April 2020

All Walks Cancelled
S The
ISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 65, No. 2 April 2020 www.nvabc.org 

Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve protected in 2008 and 2009. Today, CNNAP is 3,055
Explore the parks and natural areas in Northern Virginia … acres and co-owned by DCR, Stafford County and the
new NVBC trip location Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.
Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve (CNNAP), The uplands of the Crow’s Nest peninsula are entirely
located in Stafford County, became the Commonwealth’s forested and support perhaps the finest example of mature
fifty-fourth Natural Area Preserve in 2008. Prior to hardwood forest remaining in the Virginia Coastal Plain.
becoming a preserve, the property was a colonial area Large, unfragmented old-age coastal plain hardwood
plantation belonging to the Travers-Daniel Family forests in the mid-Atlantic region are unusual and rapidly
(1662-1865). Crow’s Nest is named disappearing. The preserve is
for the schooner owned by the family comprised of ten plant communities,
named the “Crow.” Following the including the globally-rare Coastal
Civil War, the property changed Plain Dry Calcareous Forest. In
hands numerous t imes before addition to the mature upland forest,
Alabama Senator Frank Boykin the preserve also protects nearly 900
purchased the peninsula in 1950. acres of wet lands , inc luding
Senator Boykin used Crow’s Nest as extensive freshwater tidal marshes,
an escape from Washington, DC and t i da l ha rdwood swamps and
had portions of the property logged in bottomland stream forests.
the 1950s. The owners of the The diverse plant communities
property in the early 1970s, proposed protected within the preserve provide
an ambitious development project for habitat for a variety of bird species,
20,000 residents that included a large Freshwater tidal marsh at CNNAP photographed including approximately 70 species
marina, golf course, horse racing by Gary Fleming thought to breed on the property and
track and a convention center. While numerous over-wintering waterfowl.
this project never proceeded, it did kick start local Some of the notable birds observed during the breeding
advocacy to save and protect the Crow’s Nest peninsula. season include King Rail, Least Bittern, Red-headed
K&M Properties purchased the property in 1989. In the Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Worm-eating
late 1990s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considered Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler and
purchasing land including the Crow’s Nest Peninsula for a American Redstarts. Ovenbirds and Wood Thrushes are
National Wildlife Refuge. In 2004, K&M Properties very common during the breeding season as are Scarlet
submitted a plan to construct 688 homes on the penin- Tanagers.
sula. In 2007, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors Recreational opportunities at CNNAP include a 300-
voted to provide funding necessary for the purchase of foot boardwalk and associated canoe launch and
Crow’s Nest. With funding provided by Stafford County, approximately eight-miles of hiking trails.
the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
and numerous grants, 2,872 acres were —Michael Lott
Inside NVBC General Meeting
Calendar of NVBC field trips April 8 – June 26, 2020 April 15, 2020
First Siskin, September 13, 1955
2020 Winter Chincoteague trip report Cancelled to support efforts to
Bird Banding at Occoquan NWR contain spread of Covid-19
Butterfly Counts
2019 Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count Summary
To see the newsletter photographs in color, go to www.nvabc.org and click on The Siskin icon
Presidential Peentings
Robert Watson, a founding member of
the Northern Virginia Bird Club passed
away a few years ago. He was the
secretary for our club beginning in 1954,
the year NVBC was founded. I was
contacted by Mr. Watson’s son who
wanted to know if I wanted his father’s
books. I did, so I went over to retrieve a
few boxes of his books, but also some old
papers that he had saved over the years. I
looked casually through the documents
and was somewhat shocked to find among
them the very first edition of the Siskin
from 1955. Almost 65 years later, we have
republished Vol. 1 No. 1 in this edition of
the Siskin, Vol. 65 No. 2.
The first Siskin explains how our
newsletter got its name. It says that “Like
that bird, our publication appears
irregularly from autumn to spring in the
Northern Virginia area”. I had always
heard that story, but now we know its
origin. Of course, we now publish the
Siskin consistently four times a year. I
truly appreciate the efforts that everyone
puts in to make this happen. It’s also nice
that we don’t have to type out the entire
Siskin on a manual typewriter as was
necessary in 1955.
