Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Andy Rabin led a family bird walk at Bles Park in eastern Loudoun Co on Saturday morning. Most of the warblers we saw were close and gave us great views. 

The following is the report that we also posted on eBird:
Location:     Bles Park
Observation date:     10/4/08
Notes:     Andy Rabin led a Family Bird walk at Bles Park in eastern Loudoun Co this morning.  The highlights were some well-seen warblers including a NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, and a PALM WARBLER.  Besides good numbers of CHIMNEY SWIFTS and TREE SWALLOWS we also found a few INDIGO BUNTINGS.
Number of species:     40

Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

We also saw a few butterflies including Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Common Buckeye, Eastern Comma, Monarchs

Joe Coleman

note: Photo shown is a flycatcher

I was out working with Meg Findley, Otto Gutenson and David Ward filming a surprise for you all so I missed this walk but did receive a report from Joe Coleman (below). Definitely sounds like we’re starting our transition of the seasons:

Except for one very surprising highlight, a flyover dark morph SNOW GOOSE, Saturday morning’s walk, led by Mary Ann Good & Joe Coleman, was a bit slower than expected but was still a great deal of fun.  The effects of last year’s drought and the lack of recent rain in this area can be clearly seen in the rapidly drying out wetlands.  While still not bone dry and somewhat muddy, it is drying out quickly.  It was fun to also see several waders including several GREAT EGRETS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, GREEN HERONS, 2 adult BALD EAGLES, a WILSON’S SNIPE, and a few more shorebirds.

We had a wonderful walk at Banshee on Saturday. Fifteen people came out for the walk and we were delighted by the sights and sounds of 51 species in our couple of hours of walking along the trails. A Summer Tanager that sang and gave us great views was definitely a highlight. Our walk leader, Mary Ann Good, who is an amazing birder, noted that that was the first Summer Tanager that she’s seen at Banshee in 12 years.

There was also a possible Vesper Sparrow which is exciting.

Here’s a listing of the bird species seen:
Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Mourning Dover, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated, Eastern Wood-PeWee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Starling, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow (probable), Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, House Finch.

Join us next month for another great adventure in birding at Banshee - all experience levels are welcome, and you never know what wildlife will show up so it’s always fun.

 This is a great time to head over to Algonkian Park. There’s a great walking trail that runs along the river (park near the boat ramp) but there’s also this amazing field of flowers in bloom right now as well. 

You’ll see a variety of flowers (bergamot, rudbeckia, milkweed, cardinal flower, thistle, mullein) as well as some grasses mixed in.  When I was there this morning, the goldfinches, song sparrows and tree swallows were darting all through it, perching on stems and hunting insects.  Dragonflies, butterflies and a variety of bees were enjoying all the vibrance.

It’s definitely worth a look. It’s a great example of what we can do in our yards to covert lawns into wildlife habitat.

If you haven’t been to Algonkian before, you can check out our google map for location, directions and more information about Algonkian Park.  Enjoy!