Virginia Birds Fall 2010:Virginia Birds 8/7/2011 11:28 AM Page 1
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Virginia Birds Fall 2010:Virginia Birds 8/7/2011 11:28 AM Page 1 Virginia Birds A quarterly journal of ornithological sightings in the Commonwealth published by the Virginia Society of Ornithology Volume 7, Number 2 Fall Records August –November 2010 Virginia Birds Fall 2010:Virginia Birds 8/7/2011 11:28 AM Page 2 Editors’ Notes The fall brought some very interesting hummingbird visitors to the Commonwealth, including an Allen’s in the Southeast, a Black-chinned in the West, and the leucistic Ruby-throated featured in our cover photo. The East Region enjoyed strong shorebird and warbler showings and an amazing observation of 11 Wood Storks. The annual fall migration count from one location in the Southwest tallied 70 migrant species, 1,940 birds, in a two month period. Reports from the Coastal Region included observations from the two hawk watches and several significant passerine flights, as well as the presence of a Bell’s Vireo, a Northern Wheateater, and a possible Greenland subspecies Dun - lin. Boreal irruptives were noted from several regions perhaps indicating an interesting winter to come. Good Birding Linda and Alan CORRECTION: In the spring 2010 issue of Virginia Birds (Volume 6, No.4) the photograph of a California Gull at First Landing was incorrectly credited. The photo was taken by Andrew Baldelli. We apologize to him for the error. On the Cover: A highly unusual hummingbird, thought to be a leucistic Ruby-throated, was in Rockbridge County from 12 to 14 September. Photograph by Steve Richards Publisher Editors Virginia Society of Ornithology Linda Fields Alan Schreck Printed on recycled paper [email protected] Regional Editors Fred Atwood Lenny Bankester Arun Bose (Guest Editor) Adam D’Onofrio Wendy Ealding Tim Hodge Clyde Kessler Lynda Mahorn Roger Mayhorn Bill Williams VSO Officers VSO Board of Directors President : Andrew Dolby, Fredericksburg Terms Expire 2012 Past President : Rexanne Bruno, Lynchburg Susan Brown, Parksley (Eastern Shore); Shirley Devan, Vice President : Joe Coleman Williamsburg; Keith Carson, Highland County Secretary : Alyce Quinn, Roanoke Terms Expire 2013 Treasurer: Sue Thrasher, Lynchburg Elisa Enders, Portsmith; David Hannah, Charlottesville; Raven Editor: Wes Brown, Parksley Larry Meade, Vienna Newsletter Editors : Linda Fields & Alan Schreck, Arlington Terms Expire 2014 Membership Secretary : Thelma Dalmas, Evington Tiffany Corsell0, King George County; Mark Fink, Far - mville; Jerry Thornhill, Elk Garden 2 VIRGINIA BIRDS VOLUME 7 • NUMBER 2 Virginia BirdsFall2010:Virginia8/7/201111:28AMPage3 F a l l R e Season Reports Due to Regional Editors p o Summer (Jun–Jul) 15 Aug r t i n Fall (Aug–Nov) 15 Dec g Winter (Dec–Feb) 15 Mar P e Spring (Mar–May) 15 Jun r i o d A u g u s t 2 0 1 0 – N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0 3 Virginia Birds Fall 2010:Virginia Birds 8/7/2011 11:28 AM Page 4 Winter Reporting Period Dec 2009–Feb 2010 Sep (CK, NH, RM). Early November Terms and Abbreviations found rafts of American Coots in vari - North ous parts of the Region, with 1000 Species name in bold first time men - Arlington, Culpepper, Fairfax, Fauquier, recorded in Prince William on 7 Nov (EM) tioned ( RARITIES bold and all caps) Loudoun, Madison, Prince William, and 2 ,500 seen in Fairfax 5 Nov (DL). County names are in italics Rappahannock, and Stafford Couunties Ruddy Ducks arrived at the expected Abbreviations: and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, time in mid-November, when up to 2000 ad. (ads.) – adult(s) Falls Church Manassas and Manassas were spotted at Mason Neck State Park , BBS – breeding bird survey Park. Fairfax 20 Nov (BJ). One report noted CBC – Christmas Bird Count Cr. – Creek 190 Blue-winged Teal at Belle Haven Editor — Lenny Bankester Picnic Area in Fairfax 27 Sep (JB). The et al. – and others 4113 33rd St S. fide – vouched by high count for Canada Geese was 1200 Arlington, VA 22206 in Fauquier 26 Nov (DL). Though this FOS — First of Season [email protected] count is well above average for the Ft. – Fort species, it is not a record high count for Hwy. – Highway he record breaking heat of sum - this time of year. An impromptu hawk I. – Island(s), Isle(s) mer continued into the fall with watch at C. F. Smith was very productive imm. (imms.) – immature(s) great heat stress evident on vege - Jct. – Junction with an Osprey , four Bald Eagles , a tation throughout North Virginia. The juv. (juvs.) – juvenile(s) T Northern Harrier , two Sharp-shinned heat was punctuated by a couple of L. – Lake Hawks , a Merlin , and a Cooper’s storms with heavy winds that knocked MAPS – Monitoring Avian Hawk observed. An estimated 100 down 100 trees in one Arlington County Productivity and Survivorship Broad-winged Hawks were seen from neighborhood alone. The long term ef - there 17 Sep (VK, DF). Merlins were also m.ob. – many/multiple observers fect of the extreme weather on bird pop - reported in Fairfax , Loudoun , Prince Mt. – Mountain, Mount ulations is as yet unclear. In spite of the William , and Stafford 29 Sep –-24 Oct (PT, NWR – National Wildlife Refuge weather Northern Virginia birders re - ph. – photographed (by + initials) GHo, DL , PN ). American Kestrels ported 212 species during this period. were reported throughout Northern Vir - Pt. – Point ginia. The high count for the species was R. – River : C. F. Smith (Fort C. F. Abbreviations five in Rectortown, Fauquier 27 Nov Res. – Reservoir Smith Park , Arlington ); Huntley (Huntley Rte. – Route (EM). Two observers found Mississippi Meadows Park, Fairfax ; Occoquan (Oc - SF – State Forest Kites in Fairfax and Prince William 15 Aug coquan Bay NWR, Prince William); Sky and 25 Aug (LM, CL), with the high SP – State Park Meadows (Sky Meadows State Park, count being three at Kings Park , Fairfax . VARCOM – Virginia Avian Records Fauquier ). Committee The high count for Wild Turkeys was 29, seen off Loyalty Road , Loudoun 1 Sep VDGIF – Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries GADWALLS—SANDPIPERS (GHo). Four Sora were spotted at Hunt - ley Meadows Park , Fairfax 6 Sep (HG). VSO – Virginia Society of Ornithology A pair of Gadwalls and two Pied-billed Short-billed Dowitchers were reported Grebes were seen at Roaches Run 24 on 22 & 28 Aug (EM). A few reports of v.t. – video taped (by + initials) WMA – Wildlife Management Area Oct (VK) . The high count for Pied-billed Least Sandpipers found the birds scat - Grebes also came from the Potomac tered throughout Arlington , Culpeper , and – VARCOM Review List Bird River, with 30 spotted at Dyke Marsh in Fairfax , with the high count being 40 at † – written details submitted Fairfax (LB). Black-crowned Night- Huntley14 Aug–6 Sep (SH, EM, NVBC). * – specimen collected Herons were spotted in Alexandria, Fair - Huntley Meadows was also the location Submissions fax , and Prince William 27 Aug – 21 Nov of a sighting of four Western Sand - Send reports and photographs to the (R&CY, ADri, DL). Yellow-crowned pipers 10 Aug (PWB). Pectoral Sand - Regional Editors. Photographs should Night-Herons were also found along pipers were seen in both Culpeper and be the highest electronic quality possi - the Potomac, with sightings at Dainger - Fairfax counties 14 Aug and 15 Sep (EM, ble. Send with release form, which field Island , Alexandria and Occoquan 1 CK). can be found on the VSO web site: Aug and 11 Sep (EM, DE). Little Blue www.virginiabirds.net Articles for consideration can be sent Herons were reported in Alexandria, TERNS—CATBIRDS Fairfax , and Prince William 12 Aug – 15 to [email protected] Eight Black Terns were an uncommon 4 VIRGINIA BIRDS VOLUME 7 • NUMBER 2 Virginia Birds Fall 2010:Virginia Birds 8/7/2011 11:28 AM Page 5 sight at the Belle Haven Marina , Fairfax , ful of reports found Swainson’s 1000 also in Arlington 29 Sep (TB) and 14 Sep (AD). Though typically uncom - Thrushes throughout the region 11 Sep 1200 in Prince William 12 Oct (DL) . The mon in the Region, twenty Caspian –9 Oct (PF, MAK, MRi, PN). Two fall migration brought through a healthy Terns were observed at Hunting Creek , Veeries were seen at Leesylvania State collection of American Redstarts ; 15 Alexandria . Two Bonaparte’s Gulls were Park , Prince William 11 Sep (MRi). A were spotted in one day in Fairfax 12 Sep at Mason Neck State Park , Fairfax 6 Nov Gray-cheeked Thrush was reported at (R&CY) . A scattering of reports found (SBo). Rock Pigeon numbers peaked at Leesylvania State Park, Prince William 9 Bay-breasted Warblers moving through 280 in one report from Fairfax 4 Nov Oct (EM). Six Blue-gray Gnatcatchers the area, as well, with sightings in Fairfax, (CK). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen at Cameron Station, Ben Bren - Loudoun , and Prince William (FA, MAK). began their seasonal migration on time, man Park , Alexandria 31 Aug (R&CY). Black-and-White Warblers are fairly with the last one reported from Loudoun Gray Catbirds were widely reported. uncommon transients in Northern Vir - 12 Sept (GHo). A handful of reports The high count for the species was ginia, but they were spotted in five differ - found Yellow-bellied Flycatchers de - twenty-eight at Bles Park, Loudoun 25 Sep ent counties this season 29 Aug–27 Sep parting seasonally from the Region 11 – (KP). (SB, WB, MRa, MRi, PN) . Peak migration 20 Sep (NF, GD, MAK). The high count found Blackburnian Warblers heading for the species was three . The Northern WAXWINGS—SISKINS south, with a scattering of reports from Virginia Bird Club submitted the only Large flocks of Cedar Waxwings were Fauquier , Loudoun, and Prince William 11– seasonal report of Black-billed Cuck - spotted in various parts of the Region.