The first members of the Northern
Virginia Bird club apparently birded in
some of the same locations that we go to
this very day. One of the places they went
to was Glen Carlyn Park where NVBC
still often goes. There was no W&OD trail
yet, but there is a reference to the
Washington and Old Dominion railroad
tracks. These birders also visited Belle
Haven and its nearby marshes. This is
what we know as Dyke Marsh today.
Jackson Abbott, for whom a refuge in
Mount Vernon is now named, conducted
breeding bird surveys there during that
time. We are fortunate to have the tireless
Larry Cartwright walking in Jackson
Abbott’s footsteps as he has surveyed the
breeding birds at Dyke Marsh for many
years and is still out there doing it this
year.
A document like this sort of puts
things in perspective and helps us to
appreciate our history and the efforts of
the birders that have come before us.
They left a legacy and I like to think that
we are also leaving a legacy for future
birders. Maybe 65 years from now,
someone will come across this issue of
the Siskin and see what we were doing
back in 2020.
—Larry Meade
!2 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Chincoteague Winter Trip: Construction Everywhere
This year’s winter Chincoteague trip was characterized flock of four Palm Warblers at the hotel along the fence
by balmy, un-winter-like weather and construction projects line near the swimming pool was a nice, unexpected treat.
limiting access to the ‘birdiest’ sections of the refuge. On the refuge we added a Red-throated Loon seen
Twenty-six members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club offshore, a Ruddy Turnstone and a couple of Dunlins along
visited the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) the inner shore line of Tom’s Cove and a Northern Harrier
and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel (CBBT) on coursing over the salt marsh. But still no Snow Geese.
the weekend of January 31 to February 2. The trip was led Given the limited area we could cover out at the beach, we
by Larry Cartwright and me. The group collectively tallied decided to walk the Marsh Trail from the Wildlife Loop
92 species for the weekend. parking lot where we picked up Brown-headed Nuthatches
Construction started limiting activities from the start as along the trail.
our usual Wildlife Loop itinerary on Friday afternoon was Saturday afternoon activities included finding a flock
n o t p o s s i b l e d u e t o a of juvenile White Ibis along
construction project that closed North Main Street, Common
down vehicle access to the loop. Goldeneyes and Horned Grebes
Instead, we went straight to at the Queen Sound Flat boat
Tom’s Cove and the beach launch, and Long-tailed Ducks
parking lots. However, access at and Black-bellied Plovers at the
the beach was restricted to just Chincoteague City mud flats.
the north parking lot and a short At Kiptopeke State Park on
section of the south parking lot Sunday morning, Surf Scoters
due to construction that was and Common Loons were seen
regrading the sand. Nevertheless, close off the pier, and two
we managed to find several good Peregrine Falcons gave us quite
birds. Our stop at Swan Cove an aerial show as they were
produced close looks at three hunting the pigeons over the
Marbled Godwits, a couple of Bonaparte’s Gulls amongst concrete ship breakwater while Northern Gannets streamed
a swirling flock of Forster’s Terns, and many species of by further out.
waterfowl including large numbers of Northern Shovelers CBBT Island #4 produced the usual gathering of Great
and Tundra Swans. A female Common Merganser was on Cormorants on the bridge abutments and many Long-tailed
the water in Tom’s Cove – an uncommon species at Ducks in the waters surrounding the island. Our most
Chincoteague – and a few American Oystercatchers were notable find off the island were two White-winged Scoters
on the exposed oyster beds. At the beach, we found which took some effort to find amongst all the flocks of
Common Loons offshore, Sanderlings running along the Black and Surf Scoters. Surprisingly, we were not able to
beach and a nice flyover of a flock of Brants, but no sign find any Purple Sandpipers. Island #4 was the only island
of any Snow Geese. we were able to visit due to, of course, ongoing
Saturday morning’s activities started on the board walk construction.
near the hotel. Our efforts to find the rarer ‘marsh’
sparrows were not successful but we did have nice looks at –Elton Morel
Savannah Sparrows and a flyover Tricolored Heron. A
Header photograph of NVBC
birders at Chincoteague NWR by
Alyssa Morel
Juvenile White Ibis(above),
American Oystercatcher (left) and
Surf Scoter (right) photographed by
Evan Pannkuk during
Chincoteague winter trip
The Siskin . Vol. 65, No. 2 . April 2020 3
Upcoming Trips and Events
Compiled by Elton Morel
Note:
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips.
