Tanagers at Heart Log 20 Miles and 100 Species for First Birdathon

Tanagers at Heart (Linda Nichols, Birdie Pla, Leena McCluney and Pat Whittle) began their first Birdathon at Algonkian Regional Park. They began one person down due to Linda Nichols having to unexpectedly travel out of town.

We met very early on Friday, May 3. There was excitement in the air as we watched the sun rise over the smooth, glassy waters of the Potomac River and tagged our first species, a Great Crested Flycatcher in the trees surrounding Shelter 1. Setting off towards the cabins we took the road past the cabins to the end where we picked up the Barred Owl trail. The Louisiana Waterthrush was impossible to miss along with several other warblers (Northern Parula, Yellow-Throated, Black-and-white and a surprise Hooded Warbler). Most were heard rather than seen due to the density of the trees. Merlin alerted us to a Yellow-breasted Chat along with Magnolia and Prothonotary Warblers, which we didn’t count  as we could not hear them in the recordings. Circling back along the east river trail we were greeted by Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers and witnessed a nice show by a House Wren who kindly posed for us on a low snag. Past the cabins, we took the little loop at the back of the waterpark where we picked up two White-Crowned Sparrows hopping around in the open in the parking lot next to a shed. These were first-of-season birds for all three of us and first of the year at that hotspot. We ended up back at Shelter 1 with 56 species.

We began a new checklist and headed off walking downriver towards the point. Orchard and Baltimore Orioles put on quite a show, and Warbling Vireos serenaded us continually and offered some nice views. The snoozing Red-Breasted Mergansers at the point contributed to our 12 additional species there. We then made our way upriver to Bles Park, another gem in eastern Loudoun County. On the pond, we were stared down by a female Wood-Duck and her eight ducklings but nothing else of note. On the westernmost section of the trail, we were happy to pick up a preening Blue Grosbeak. We added 11 new species at Bles.

After a short drive, we were at the Red Rocks Wilderness Area. While turning into the parking lot, Leena spotted an accipiter flying overhead. As we began walking the loop trail, we heard the unusual vocalization of a Cooper’s Hawk, likely the accipiter Leena saw and our 80th bird of the day. Within a couple of minutes, we heard the clear voice of the Kentucky Warbler giving us bird  number 81.

Notifications of a Loudoun County rarity, a Snowy Egret, set us off in the direction of the Dulles Airport Pond. On the way, we stopped by the Brambleton pool pond hoping to find the Semi-palmated Plover that was recently seen, but all we could identify were Killdeer. However, we were happy to pick up species there we hadn’t yet seen: Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. The Snowy Egret was beautifully positioned and in clear view at the Dulles Airport Pond. It was getting late; darkness was closing in and we had not seen or heard any owls. We decided to stop at the nearby Broad Run Stream Valley Park to see if we might hear an owl. Instead, while walking towards the pond, we clearly heard and recorded the insect-like buzzing of a Grasshopper Sparrow, species  number 86 and a nice end to our first day. The original goal of 90 species was well within reach. Could we make it to 100?

The weather on May 4 was challenging with rain scheduled throughout the day. We started early at the Middlesex Drive Pond to pick up some shorebirds. We were disappointed to not see any Great Egrets despite having seen 11 of them a week or so before. Birds fly and there are no guarantees, which is what makes every birding adventure new. Between the pond and some short trails in the nearby neighborhood we were able to pick up five additional species including a singing Northern Waterthrush and a soon to be gone Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Back to Broad Run Stream Valley Park where normally we’d expect to pick up some additional species, but the regular downpours made hearing and seeing birds difficult. Three species were added to the list including a Prairie Warbler found in its regular location, singing from the top of a red cedar. At this point we were quite wet, but there’s nothing like a rare sighting to put a spring in your step. Hearing about a nearby Black-Bellied Plover, we headed that way and added two more species to our total. A short drive to Ashburn Lake gained us a Common Loon for species number 97.

Encouraged by the possibility of reaching 100 species, we decided to travel the Sanctuary Trail at Algonkian, a long walk which turned out to be worth it. Desperate to see or hear at least one owl we thought that might be the place. The day was turning dark early with clouds closing in.

The walk to the river gave us an overhead Purple Martin. Stopping at the easternmost section of the trail, we scanned the river. The choppy water and poor conditions made it difficult to see,  but we found both another Common Loon and a Horned Grebe – a great bird and our 99th species. Two unidentifiable gulls/terns flew downriver on the far shore. What were they? Then, clearly from across the water, we heard the unmistakable “who cooks for you” call of a Barred Owl, our 100th species.

Never satisfied with enough species, we took a car ride up and down Route 7 in a desperate attempt to find a Rock Dove (aka pigeon) or a Red-Tailed Hawk, but the misty, gloomy day would not yield anything else.

We walked close to 20 miles across some of the birdiest areas of eastern Loudoun, saw many beautiful birds and added a few “lifers” to our lists. Despite tired limbs and sore knees, it was a great experience, and we are looking forward to next year!

Read about the adventures of the other teams on the 2024 Birdathon Team Summaries page.