Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

At the regular monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve  south of Leesburg, about 18 people enjoyed a cooler morning and a  flurry of activity right next to the parking lot that produced the  best 20 minutes of birding of the morning, including the first of two  male Blue Grosbeaks, a perched Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Kingbirds,  Pewees and Phoebes, a drop-by Red-eyed Vireo, Brown Thrasher, many  Bluebirds, 2 Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Towhee pairs, Field Sparrows, and  Orchard Orioles. 

Later we found a pair of Wood Thrushes carrying food  to a nest about 25 feet off the ground. 

Early likely migrants  included 2 female Redstarts. 

Following is the list of 36 species:

Canada Goose,Great Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, No. Flicker, E. Wood-Pewee, E. Phoebe, E. Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Am. Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, E. Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Am. Robin, Gray Catbird, No. Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eur. Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Am. Redstart, E. Towhee, Field Sparrow, No. Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak – 2 male, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, Am. Goldfinch

Mary Ann Good, with co-leader Del Sargent

Five of us birded the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on July 10.  When we arrived the rain was still coming down pretty heavily but by 8:15 had tapered off considerably and was finished by 8:30 am.  Because a lot of the birds were very wet fledglings identification was rather tough for the first hour or so and resulted in some rather int’g discussions over behavior and shape.  And of course none of us had a guide with us that showed fledgling plumage well.  It was a lot easier after it dried out.
 
The highlights at Banshee included a lot of Blue Grosbeaks, prob. more than most of us have ever seen before, including some recently fledged youngsters begging as well as beautiful adult males.  We also had very healthy numbers of Common Yellowthroats, Yellow-breasted Chats, Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, and Orchard Orioles.  Many of these were also recently fledged and begging birds.
 
After wrapping up at Banshee Reeks, Donna Quinn & I drove over to the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project where we spent a little less than an hour and found several shorebird species including four SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS.
 
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.  On these Saturdays, depending on the weather & the time of the year, we often visit the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project either before or after the Banshee walk.
 
Good birding,
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
 
Location:     Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve – MFF08
Observation date:     7/10/10
Number of species:     51

Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern), American Kestrel, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

Location:     Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project
Observation date:     7/10/10
Number of species:     26

Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher (Atlantic), Mourning Dove, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle (Purple), American Goldfinch

The 17 people who showed up for our monthly bird walk at Loudoun County’s Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve found 49 species of birds of which the highlights included singing OVENBIRDS and WOOD THRUSHES along the road as we entered the preserve, an under-birded but rich area due to the healthy understory that still exists in much of that area. 

The walk itself started with excellent views of a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and an EASTERN KINGBIRD close to the parking lot.   It was also a lot of fun to stop by the MAPS banding station and watch them band several birds. 

In the woods near the banding station we had great views of both a male & female SCARLET TANAGER and in other places saw a couple of AMERICAN KESTRELS, a small flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS, heard a PRAIRIE WARBLER, and saw several ORCHARD ORIOLES as well as a single BALTIMORE ORIOLE flying over the Goose Creek.
 
After we wrapped up at Banshee Reeks four of us stopped by the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project where, because of the lateness of the hour and the heat and humidity, there wasn’t that much activity but we did add a few more birds to the list, the nicest being seven GREAT EGRETS and a Great Blue Heron in a dead tree in the middle of the wetlands, the same tree where two adult BALD EAGLES perched during our walk on Wed. morning. 

We also saw a large dark shape moving around in the BALD EAGLE nest, heard two dif. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, and watched several Red-winged Blackbirds harass and COMMON RAVEN who must have come too close to their nests.
 
Best, Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co

Location:     Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
Observation date:     6/12/10
Number of species:     49

Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Prairie Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle (Purple), Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole,American Goldfinch,

Location:     Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project
Observation date:     6/12/10
Number of species:     31

Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat,, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch

Fifteen people showed up for very damp bird walks at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation and the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve (BRNP) on Wed., June 9. 

The highlights of the 57 species seen the on & off rain were 2 GREAT EGRETS, 2 BALD EAGLES perched on a snag in the middle of the Wetlands, 4 or 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS (several near the BRNP nest box where they successfully nested), 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, COMMON RAVEN, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, and at least 15 ORCHARD ORIOLES scattered through both the Wetlands & Banshee Reeks.

Best,
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co

Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project
Number of species:     45
Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pew, e, Willow Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch

Location:     Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
Number of species:     41
Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat,Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch.

Forest/Field Restoration and Invasive Alien Plant Removal at Banshee Reeks in Leesburg

The Weed Battalion (Weed Bees) is a group of Master Naturalists that has been working with Ron Circe, the Preserve Manager, to remove invasive plants in Banshee Reeks’ Old Field Loop and other fields in order to allow native plants to flourish and grow.

Ron has identified nine invasive plants at Banshee Reeks and each is removed during different seasons with different methods to ensure they do not survive and that any wildlife that may be nesting in them is not harmed.

Their current work schedule is the first and third Saturday from 9:00 am until about noon and the second and the fourth Friday from 9 am until about noon.