When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders. Phone numbers are below.
If in doubt about a trip because of weather, please call one of the leaders.
Check the NVBC website for updated information about trips: http://www.nvabc.org/updated-field-trips/.
•To receive email notices, join the NVBC eMail Exchange. For sign-up directions see back page of The Siskin.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 April 8 11
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Bles Park Leopold’s Preserve
Jean Tatalias Elton Morel
Larry Meade Toby Hardwick
Trip Leaders 15 18
Jeremy Beck 703-517-1816 Laurel Hill 7:30 AM
Larry Cartwright 703-941-3142 Equestrian Center – Silver Lake RP
Toby Hardwick 703-201-1517 Cancelled Toby Hardwick
Ken Hunt 319-354-1079 Larry Meade
David Ledwith 703-933-9477 NVBC Meeting-
Larry Meade 571-275-2523 Cancelled
Elton Morel 703-907-9951
Phil Silas 703-987-0817 22 25
Dixie Sommers 703-969-7931 8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Jean Tatalias 571-447-7977 Meadowood Huntley Meadows
Recreation Area Hike/Bike Trail
Larry Cartwright Ken Hunt
Phil Silas Larry Meade
29 May 2
NVBC walks will be held at 8:30 AM 7:30 AM
the discretion of the leader. Fort C.F. Smith Leesylvania SP
Until Covid-19 spread Jeremy Beck Ken Hunt
prevention guidance changes, Elton Morel
birders should maintain 6 9
separation and not share 8:30 AM 7:30 AM
spotting scopes. Long Branch Trillium Trail
Elton Morel Elton Morel
David Ledwith
13 May 15 – 17
8:30 AM Chincoteague Spring
Fort C. F. Smith Weekend
Jeremy Beck Members only/reservations
required
Sign up begins March 25, @6 am
Elton Morel
Larry Meade
16 7:30 AM Occoquan Bay NWR David Ledwith Ken Hunt
20 23
8:30 AM 8 AM
Laurel Hill Aquia Landing
Equestrian Center Elton Morel
Phil Silas David Ledwith
28 30
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Neabsco RP Conway-Robinson
Boardwalk State Forest
Phil Silas Toby Hardwick
Larry Meade
4 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
June 3 6
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Long Branch Bristoe Station
Dixie Sommers Battlefield Park
Toby Hardwick
Elton Morel
13
8 AM
Crow’s Nest NAP –
Raven Road entrance
Michael Lott
Elton Morel
13
9 AM
Limberlost Trail
Shenandoah NP X-trip
Email leader for details
Elton Morel
(eltonlmorel@verizon.net)
26 8 AM Bluebird Trail Larry Meade
DIRECTIONS mi. and make a left onto Independent area adjacent Route 29-S which can
Aquia Landing Beach Park (5/23) Hill Dr. Then make immediate right accommodate approximately 10 cars.
