Two-year-old Bald Eagle.
Photo by John Denice
Despite winds that occasionally exceeded 40 mph and unseasonably cool temperatures, 20 people showed up for the April 13 bird walk at Banshee Reeks. We split into two groups, one led by Jane Yocom and Dori Rhodes and the other by Joe Coleman and John Denice, and headed to trails that were somewhat sheltered by the wind.
The highlight of the walk, an early male Orchard Oriole, was seen from the parking lot before we even started walking. Other walk highlights included singing Field Sparrows, White-eyed Vireos and a number of singing Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. The kinglets are something we only briefly get to enjoy before they migrate to their nesting grounds further north. Both groups saw multiple Bald Eagles, heard a Louisiana Waterthrush and saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings near the Visitor Center.
For a complete list of the birds observed by both groups see the lists below.
Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy as we Celebrate Birds from April 20 through May 19 with multiple walks, programs and a Big Sit. View the complete list of Celebrate Birds activities.
Group 1 Species List
Canada Goose 4
Mourning Dove 3
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 8
Bald Eagle 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
White-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 15
Common Raven 1
Tufted Titmouse 8
Tree Swallow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 5
Brown Thrasher 4
Northern Mockingbird 5
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Robin 4
Cedar Waxwing 8
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 8
Chipping Sparrow 6
Field Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 1
White-throated Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 4
Orchard Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Northern Cardinal 12
Group 2 Species List
7 Canada Goose
2 duck sp.
2 Mourning Dove
5 Black Vulture
8 Turkey Vulture
3 Bald Eagle
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
5 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
10 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
6 Fish Crow
4 Carolina Chickadee
6 Tufted Titmouse
4 Tree Swallow
3 Carolina Wren
6 European Starling
2 Northern Mockingbird
6 Eastern Bluebird
4 American Robin
7 Cedar Waxwing
8 American Goldfinch
5 Chipping Sparrow
7 Field Sparrow
3 Dark-eyed Junco
12 White-throated Sparrow
4 Eastern Towhee
1 Orchard Oriole
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Louisiana Waterthrush
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
10 Northern Cardinal