Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Eleven of us showed up for a very pleasant winter bird walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on Saturday morning.  While cold, it was bright & sunny and, most importantly, weather-wise NOT windy. 

Unfortunately the birds didn’t show up as we had only 30 species though we did have great views at a couple of them including a Brown Creeper.
 
The regular monthly free bird walk (every 2nd Sat) at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (www.loudounwildlife.org) and the Friends of Banshee Reeks (www.bansheereeks.org); information on both and their upcoming events can be found on their websites.

Good birding,
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co

Canada Goose, Mallard  40, Black Vulture  2, Red-tailed Hawk  1, Ring-billed Gull  6, Rock Pigeon  6, Mourning Dove  2, Red-bellied Woodpecker  1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1, Downy Woodpecker  4, Hairy Woodpecker  1, Northern Flicker  1, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven  1, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch  1, Brown Creeper  1, Carolina Wren  1, Eastern Bluebird  12, Northern Mockingbird  5, Eastern Towhee  1, Field Sparrow  1, Song Sparrow  4, White-throated Sparrow  25, Dark-eyed Junco  12, Northern Cardinal  6, Red-winged Blackbird  20, American Goldfinch.

Last Sunday, we got the word — Bruce Hill called Joe to let him know that he sighted a Loggerhead Shrike  as he was wrapping up a walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. 

It flew into the top of a tree near the Visitor Center where it interacted with a Northern Mockingbird. 

Bruce last saw it flying away in the direction of the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project.

Loggerhead Shrikes are a State Threatened species so this is an exciting siting.  We’ve had one in the Leesburg area in past years off and on (photo shown here). It would be great if a population of them became established.

Learn more about Loggerhead Shrikes and their interesting behaviors here:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/loggerhead_shrike/id

A small gray, black, and white bird of open areas, the Loggerhead Shrike hardly appears to be a predator. But it uses its hooked beak to kill insects, lizards, mice, and birds, and then impales them on thorns to hold them while it rips them apart.

About 10 people, led by Andy Rabin and Mary Ann Good with assistance from Larry Meade, enjoyed a crisp morning bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, south of Leesburg on Saturday morning. 

We enjoyed not only seeing but also hearing the sweet songs of 3 Fox Sparrows.  A Hermit Thrush perched in an uncharacteristic high open perch, cocking his reddish tail.  Raptors were quite well represented with a Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, and 3 Red-tailed Hawks–woodpeckers and sparrows not so much so.

A complete list of birds from the walk is provided here: 
Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle – adult, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, No. Flicker, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Fish Crow – a flyover flock of about 30, calling, Com. Raven, Car. Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Car. Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, E. Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, No. Mockingbird, Eur. Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler – a couple small flocks, E. Towhee, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow – 3, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, No. Cardinal, Am. Goldfinch

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks host this bird walk on the second Tuesday of every month. No sign up is necessary, just come out and join us. It’s a lot of fun. For more information about our programs and field trips, visit our Calendar.

Yesterday was the monthly bird walk at Banshee by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks. This lovely fall morning was enjoyed by 11 birders, led by Joe Coleman, Laura McGranaghan, and Mary Ann Good. 

We got first-of-fall looks at a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Swamp and White-throated Sparrows.

We also spotted a couple of Bald Eagles, a No. Harrier, and a probable migrating family group of 4 Am. Kestrels.  A lingering Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Gray Catbird, Palm Warbler, and Brown Thrasher were also seen. We were surprised to watch a begging young Am. Goldfinch being fed by its parent.

It was a beautiful crisp morning with dew covering beautiful spider webs that glistened in the sunlight. As the morning warmed, we were also delighted to see a variety of butterflies that included migrating Monarchs clearly on the move, Common Buckeyes, a Variegated Fritillary, Orange Sulphur and an Eastern-tailed Blue.
 
The complete list of birds follows:
Canada Goose, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle – 2, No. Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Am. Kestrel – 4, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, No. Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Fish Crow, Car. Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, E. Bluebird, thrush sp. – 2, Am. Robin – hundreds, Gray Catbird, No. Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eur. Starling, Cedar Waxwing – 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, E. Towhee – 5, Field Sparrow – 4, Swamp Sparrow – 4, White-throated Sparrow, No. Cardinal, Am. Goldfinch

Seven of us, including Mary Ann Good & Bill Brown, participated in the regular monthly bird walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on Saturday morning. The walk began well with several birds along the hedge row that runs west from the education annex but it then got really quiet and not much else was observed.

The initial flurry along the hedge row included a couple of vireos, one of which we tried to make into a Philadelphia Vireo but finally decided was a Warbling Vireo. We were also delighted to get great looks at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that perched in front of us long enough for all of us to carefully study it.

After wrapping up at Banshee Reeks four of us went to the close-by Dulles Greenway Wetlands which was pretty quiet, prob. because of the hour and the lack of exposed mud due to this past week’s heavy rains (the contrast between today when the wetlands was full of water and Aug 31 when it looked like the wetlands was going to dry out soon was fascinating).

The highlights of today’s visit were several mixed flocks of swallows, including a couple of Cliff Swallows and several Northern Rough-winged Swallows, swirling around as well as several Chimney swifts and a few high-flying raptors (an immature Bald Eagle and a couple of Ospreys) but not much else. As we had earlier at Banshee Reeks, we got great looks at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that perched right in front of us.