If you are interested in helping contact Dave Hellums at groundhog0369@msn.com. He will add you to the group distribution list in case of bad weather. All equipment is provided by Banshee Reeks but you will need to bring work your own work gloves and beverages.

I’m posting this a bit late as I was out of town for this bird walk but still wanted to be sure to share the great sightings Joe had in spite of the rain!

Here’s Joe’s write-up from March 13th:

While it is the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s policy to hold its bird walks, rain or shine unless it is dangerous, we don’t expect a lot of people to show up when the weather is bad – this morning I was the only person to show up for the regular monthly (2nd Sat.) bird walk at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve.  While it was pretty slow at first when the hard rain changed to a mist about 8:40 am the birds became much more active and the birding much more enjoyable. 

The highlights of the 34 species at Banshee (see complete list below) were my FOS EASTERN PHOEBE, great looks at a couple of BROWN CREEPERS, single RUBY-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and a couple of FOX SPARROWS, all of which came in very close and let me have long, extended looks at them.
 
After Banshee Reeks I went over to the nearby Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project where the highlights included 13 TUNDRA SWANS coming out of the fog & drizzle to land on the water, lots of ducks including several GADWALL, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, an AMERICAN COOT, and a calling BARRED OWL.  While I was disappointed to not see the Bald Eagle on the nest, prob. because it was well hunkered down to keep the eggs warm, there was a NORTHERN HARRIER.
 
In all there were 46 species, not bad for a very damp morning.
 
Good birding!
Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
 
Location:     Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve – MFF08
Observation date:     3/13/10
Notes:     On this very wet morning only one person showed up for the regular monthly bird walk at Banshee.  When the hard rain changed to a mist about 8:40 am the birds became much more active.
Number of species:     34
Canada Goose, Wood Duck 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern) 1, Mourning Dove 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 5, Downy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Eastern Phoebe 1, Blue Jay 8, American Crow 7, Fish Crow 9, Carolina Chickadee 5, Tufted Titmouse 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, Brown Creeper 2, Carolina Wren 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Eastern Bluebird 4, American Robin 40, Northern Mockingbird 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2, Eastern Towhee 1, Field Sparrow 1, Fox Sparrow (Red) 2, Song Sparrow 8, White-throated Sparrow 12, Dark-eyed Junco 6, Northern Cardinal 5, American Goldfinch X,

Location:     Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project
Observation date:     3/13/10
Number of species:     26
Tundra Swan 13, Gadwall 8, American Wigeon 2, Mallard 16, Green-winged Teal 1, Ring-necked Duck 32, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Northern Harrier 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, American Coot 1, Killdeer 1, Barred Owl 1, Belted Kingfisher 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Downy Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 3, American Crow 6, Fish Crow 4, Carolina Chickadee 2, Eastern Bluebird 2, American Robin 4, Song Sparrow 2, Northern Cardinal 3, Red-winged Blackbird 20, Brown-headed Cowbird 1, American Goldfinch

Our January 9th, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Northern Virginia Birding Club teamed up to lead a walk at Banshee Reeks. While chilly, they did get in some good birding. Here’s the report from our leaders, Andy and Gerco:

Surprisingly, it was nice weather until about 10am when the winds picked up. We found several locations where the birds were very active–mostly sunny spots that were out of the wind. Many sparrows were foraging in the shrubs and the various hawks were calling and flying over. We were rather startled to see many mallards and a single black duck flying up from the ponds. Some open water was there. Once the wind picked up, we decided to leave.

Highlights of the walk included an Eastern Phoebe, American Black Duck, Field Sparrow, Brown Creeper, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

Our total tally was 39 species:

American Black Duck 1, Mallard 47, Great Blue Heron 1, Black Vulture 1, Turkey Vulture 2, Bald Eagle 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 4, Ring-billed Gull 3, Mourning Dove 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3, Downy Woodpecker 4, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 7, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, Blue Jay 5, American Crow 11, Carolina Chickadee 2, Tufted Titmouse 4, White-breasted Nuthatch 3, Brown Creeper 1, Carolina Wren 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Eastern Bluebird 9, American Robin 30, Northern Mockingbird 2, European Starling 27, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Eastern Towhee 3, Field Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 4, White-throated Sparrow 25, Dark-eyed Junco 20, Northern Cardinal 4, Brown-headed Cowbird 5, American Goldfinch 2

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is definitely one of Loudoun’s Great Places for wildlife and nature explorations. Hike the trails, breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the wild sights and sounds! More information can be found on our page highlighting Banshee Reeks.

On October 10th, 23 people found 41 species of birds during the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks.  The highlights of several different raptor species included a single Merlin. We were surprised by how few sparrows there were; we also didn’t find a single warbler in sprite of visiting several suitable locations for both.  

There were a lot of Northern Flickers, Blue Jays, and American Robins moving around throughout the preserve as well as at least six dif. Eastern Phoebes.  We did find two thrushes along a stream near the Goose Creek that we were unable to identify as we never got to see their faces.  Both were dull and appeared to be either Gray-cheeked or Swainson’s.