2846 Brooke Rd, Stafford 22554 From onto Rt 619 (Bristow Rd). Travel 7 mi. Additional parking is permitted along
southbound I-95 towards Stafford, take and turn left onto Iron Brigade Unit the entrance/exit road unless it restricts
exit 140 to Stafford, then left (east) on Ave. The parking lot is located on the through traffic
Courthouse Rd (Rt 630), go 3.5 mi. left at the traffic circle. From I-66: Crow’s Nest NAP-Raven Road
and turn right on Andrew Chapel Rd Take Rt 234 south (Exit 44). Travel 4.5 entrance (6/13) From I-95 take the
(Rt 629), go 0.9 mi. and under the mi. and turn right onto Rt 28 Stafford Exit (exit 140). Take Rt 630
railroad bridge to a slight left onto (Nokesville Rd). Travel 1.5 mi. and (Courthouse Road) one mi. east to
Brooke Rd (Rt 608) go 4.4 mi. to the turn left onto Rt 619 (Bristow Rd). Stafford (intersection of 630 and US
park entrance, continue past park Travel 0.25 mi., turn right onto Iron 1). Cross US 1 and continue east on Rt
entrance gate to the parking lot at the Brigade Unit Ave and continue to 630 for about 2.5 mi. Turn right onto
end of the road. Meet in the parking parking lot. Meet in parking lot. Rt 629 (Andrew Chapel Road) and
lot. Conway Robinson State Forest continue for 0.9 mi. Go under the
Bles Park (4/8) 4830 Riverside Pkwy., (5/30) 12816 Lee Hwy, Gainesville railroad overpass at the community of
Ashburn 20147 Take Rt 7 west to 20155 From I-495, take I-66 west 27.6 Brooke and turn left onto Rt 608
Loudoun County Pkwy. Turn right mi. to exit 43B, US-29 North in (Brooke Road). Continue for 1.4 mi.,
onto Loudon County Pkwy and Gainesville. Continue on US-29 for .4 then turn right onto gravel Rt 609
proceed 0.2 mi. Turn right onto mi, turn left into access road to (Raven Road). Cross the 1-lane bridge
George Washington Blvd and go 0.8 parking area. There is a small parking over Accokeek Creek and continue for
mi. to Riverside Pkwy. Turn left and 0.2 mi. The Raven Road Access gate
proceed 1.1 mi. to park entrance 44830 for Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve
Riverside Pkwy. Meet at parking lot will be on the left. Then travel
Bluebird Trail (6/26) From I-495, exit 1.5 mi. on the gravel road until
onto Chain Bridge Rd (Rt 123) toward reaching the 18-space parking
Vienna. Continue on Maple Avenue lot. 

(still Rt 123) in Vienna, turn onto
Beulah Rd. Continue for about 1 mile
until left turn onto Clark’s Crossing
Road. Continue to the end of Clark’s Basic Mesic Forest scene at
Crossing and park at the parking lot Crow’s Nest Natural Area
overlooking the W&OD Trail. Preserve photographed by Gary
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Fleming, DCR
Park (6/6) 10708 Bristow Rd,
Bristow, VA 20136. From I-95: Take
Rt 234 north (exit 152B), travel 7.5
The Siskin . Vol. 65, No. 2 . April 2020 5
Trip Directions of N. Va Community Hospital on left.
Meet at Nature Center parking lot. Bird Banding at Occoquan
Fort C. F. Smith (4/29, 5/13) 2411 Meadowood Recreation Area (4/22) Bay NWR – Suspended due
24th St N, Arlington 22207 From I-66 From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
east, take exit 72 (Spout Run Pkwy). exit 163 (Lorton Rd). Turn left on to Covid-19 concerns
At traffic light, turn right on Lee Hwy. Route 642. Immediately after passing
At successive traffic lights, turn left under railroad tracks, (0.25 mi.) turn
onto Spout Run Pkwy, then left onto right on Lorton Market Rd, which
Lorcom Ln, then right onto Fillmore soon becomes Gunston Cove Rd. After
St. Go one block on Fillmore, turn crossing Rt 1, road becomes Gunston
right onto N. 24th St (watch for speed Rd. Go 1.8 mi. to Meadowood on right
humps), and continue to park on left. (BLM, Lower Potomac Station
Meet in parking lot at east end of park. Office). Park on right next to horse
Huntley Meadows Hike and Bike barns just before field station building.
