Beating the heat (just by a little bit) Greg and I started birding in NW Faquier County this morning at 5:30am. We drove down Harrison Rd were we heard both BOBOLINK and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW but saw neither. We then moved on to the Bridle Trail at Sky Meadows SP. We made a clockwise loop following the Meadow Trail to the Bridle Trail. We got great looks at a single WILLOW FLYCATCHER and two gorgeous LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES. The Shrikes were in the location previosuly reported on this list. Brown Thrashers were to be found in large numbers in this area. We also heard another Grasshopper Sparrow but of course did not see it.
We then went to the west side of the park and watched some RED-HEADED WOODPECKERs for about 20 minutes, including a pair feeding some begging chicks in a nest cavity. By this time the heat was already becoming unbearable (900am). We drove down towards the visitor center and got some good looks at an AMERICAN KESTREL that at one point was flying low over the road in front fo our car.
We left Sky Meadows and went back to Harrison Rd hoping to actually see the Bobolinks this time. We were richly rewarded and saw two beatiful male Bobolinks perched 30 ft away from us on a power line. We also got to watch their beatiful hovering display flights over the meadow. And their song, what can one say, one of my favorites. In the same area we saw another Kestrel as well as 3 COMMON RAVENs.
Finally tally for the day was 58 species.
I really like birding in this area. It mostly foothills/small mountains with pastures and other farmland mixed in with decidous forest. It is very different from places that I have birded previously and it is only 30 or so miles west of my house. I plan to bird these areas more often.
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2 Comments
Can you tell me about what time you saw the bobolinks. and where on Harrison road they were.
thanks,
Donald sweig
Falls church
We heard them at 530am but returned later at approximately 930am and actually saw them as well as heard them. On Harrison Rd heading West from SR 245 there is any area that is a long straightaway there are a few trees scattered along the Roadway. Immediately after a slight decline in the roadway (about 1/5 a mile from the east side of Harrison Rd) there is a large hay field on the left (South side) of the road. Between two old oak trees that overhang the road that are separated by about 100 yards is where we saw them. Your best bet is to drive slowly down the road with your windows down and listen for them as they are pretty easy to hear.
Good Luck.