See below for the lists of birds seen at both places.

Banshee Reeks: 39 species (+1 other taxa): Canada Goose, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Empidonax sp., Eastern Phoebe, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Raven, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinc.

Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation: 28 species:Wood Duck, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Northern, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch.

Nine birders joined the monthly birding walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Loudoun County on a heavily overcast morning on August 13.  The second Saturday of every month walk is sponsored by Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.  A total of 30 birds were reported as follows:
 
Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grossbeak, Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinch

On July 9th, 18 or so birders at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve enjoyed a warm but pleasant morning and were pleased to find a rare summer Savannah Sparrow among other delights, such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Blue Grosbeak carrying food, a very agitated Prairie Warbler who popped up right beside us, and great looks at a couple Yellow-breasted Chats. 

A couple of people also stopped by the private Dulles Wetlands beforehand to see if any shorebirds have arrived, and found a Solitary Solitary and at least two Least Sandpipers, along with an American Black Duck, Wood Duck with young chicks, many juvenile Green Herons, the adult Bald Eagle calling near us, a calling Willow Flycatcher.

A No. Bobwhite flushed from the treeline beside us, surprising us more than it did him since they are rarely found in these parts any more.

The list follows, with birds found only at Dulles Wetlands so indicated:
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret – DW, Green Heron – DW, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Wood Duck – DW, Am. Black Duck – DW, Mallard – DW, Bald Eagle – DW (adult), Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, No. Bobwhite – DW, Killdeer – DW, Solitary Sandpiper – 1 DW, Least Sandpiper – 2 DW, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher – DW, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, No. Flicker, E. Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher – DW, Great Crested Flycatcher, E. Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, No. Rough-winged Swallow – DW, Barn Swallow, Car. Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, E. Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Am. Robin, Gray Catbird, No. Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler – DW (young bird trying out its song), Prairie Warbler, Ovenbird, Com. Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, E. Towhee, Field Sparrow, SAVANNAH SPARROW, No. Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Am. Goldfinch

During Saturday morning’s bird walk at Banshee Reeks we observed nesting behavior on several occasions including a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers feeding young in a cavity, Field Sparrows and Eastern Bluebirds feeding fledged young, and a very young fledged Northern Mockingbird. 

The nicest sighting though was a group (at least five)of interacting adult YELLOW WARBLERS which included at least three males who were chasing each other and stopping to sing from high & very visible perches. 

There were at least three vocal WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, one calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a pair of Cedar Waxwings, and a couple of Blue Grosbeaks. 

There were also a lot of different butterflies including either a hackberry or tawny emperor being fed to the Great Crested young.  The 18 birders were led by Joe Coleman and Del Sargent who were assisted by Mary Ann Good & Gerry Hawkins.

A complete list of the 56 species observed at Banshee Reeks as well as those seen during the quick visit to the Dulles Greenway Wetlands follows.

Joe made a quick visit to the Wetlands right before the regular Banshee Reeks walk where there was adult Bald Eagle sitting on the edge of the nest with at least one nestling visible, a Great Egret, and two Field Sparrows carrying food to fledged young.  See the list below for the other wetlands sightings.

The regular monthly free bird walk (every 2nd Sat) at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (www.loudounwildlife.org) and the Friends of Banshee Reeks (www.bansheereeks.org); information on both and their upcoming events can be found on their websites.
 
Location:     Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

Location:     Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project
Canada Goose, Great Egret, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Killdee, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch

Eight birders came to Banshee Reeks yesterday for the monthly bird walk on a very damp, overcast day. 

The monthly walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Loudoun County is sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks.  This walk also supported the International Migratory Bird Day. 

A total of 57 species were recorded.  Highlights included a couple large flocks of Cedar Waxwings, a bare tree full of American Goldfinches and a dead tree with Tree Swallow, American Bluebird and Carolina Chickadee using nesting holes in the same tree.  The complete list follows:
 
Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Kestral, Soiltary Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Grey Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grossbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

Five birders came out yesterday for the normal second Saturday birdwalk at Banshee Reeks sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks, on a cool overcast morning. 

A total of fifty birds were recorded, which compares favorably with past Aprils at Banshee.  A flock of seven ring-necked ducks were on the Springhouse Pond to start the walk. 

Canada Goose 25, Wood Duck 2, Mallard 6, Ring-necked Duck 7, Wild Turkey 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Great Egret 1 (at the new beaver pond), Black Vulture 12, Turkey Vulture 4, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red Tailed Hawk 2, American Kestral 2, Mourning Dove 8, Belted Kingfisher 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 6, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2, Downy Woodpecker 5, Northern Flicker 5, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Eastern Phoebe 3, Blue Jay 20, American Crow 12, Fish Crow 3, Tree Swallow 8, Carolina Chickadee 15, Tufted Titmouse 10, White-breasted Nuthatch 6, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Eastern Bluebird 8, American Robin 20, Northern Mockingbird 3, Brown Thrasher 4, European Starling 15, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Eastern Towhee 12, Chipping Sparrow 3, Field Sparrow 6, Song Sparrow 5, Swamp Sparrow 1, White-throated Sparrow 15, Dark-eyed Junco 15, Northern Cardinal 8, Red-winged Blackbird 14, Eastern Meadowlark 3, Common Grackle 8, Brown-headed Cowbird 12, House Finch 2, American Goldfinch 10

Del Sargent, Purcellville