Trail (4/25) From I-495, take Rt 1 Neabsco Regional Park – Boardwalk
south 0.5 mi to Rt 633 (S. King Hwy). ( 5 / 2 8 ) 1 5 1 2 5 B l a c k b u r n R d ,
Turn right (west), go 2.5 miles to park Woodbridge 22191 From I-495, take
entrance and lot on left (just before I-95 south about 14 mi. to exit 156 
 Ruddy Turnstone photographed by Evan
Telegraph Rd). (Dale City/Rippon Landing/Rt. 784). Pannkuk
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center Take exit 156A for Rt 784 east toward
(5/20) Lorton From I-495, take I-95 Rippon Landing. Continue 0.7 mi.
south about 7 mi. to exit 163 (Lorton cross Rt 1 where Dale Blvd becomes Note: Some of the following walks
have been suspended temporarily
Rd). Continue 1.4 mi. west on Rt 642/ Rippon Blvd and continue down the
Lorton Rd, then make a left on Rt 611/ hill another 0.4 mi. to a stop sign and due to the Covid-19 concerns.
Furnace Rd then an immediate right on turn right on Blackburn Rd. The park
to Dairy Rd. Proceed to and meet in parking lot is then 0.2 mi. away on the
the parking lot. left. Bird Walks at Local Parks
Leesylvania State Park (5/2) 2001 Occoquan Bay National Wildlife
Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge Refuge (5/16) 13950 Dawson Beach • Banshee Reeks Nature
Preserve, second Saturdays, 8
22191 From I-495, take I-95 south Rd, Woodbridge 22192 From I-495,
about 14 mi. to exit 156 (Dale City/ take I-95 south 9 mi. to (left) exit 161 am. Meet at the parking lot.
Visit the Loudoun Wildlife web
Rippon Landing/Rt 784). Following (Woodbridge). Go south on Rt 1 about
the posted highway s igns for 2 mi. to left turn onto Dawson Beach site, www.loudounwildlife.org/
Leesylvania State Park, exit east on Rt Rd. Continue on Dawson Beach 0.7 events/
Proceed eastward 1.1 mi. to Rt 1. mi. to entrance gate. Meet in parking • Blue Ridge Center for
Turn right (south) on Rt 1 and go 0.9 lot. US fee area. Environmental Stewardship,
mi. to Neabsco Rd. Immediately past Silver Lake Park (4/18) 16198 Silver fourth Saturday, 8 am Meet at
the Wawa service station, turn left Lake Rd, Haymarket 20169 From Education Center. www.loudoun
(east) on Neabsco Rd and proceed 2 I-495, take I-66 west 24 miles to exit wildlife.org/events/
mi. to park entrance on right. After 40 (Rt 15). Turn south onto Rt 15 • Dyke Marsh, Sundays, 8 am
passing through the park entrance gate, (toward Haymarket) and go 0.3 miles Visit the Friends of Dyke Marsh
go 2.2 mi. to end of paved road and to Rt 55. Turn right onto Rt 55 and go web site, www.fodm.org
park in “Picnic Area” parking lot, 0.9 miles to Antioch Rd. Turn right • Eakin Park, Mondays, 7:30 am
immediately before turn-around circle onto Antioch and go 1.3 miles to Meet at Prosperity Ave parking
at fishing pier. State fee area. Silver Lake Rd. Turn right and proceed lot. Leader: Carolyn Williams
Leopold’s Preserve (4/11) 6283 to park entrance and continue to • Great Falls National Park,
Thoroughfare Rd, Haymarket 20169 parking lot next to the lake. Meet in Sundays, 8 am Meet in the main
From I-66 west, take exit 40 to Rt 15 parking lot. parking lot, closest to the Park
toward Haymarket/Leesburg. Turn left Tr i l l i u m Tr a i l – G . R i c h a r d Visitor Center.
