August 2021

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 66, No. 3
August 2021
Virginia Big Day
May 6, 2021
(Thursday pm, April 19) The phone rang:
it was Greg Fleming. He was interested
in doing a Big Day and had questions
about strategies and whether I would join
him and his colleague, Eric Kershner. We
discussed how the Highland County to
Chincoteague route should net the most
species – he became persuaded and later,
Eric was, too. I said I was interested in
joining and that we should get Tim
Hodge on-board.
Greg and Eric work for US Fish &
Wildlife in the migratory bird program –
every other year the national program
holds a friendly bird-oriented
competition for its staff. This year, 2021,
the national program is holding a Big
Year competition and one of the
categories is a Big Day. This was the
genesis of our recent Big Day.
I contacted Tim Hodge – he and I did
a few Big Days some time ago and our
best result was on May 15, 2014 where
we tallied 199 species – and I suggested
he join the team because of his depth of
knowledge. He agreed and soon after we
all Skyped and the strategizing started.
Tim did extensive scouting in Augusta
and Highland Counties and I scouted east
of Richmond and on the Eastern Shore.
We chose Thursday to avoid weather,
Friday traffic and Mother’s Day.
We began at midnight at Bridgewater
Treatment Plant – the first two species
were Canada Goose and Killdeer and
were quickly followed by Wood Duck,
Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck,
American Coot, Lesser Scaup, Common
Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. We missed
the Snow Goose and Eared Grebe
reported there the day before by Eric and
Continued on p. 2
www.nvabc.org
NVBC GENERAL MEETING—THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 8 PM
Local Birding Adventures Around the Region
Including Northern Virginia Parks
Speaker: Matt Felperin
Matt Felperin is a local naturalist and photographer who has been
making
the best of the limitations due to Covid-19. His latest
newsworthy adventure involved rescuing a Common Loon that landed
in a Fairfax pond from which it couldn’t take off. Recently he
photographed a Wilson’s Phalarope in the Reflecting Pool. He is
currently the Roving Naturalist for the Northern Virginia Parks. His
photographs and tales of birding on foot and by kayak ought to be a
light and fun presentation—just the sort to stimulate conversation during
our first live in-person meeting since early 2020.
Early bird refreshments start at 7:30 pm. Any contributions of food
or beverage will be most gratefully received. There will be a drawing
for door prizes. Northern Virginia Bird Club pins will be available for
members who would like to buy them ($5 each).
MEETING PLACE: St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom
Lane, Arlington, 22207. Directions are on page 5.
Matt Felperin and Virginia Rail
Inside
•
•
•
Calendar of NVBC field trips August 14 – November 3, 2021
Exploring the birds of JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
Birding and Photography: Exploring with my camera
Presidential Peentings
For me, an exciting feature of my interests in birding
and in nature as a whole, is the opportunity it has
afforded me to continue to learn new things throughout
my life. Every time I go out to a
park or other natural area, I try
to add something to my
knowledge base. I might see
something new, hear a new bird
vocalization, or I might learn
some interesting fact that
inspires me to research a subject
further. I especially enjoy
exploring areas that I might not
have quite as much experience
in. A good example is a
dragonfly and damselfly count
sponsored by the Clifton
Institute that I participated in
recently. I am fairly confident in
my ability to identify the
common species, but there are
some confusing species that can look very similar.
Spreadwings, a type of damselfly, can be especially
challenging. Fortunately, my team had photos of
everything and we were able to
figure out the identifications of
what we saw on the count. I
think we all learned a great deal
through this experience. There
is so much out there and I look
forward to many of you joining
me on a journey of learning for
many years to come.
—Larry Meade
Widow Skimmer at The Farm
Brewery seen on the day of the
dragonfly count photographed by
Larry Meade
and summer owls are in Highland County. Now, if we only
had a breeding Short-eared!)
Dawn chorus started at this border spot – the first bird
Greg. After that, we took many dark gravel roads and
was
an Eastern Towhee, followed by many species such as
notched Mute Swan, Barn Owl, Least Bittern, Wilson’s
Hermit
Thrush, Veery, Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Snipe, and Sora plus a few common species like Horned
and
Black-capped
Chickadee. As we began our descent,
Lark and Yellow-breasted Chat. We were now west
we passed a singing Winter Wren
bound to Highland Co.
– no longer easy to find up in this
Our first stop was Bramble Hill, which was the
area. The species count soon
O’Brian mountain residence. Pulling up I heard the
increased: scads of Blacktooting of a Northern Saw-whet
throated Blue, Magnolia, and
up the slope and Tim also got it
Black-throated Green Warblers
but the owl did only one sequence
were heard. We found a Wild
and Greg and Eric missed it. So,
Turkey roosting 60 feet up in a
we finished up here with
tree, Ruffed Grouse drumming
American Woodcock and left near a wet patch and nearby were
the next stop netted Eastern
migrant Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Screech Owl calling close to the
and
Northern Waterthrush; plus,
car. We started up Laurel Forks
Greg
pulled
out a Nashville Warbler!
Road and the first stop was
Driving
further
down slope other
another tooting Saw-whet but it
highlights
were
Cooper’s
Hawk, Purple
was distant and hard to hear for
Finch,
Pine
Siskin,
Black-billed
Cuckoo,
all in the group. Fortunately, the
Blackburnian
Warbler,
more
Ruffed
third Saw-whet stop was easier –
Grouse
(a
real
treat
to
see
two
males
facing
Tim and Greg heard bill clapping
off
in
the
middle
of
the
road),
Alder
as they got out of the car. Ruffed Grouse facing off on Laurel Forks Road.
Flycatcher,
Baltimore
Oriole
and
Raven.
Playback was initiated and it took Photographs: single grouse by Kurt Gaskill and
At the edge of Blue Grass Valley, we heard
about 1.568 seconds for the owl to face off taken by Greg Fleming
a Vesper Sparrow sing, found Grasshopper
give the wail call which was
and
Savannah
Sparrows, and heard many Bobolinks. A
easily heard by all as it was less than 50 feet away; so, we
second
visit
to
Bramble Hill produced Golden-winged
all got in the car and sped off. The next stop yielded both
Warbler
and
nearby
we found Blue-winged Warbler, Green
male and female Long-eared Owls calling several times
Heron,
Am.
Kestrel
and Cliff Swallow. A well anticipated
(there is a distinctive call for the female, see for example
stop
at
Forks
of
Water
produced Orchard Oriole and
https://www.xeno-canto.org/638905). Straight Fork
Warbling
Vireo.
As
we
sped
towards Augusta County, we
produced Barred Owls and Whip-poor-wills. To round out
found
a
pair
of
Broad-winged
Hawks, Cerulean and
the owls, we heard a Great Horned Owl near the W. VA
Worm-eating
Warblers
and
Yellow-throated
Vireos. Plus,
border. (This means nearly all the regular Virginia spring
another Golden-winged Warbler.
Virginia Big Day from p. 1
2
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
The drive through Augusta County added Red-tailed
and Red-shouldered Hawks, White-throated Sparrow, and
Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers. We passed Afton Mtn
with 138 species at 11:20 (we were running late from our
time target – does a Big Day team ever hit its time
targets?). A stop at Observatory Hill in Charlottesville
added Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Hooded Warblers,
Eastern Wood Pewee, and Swainson’s Thrush. In addition,
we found a Sutton’s Warbler (a first for some of us). We
then booked, stopping east of Richmond along Rt 60 to
notch Summer Tanager, White-eyed Vireo, Acadian
Flycatcher, Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers
plus Chimney Swift. We continued to Blue Bird Farm for
the staked-out Snow Goose and then drove across/under
Hampton Roads to the start of the CBBT.
For the CBBT our strategy was that everyone – other
than the driver (that is, me) – combed the sea and horizon
with bins; this resulted in tallies for Northern Gannet,
Sandwich Tern, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Brown
Pelican, DC Cormorant and Common Loon. Landfall
enabled the driver to glimpse a Caspian Tern. Next stop
was Ramp Road for some simple shorebirds, Bald Eagle,
Prairie Warbler and an amazing Northern Bobwhite!
Driving up to near Magotha Rd and Seaside Rd produced
the expected Eurasian Collared Dove. Time was now
running late so we skipped several spots and headed
straight for Willis Wharf. We arrived at Willis close to 5pm
and nearly high tide: we got 2 of the 3 targets (Whimbrel,
Gull-billed Tern but missed Marbled Godwit) and spotted
a bonus: Bonaparte’s Gull!
Next up: Chincoteague causeway. The oyster bar had,
naturally, an American Oystercatcher. And the nesting
bushes at Wire Narrows Marsh had all the expected birds:
Great and Snowy Egret, Little Blue and Tricolored Heron,
Glossy and White Ibis, and Black-crowned Night-Heron;
yet the site lacked Cattle Egret. Black-necked Stilts were
nearby, plus some shorebirds and the ever-present Boat-tailed Grackles. Next stop was in town for a Brownheaded Nuthatch behind a motel.
Black-necked Stilt at Chincoteague photographed by Kurt Gaskill
Arriving at the refuge we went straight for the beach.
A quick scan found a small group of Sanderling and Red
Knots. I pointed out a Least Tern flying along the beach as
well as another gannet. We checked some nearby
shorebirds and drove to the wildlife loop. A few more
shorebirds to look over but nothing new – then Eric spotted
4 Red-breasted Mergansers swimming behind the
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 3 . August 2021
shorebirds. We went to the Marsh Trail platform and
waited a few minutes for the Yellow Rail to (finally) make
a noise and then we left as the Chuck-will’s-widows
started up.
Back on the causeway we found one Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron through vocalization near the Wire Narrows
Marsh nest sites. We stopped for take-away at Sonic and
drove to the Saxis area. We had missed Yellow-billed
Cuckoo during the day so we tried for it on Marsh Market
Road – but no luck (yet, both Night-Herons were heard!).
We then drove over to Hammock Rd in the Saxis WMA
and pulled out the easy chairs and sat down to listen to the
night birds (it’s about 10 pm).
We recommend doing a night visit to Hammock Rd –
virtually no traffic and on a cool night the bugs are only at
half-strength. The dominant bird is Clapper Rail with a
dozen or so Virginia Rails close by. Probably 10 Marsh
Wrens and a dozen Seaside Sparrows. We were surprised
by a Yellow-billed Cuckoo singing behind us – we heard
another two later plus a Black-billed Cuckoo overhead.
Eventually Tim pointed out Nelson’s Sparrows singing that
we all got on as well as the Saltmarsh Sparrows singing
closer to the bushes where it’s a bit drier (only a few of
each). We were surprised by the number of Least Bitterns
out there – at least 4 and possibly 5. Plus, one American
Bittern which “oomp’ed” a few times. A distant Great
Horned Owl hooted from a bit south of Saxis town and its
juvie also called out. We heard some quacking ducks and
Canada Geese from the direction of Saxis. Overhead
migrants called out “seet” but no ID could be made. And
two Dickcissels overflying called out an hour apart.
The last bird was at 11:45 pm – I was checking email
when it sang, perhaps 20 feet from the car. A clear
LeConte’s Sparrow song. The area is somewhat dry – no
Virginia Rails or Marsh Wrens or Nelson’s Sparrows were
close. All got on the bird, even though it moved 50 feet or
more away. We compared vocalizations with Nelson’s but
LeConte’s was a perfect fit. And then the clock struck 12
and we were done.
The final tally was 208 species as a team, with
individual totals of 201 to 208. We drove nocturnally 150
miles and in daylight traveled 470 miles. Our big misses
on the route were Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone,
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, and
Kentucky Warbler.
We could not have had this amazing Big Day without
the help of many people. On behalf of my teammates,
Eric, Greg and Tim, we extend Special Thank You’s to
John Spahr, Vic Laubach, Allen Larner, Penny Warren, Bill
Hohenstein, and advice given many years ago by Bill
Williams and Bob Ake. Also, we must mention the
immense value of the amazing reports, and the reporters
(such as the work by Carlton Noll), to eBird (which we did
not access during the Big Day) that helped nail down
various sites. And a thank you to Jan Frye who helped on
the Richmond area scouting.
We wish you all the Best in Birds!
