino
Twenty-two birders met at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for Loudoun Wildlife’s monthly bird walk on February 11. It was a mild and sunny morning with welcome conditions for a mid-winter event. The larger group split into two teams and went in opposite directions at the preserve. The walk was led by Mary Ann Good, Michael Sciortino and Jane Yocum, with assistance from John Denice. The two teams found a total of 35 species.
The highlights of the walk included numerous Bald Eagles, both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 16 Eastern Bluebirds and four woodpecker species. The complete lists can be seen below.
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy schedules three regular monthly bird walks, one at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship on the fourth Saturday of every month (except in Dec.), one at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on the second Saturday of every month, and one at Bles Park on the third Sunday of every month except December.
Team One Species List
Canada Goose 20
Mallard 7
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Mourning Dove 3
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 6
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 6
European Starling 3
Northern Mockingbird 6
Eastern Bluebird 10
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
White-throated Sparrow 20
Song Sparrow 8
Eastern Towhee 5
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Northern Cardinal 6
Team Two Species List
32 Canada Goose
2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
1 Great Blue Heron
6 Black Vulture
10 Turkey Vulture
2 Bald Eagle
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
3 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
1 Common Raven
6 Carolina Chickadee
5 Tufted Titmouse
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Carolina Wren
6 Northern Mockingbird
6 Eastern Bluebird
4 House Finch
2 American Goldfinch
10 White-throated Sparrow
6 Song Sparrow
1 Eastern Towhee
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Northern Cardinal