onto Rt 15 south. Turn right onto Rt 55 Thompson Wildlife Management • Huntley Meadows Park,
and go 1.7 mi. to Thoroughfare Rd. Area (5/9) (Fauquier Co) From I-495, Mondays, 7 am (Apr-Sep)
Turn left onto Thoroughfare and go 0.3 take I-66 west 51 mi. to Linden exit 8 am (Oct-Mar) Meet in parking
mi. There are parking lots on both (Rt 79). Go left (south) from exit ramp lot. Leader: Harry Glasgow
sides of the road. Meet in the right on Rt 79 approx. 1000 ft. to Rt 55. • Merrimac Farm, last Sunday, 8
hand (west) parking lot. The left hand Turn left (east) onto Rt 55; go 1.2 mi. am Meet at Merrimac Farm
(east) parking lot can be used for to Rt 638 (Freezeland Rd). Turn left Stone House. www.pwconserve
overflow parking. (north) onto Rt 638. Follow Rt 638, as
Long Branch Nature Area (5/6, 6/3) it bears right, 5.3 mi. to Trillium Trail .org/eventsindex.html#birds
Riverbend Park, first and third
625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington Parking Area on right—look for sign
22204 Take Rt 50, east from Fairfax or on kiosk. (Parking Area is just before Fridays, 8 am, March 6-
October 2. Meet at Nature
west from Rosslyn to Carlin Springs radio towers.) Note: participant must
exit. Go south on Carlin Springs 0.5 have an access permit issued by VA Center parking lot. No charge but
call Riverbend Park to register at
mi. to Nature Center on left, just south Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries, www.dgif.virginia.gov, 703-759-9018.
1-866-721-6911.
6 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Butterfly Counts are several counts to choose from. On the last Saturday of
June, there is a count at Occoquan Bay NWR sponsored by
Birders are out looking for birds throughout the year. the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV). On the
Every season has something that makes it special to us. In third Saturday of July, there will be a count centered at
autumn there can be epic hawk migrations. Winter treats Merrimac Farm and administered by the Prince William
us to a wide variety of waterfowl. Warbler migration in the Conservation Alliance. For this count, I cover areas in and
spring is always something for birders to look forward to. around the Manassas Battlefield Park. For the Loudoun
In the summer, the birds settle down to breed and this is Wildlife Conservancy’s count on the first Saturday of
the best time to do breeding bird atlases such as the August, I have been at the Blue Ridge Center for
VABBA2 which is in its fifth and final year. For many of Environmental Stewardship for several years. There is an
us, summer also brings us the added bonus of the area there that is actually called “Butterfly Alley” and most
emergence of a wide variety of butterflies. years it has lived up to its name with excellent numbers
In addition to simply enjoying and diversity of butterflies. I should
photographing the butterflies, we also mention that ASNV is
can be a part of citizen science by inaugurating a new butterfly count in
participating in organized butterfly Northern Virginia this year early
counts. These counts are similar to September. It will be interesting to
Christmas Bird Counts in that they see what we find at that time of year.
also have count circles, teams of Butterflies are beautiful and fun to
counters and compilers. All results study. Since most of them are so
are reported to the National colorful, it’s usually not too difficult
Butterfly Association (NABA). For to spot them. Also, you don’t have to
those who are not early birds, worry about listening for their
butterfly counts start later than bird vocalizations as you do for birds.
counts because butterflies are not They don’t have any! You never
usually up and flying until around know what you might find out in the
9:00 am at the earliest. After a field when you are doing a count.
butterfly count, there is often a Zebra Swallowtail in Loudoun County photographed
by Larry Meade Perhaps you will find a new butterfly
tally rally at a local restaurant for a count circle like I did when I
where everyone can exchange their spotted an Ocola Skipper last year in
sightings and often their photographs of the butterflies that Loudoun County. I am looking forward to seeing lots of
they saw. butterflies this summer and I hope you are too!
According to NABA, there are 439 butterfly counts
happening around the country this year. In our area, there —Larry Meade

2019 MANASSAS-BULL RUN was observed for only the second time. American Robin
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SUMMARY was the most abundant species with 3,673 counted. Also,
all 7 of our potential wintering woodpecker species were
The 38th Annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird tallied with abundant Red-headed Woodpeckers being
Count on December 15, 2019 had the highest total of recorded at Bull Run Regional Park.