Here’s the full species list: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey (1), Bald Eagle (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin (1), Rock Pigeon (2), Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift (6), Belted Kingfisher (1), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe (6), Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow (1), Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird (1), Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee (3), Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch

This past Saturday, before the monthly Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy birdwalk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 3 folks spent an hour+ at the Dulles Wetlands and found that the 3 juvenile WHITE IBIS remain.  They were feeding actively in near, open shallow water, easily observed, along with the same companions as on Monday. 

At Banshee Reeks, 12 people came out to look for birds. The highlights of the lovely, still-cool morning were singing Blue Grosbeak (also one at the wetlands), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and groups of Cedar Waxwings.  Mike Friedman, arriving as our bird walk broke up, reported finding (hearing then seeing) a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO near the entrance to the preserve.

The list follows, with birds at the Dulles Wetlands second where applicable.

Canada Goose – x/x, Wood Duck – x/x (many young), Mallard – 0/x, Great Blue Heron – 0/3, Great Egret – 0/12, Green Heron – 0/2, WHITE IBIS – 0/3, Turkey Vulture – 2, Accipiter – 0/1, Red-shouldered Hawk – 1, Red-tailed Hawk – 1, Am. Kestrel – 1, Killdeer – 0/12, Solitary Sandpiper – 0/6, Semipalmated Sandpiper – 0/6, Pectoral Sandpiper – 0/1, Mourning Dove – x, Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 2, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 1, Belted Kingfisher – 1/1, Red-bellied Woodpecker – x, Downy Woodpecker – x, No. Flicker – 2, Pileated Woodpecker – 2, E. Wood-Pewee – x, E. Phoebe – x, Great Crested Flycatcher – 1, E. Kingbird – x/x, Red-eyed Vireo – x, Blue Jay – x, Crow sp. – x/x, Barn Swallow – x/x, Car. Chickadee – x, Tufted Titmouse – x, Car. Wren – x/x, House Wren – 0/x, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher – 1, E. Bluebird – x/x, Am Robin – x/x, Gray Catbird – x/x, No. Mockingbird – x/x, Brown Thrasher – 1, Cedar Waxwing – many, C. Yellowthroat – x/x, Scarlet Tanager – 1, E. Towhee – x, Field Sparrow – x/x, Song Sparrow – x/x, No. Cardinal – x/x, Blue Grosbeak – 1/1, Indigo Bunting – x/x, Red-winged Blackbird – x/x, C. Grackle – x/x, Am. Goldfinch – x/x

Many thanks to Mary Ann Good and Del Sargent who led this walk and to David Crooks for getting photos of the White Ibis. We’re adding it to our Bird Atlas data!

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and the Dulles Wetlands are located in Leesburg, Virginia – a great place to explore Loudoun nature and wildlife.

David McCarthy, President of the Friends of Banshee Reeks, sent over this email and I wanted to share it with you here. The Friends of Banshee Reeks is an important organization in making sure this incredible nature preserve is protected into the future.

The note from David:

Follow-up to the Public Meeting of July 29

I would like to thank all of you who were able to attend the public meeting Wednesday evening to address the issues related to The Woods Road.  It is unfortunate that an understandably frustrated group from Courtland dominated the question period, as the majority of people in the audience did not get to raise their questions about the status of a road that appears on the earliest maps of the county; that runs through an area that reflects the human ecology of man’s interaction with the natural habitat in Loudoun from 4,000 BC through the 1970’s; and is the only publicly owned collection of traditional Piedmont habitats that exists in the county on a scale which keeps them viable.

The good news is that Lewis Rauch, Director of the Office of Capital Construction attended the meeting and has offered to head up a Woods Road Stakeholders Group that would meet regularly this year and next to address the safety concerns of the road, the county’s solid waste disposal needs, and the need to protect irreplaceable natural resources and the conservation easements that protect them. Mr. Rauch has earned a reputation of bringing an open, positive and professional approach to problem solving, and he understands that all the issues related to The Woods Road need to be seen within the larger context. I believe that someone who can look at this situation with fresh eyes and knows how to listen can help take us beyond the stale rhetoric we have been subjected to before.

As always, Supervisor Sally Kurtz played the key role in seeing that the process of public participation promised in April 2008 was not allowed to die. The Woods Road presents a striking example of the constant pressure that the county’s diminishing resources are under from competing demands. The Friends of Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve will be pleased to enter into a transparent and participative process at the front end of the decision making, rather than having to react to the damage caused by decisions made without consideration of the consequences.

Loudoun County has been the victim of a risky and speculative development process that has been driven by the short term possibilities of monetary gain. It is recognized that the economic situation the county finds itself in now is the result of this kind of approach. We all know now that we need a new way forward based on an informed and engaged citizenry. The decisions made about The Woods Road will send a clear message of how Loudoun County will approach the future. We all agree that business as usual is not the answer. Let’s help shape a new one.

David McCarthy, President
Friends of Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve