World Bird Wednesday XVI

Last Friday when I was out at Huntley Meadows, I saw an interesting aerial display. There were 2 Red-shouldered Hawks out doing a type of mating flight. As I was getting close, I heard a "kee-ahh" call over and over. I saw the 2 Red-shouldered hawks gaining altitude and then the male would fly down at the female. They did this over and over. The interesting thing was that the male did this will carrying nesting materials at the same time.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Hawk 2

Close up

More signs that Spring is springing

For a 2nd consecutive Friday, I was able to get out to Dykes Marsh and again the place was overrun with American Robins. Usually I see a few sporadically throughout the winter, so seeing so many made me think that the waves of Robins heading north has begun. Thanks to learner.org and Laura Erickson for all of this great information on Robins.

Waves of American Robins

Basically the red triangles are waves of Robins observed in Feb and the red circles have been observed in March. They will be arriving soon in MN, Wisc, and MI in greater numbers.

One the many American Robins that were out eating at Dykes Marsh.

  

 Here is a link to the learner.org site for more information on the progress of the 2011 American Robin migration.

Spring is springing

My first official "summer" visitor of the year and it was a good one. I was near the marina at Dykes Marsh today and got this picture of an Osprey. I got pretty close too.

The rare bird list that I check religiously said that there were early returning Ospreys in the area and I found one. Yay me!!

Osprey at Dykes Marsh on 4 March.

Just checking things out.

World Bird Wednesday XV

This week is ducky. Literally. I am going to post some of the pictures of ducks I took last Friday. The weather was great and the ducks were out everywhere. Seems like they were tired of the cold dreary weather and wanted to stretch their wings. I am not going to post every species of duck I saw, just some of the more interesting pictures.

There was a flock of Northern Pintails. This is a new bird to my posts. The Northern Pintail hangs out in Northern VA in the winter.

Northern Pintail

Here is a Green-winged Teal that flew by.

You were fast, but I got ya

Same with this Mallard. I liked the water falling off it's feet.

My feet got wet.

I didn't notice the turtle with the Hooded Mergansers until I got home.

Check out the turtle.

Pileated Woodpecker

One of the Woodpeckers that I have been stalking for a couple of years and I have been unable to photograph is the Pileated Woodpecker. Or should I say "was unable". When I was out on my walk near the Potomac River at Dykes Marsh park I saw what looked like a small grouse near a fallen tree. When I walked close enough, I realized that it was a large Woodpecker. But bonus, there was actually 2 Pileated Woodpeckers working on the log. I was able to get a picture of both.

Pileated Woodpecker #1

 

Pileated Woodpecker #2

The Pileated Woodpecker will be added to my list as it is

a permanent resident to Northern VA. 

 

Update on the Bald Eagle Cam

All 3 eggs hatched. While it is rare to even lay 3 eggs, sources say that normally all 3 don't survive. We shall see.

All 3 chicks hatched.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

I am going to put up a series of blogs this week because I saw so many birds on my walk on Friday. Some of them were new birds to me and some were also new permanent resident birds. Here is the first one.

I was standing between the Potomac River and the treeline in Dykes Marsh park when these little yellow birds caught my attention. There were about 4-6 of them in the trees and they kept posing for the nicest pictures. This is the Golden-crowned Kinglet. You have no idea how long it took me to identify it. It was located on page 541 of my guide so it took me a while to get to that page.

They are winter residents to Northern VA and will soon be flying back up north.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Check me out.

World Bird Wednesday XIV

Birding is like a box a chocolates.. you never know what you are gonna get...

Some days when the weather is crappy and you have been to the same place over and over and haven't seen birds, one tends to break with the plan and go somewhere else. Today could have been one of those days.


But, I stuck with the plan. I went down by the lake and saw lots of birds even though I had been down there recently and there just weren't a lot of birds to be found. The weather was cold, windy and a little foggy today, but the birds were out everywhere. Because we are closing in on March, it seems like the birds are on the move.

I found a flock of Hermit Thrushes on the trail. New bird for me. Thanks new Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America.

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush, a winter visitor to NOVA

I also got a very good picture of a Northern Mockingbird.

Very clear picture of a Northern Mockingbird

This Red-winged Blackbird wasn't very happy with me.

Seemed a little miffed.

Over the last year or so, whenever I check out someone else's post and they have pictures of Cedar Waxwings, I post "wish I could see those." Well, I stayed with the plan. Even though I have walked by that same tree dozens and dozens of times, today the Cedar Waxwings were there.

Cedar Waxwing

The Cedar Waxwing is a permanent resident of Northern Virginia. This will be added to my list!!!! Finally...

Remember, like a box of chocolates, stick with the plan.

- Update- Friends of Blackwater NWR

I found a site called Friends of Blackwater NWR. They have set up a webcam and have pictures of the 3 eggs. This just totally blows me away.

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

World Bird Wednesday XI

It has still been cold, snowy and wet here in Northern Virginia. I have had a Blue Jay visiting the feeder constantly.  I read an interesting thing on the Rare Bird blog that I check weekly.

The BALD EAGLE at Blackwater NWR has laid the earliest 

egg ever recorded there and topped that by laying egg 

number 3 on January 20. 

The Blackwater NWR is located about 30 miles directly east of Northern Virginia in Maryland near the ocean. I am shocked that it is below freezing nearly every night, yet Bald Eagles are already laying their eggs. I really need to do some research on this.

Blue Jay