participants yet at 137 and counted There were other all-time highs for
over 20,000 birds of 86 avian species. this count recorded for: Barred Owl
This particular count is sponsored by (10); Common Raven (14); Merlin
the Audubon Society of Northern (3); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (32); and
Virginia (ASNV) and many of the Pine Warbler (5). It was nice to see
participants are also Northern Virginia the Yellow-rumped Warbler count
Bird Club members. The conditions rebound from last year’s all-time low
were favorable, so there were many of just 3 to a more expected 153. Bald
more walking miles than during the Eagle sightings were also back up to a
saturated conditions on last year’s little above average at 22.
count. There were also several birders Another interesting observation was
twelve years old and under getting a of a hybrid goose determined to be a
chance to participate in the oldest and wild bird that is a cross of Canada
Hybrid goose photographed by Gary Myers
biggest citizen-science project in the Goose and domestic Graylag Goose.
world. About half of the counters stopped for a great Also tallied were 10 sparrow species
lunch at Cabell’s Mill in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. The which included Chipping, Savannah, Swamp, Fox, and
overall species count is only 3 short of our all-time high White-crowned.
of 89 set in 2014. Copies of the full results for the count have been
A first ever observation for the circle was a Wilson’s recently published on the Audubon Society of Northern
Warbler! Other highlights included all-time highs of Virginia (ASNV) website.
Tundra Swans (28), Bufflehead (37), and a Great Egret —Phil Silas
The Siskin . Vol. 65, No. 2 . April 2020 7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB Nonprofit Org.
P.O. BOX 5812 U.S. Postage
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812 PAID
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Arlington, VA
Permit No. 490
DATED
MATERIAL
JOIN THE NORTHERN please email the webmaster, Jeremy Deadline for next issue of The
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB Beck at jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com. Siskin: The August issue will include
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for NVBC eMail Exchange activities through October 2020.
2020 are $10 for Individual and $15 By participating in the club’s email Please send items for publication by
for Family Membership. Members exchange, you can get email notices July 1, 2020 to the editors at
receive our quarterly newsletter, The of late updates to The Siskin and the siskineditor@verizon.net.
Siskin. Checks for dues should be sent field trip schedule. To join the
to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn: exchange, send an email to CLUB CONTACTS
Membership , P.O. Box 5812, l g m e a d e @ g m a i l . c o m . P u t President: Larry Meade, 571-275-2523
Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Or join or “EXCHANGE” in the subject field Vice President, Programs: David
renew online at the club’s web site, and your full name in the message Farner, 443-643-6141
http://www.nvabc.org/join/. area. You will receive a response Vice President, Field Activities: Elton
If you miss an issue of The Siskin or from nvbc-exchange@googlegroups Morel, 703-907-9951
need to report an address or ZIP Code .com. The list is for NVBC members’ Secretary: Diane Marton,
change, please send an email message use only. 703-527-7360
to lgmeade@gmail.com or leave a Treasurer: Jean Tatalias, 703-281-6099
message for Elizabeth Fenton at General Meeting Dates: April 15 Directors: Jeremy Beck, 703-517-1816
703-533-0851. (cancelled), September (tbd), and Phil Silas, 703-987-0817
Please note: NVBC does not November (tbd), 2020. Joanna Taylor, 703-243-5989
exchange, give away, or sell its Next Board Meeting: Thursday, June Directors Emeritus: Len Alfredson,
4, 2020, 7:30 pm, at Diane Marton’s Charlotte Friend, Don Wiesnet
membership lists.
NVBC ON THE WEB home. All club members are welcome Membership: Elizabeth Fenton,
Current information and special at board meetings. For directions or to 703-533-0851
notices about NVBC meetings, field have items put on the agenda, please Webmaster, www.nvabc.org: Jeremy
Beck, jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com
trips, and other activities, along with call or email Diane Marton at Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal
a printable membership form, are dsdm42@gmail.com. Gause, 703-476-3903
posted on the club’s website, Thanks to the mailing crew: Many Administrator, NVBC Facebook
www.nvabc.org. thanks to the February mail out Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
If you have information or pictures crew: Elizabeth Fenton, Diane through Facebook page)
you would like to see on the website, Mar ton , Robb ie Ross , D ix i e NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Sommers, and Joanna Taylor.