Great Weather and 39 Species of Birds at Sweet Run

Ten birders showed up for the monthly bird walk at Sweet Run State Park on a particularly nice August morning. Fall was in the air, and we welcomed the break from the summer heat, humidity and insects. Loudoun Wildlife board members Michael Sciortino, John Denice, Peter Lyttle and Pat Whittle joined six other participants for an excellent morning of birding. The group recorded 39 species, covered close to two miles and was out on the trails for a little over three hours.

Before we started the walk, we saw and heard a Red-shouldered Hawk as it appeared early and began calling in the distance. A lone Great Blue Heron calmly and gracefully passed overhead going south as well to start the event. We stopped at Wortman Pond to check on any warbler activity only to see the resident Green Heron in its normal perch on the far side of the pond. It was very active, hopping from perch to perch in search of its breakfast. It had the pond to itself.

We headed off in the direction of the old bridge with our sights set on Arnold Lane. The Farmstead Loop Trail was particularly active with good looks at a Red-eyed Vireo, numerous Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, calls from a Pileated Woodpecker, and “peeking” from a Hairy Woodpecker. Eastern Wood-Pewee’s called as well. We lingered in the vicinity of the Farmstead Loop as there was warbler activity deeper in the tree canopy and hedges, but we were not able to definitively identify any species. An Eastern Towhee was skulking in the bushes as we were trying to focus on the warbler activity.

The old bridge area was quiet with no bird activity, but things were about to change on Arnold Lane. As we made our way to the clearing, we spotted our first Turkey Vultures on the powerline pylons with wings spread soaking up the sunshine. Red-tailed Hawks perched in the trees off to the east. We spotted a lone American Kestrel perching on the wire to the west of us, and this was a big hit for the group. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird began working on a nearby thistle bush, and we had good looks as it came and went. Three quiet Eastern Meadowlarks perched on tree in the distance and flew off together. Rounding out the recording of six of the seven possible woodpecker species for the day at Sweet Run, we watched a Red-headed Woodpecker fly to the east and listened as it started calling in the distance.

Realizing that our time was getting short, we decided to hastily make our way back to the parking area to finalize our walk. As is usually the case while tallying, we recorded additional bonus species. We recorded our first Chipping and Field Sparrows and watched as Turkey Vultures soared in the warming air with a single Red-tailed Hawk joining them.

For a complete list of the birds observed on the walk see the list below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S192587668.

Species List:
Mourning Dove 40
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Green Heron 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 12
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 4
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Carolina Wren 4
European Starling 40
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 5
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Goldfinch 7
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 3
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Northern Cardinal 9