—Kurt Gaskill, Tim Hodge,
Greg Fleming and Eric Kershner
3
Compiled by Elton More
Note
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips
When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders. Phone numbers are on 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- eld-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
August
Saturday
1
8A
Bombay Hook X-Tri
Members only
Registration Require
Trip Leaders
Larry Meade
Jeremy Beck
703-517-1816
Dave Boltz
703-599-8305
Kurt Gaskill
703-768-2172
Toby Hardwick 703-201-1517
Gerco Hoogeweg 540-822-5857
Ken Hunt
319-354-1079
Larry Meade
571-275-2523
Elton Morel
703-907-9951
Tom Nardone
703-946-7738
Phil Silas
703-987-0817
Dixie Sommers 703-969-7931
Joanna Taylor
703-243-5989
2
7:30 A
Huntley Meadow
Ken Hun
Larry Meade
2
8A
Shenandoah River Campu
at Cool Springs Battle el
Elton More
Dave Boltz
September
5
7:15 P
Swift/Nighthaw
Watc
8:30 A
Long Branc
7:30 A
Conway-Robinson
State Fores
Tom Nardone
Toby Hardwick
8:30 A
Dyke Mars
7:30 A
Leesylvania S
1
Tom Nardone
Joanna Taylor
Call leader for meeting
place and direction
Ken Hun
Larry Meade
1
1
8:30 A
Algonkian R
7:30 A
JK Black Oak Wildlif
Sanctuary — Reservations onl
Elton More
Dave Boltz
See p. 6 article for instructions
Gerco Hoogewe
Elton Morel
Bird Walks at Local Parks
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve,
second Saturdays, 8 am. Meet at
the parking lot. Visit the Loudoun
Wildlife web site,
www.loudounwildlife.org/events/
Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship,
fourth Saturday, 8 am Meet at
Education Center. www.loudoun
wildlife.org/events/
Dyke Marsh, Sundays, 8 am See
directions. Visit the Friends of Dyke
Marsh web site, www.fodm.org.
Continued on p. 5
22
8:30 A
Fort C F Smit
Jeremy Beck
23
2
7:30 A
Occoquan Bay
NW
NVBC
Meetin
8 PM
29
Phil Sila
Ken Hunt
October
8:30 A
Cub Run Stream
Valley Par
7:30 A
Leopold’s Preserv
Toby Hardwick
Elton More
6
8:30 A
Long Branch
8A
Aquia Landing
Beach Park
Tom Nardon
Jeremy Beck
Elton More
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Upcoming Trips and Event
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
October
Thursday
1
Great Falls National Park,
Sundays, 8 am Meet in front of
snack/concession stand at the Park
Visitor Center.
Huntley Meadows Park,
Mondays, 7 am (Apr-Oct)
8 am (Nov-Mar) Meet in parking
lot. Leader: Harry Glasgow
Merrimac Farm, last Sunday, 8
am Meet at Merrimac Farm Stone
House. www.pwconserve
.org/eventsindex.html#birds
November
Friday
8:30 A
Neabsco Regional
Park Boardwal
Bird Walks at Local Parks
Phil Sila
2
8:30 A
Laurel Hill Equestria
Cente
Phil Silas
2
8:30 A
Meadowood Recreatio
Are
Tom Nardone
Saturday
1
8A
Bristoe Statio
Battle eld Par
Toby Hardwick
2
8:15 A
Sky Meadows
S
Dixie Sommer
Elton Morel
3
8A
Silver Lake R
Toby Hardwic
Larry Meade
8:30 A
Long Branc
Tom Nardone
DIRECTIONS
NVBC Meeting (9/23) St. Andrews
Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Ln,
Arlington 22207, at the intersection of
Lorcom Ln and Military Rd. From the
intersection of Spout Run Pkwy and
Lorcom Ln, go about a half mile on
Lorcom to the second traffic light.
Turn left onto Military and enter the
first driveway on the right. There is
some parking near the Church’s back
entrance and a bigger lot up the
driveway. There is on-street parking.
Enter at the back door facing Military
Rd which leads to the Undercroft
where the meeting in held.
——
Algonkian Regional Park (9/15)
47001 Fairway Dr, Sterling 20165
From I-495, take Rt 7 west 11 miles
(mi.) to Cascades Pkwy north and
drive 3 mi. to the park entrance.
Proceed on Fairway Dr turning left
onto Volcano Island Dr, then turn right
into parking lot. Meet at the parking
lot beside restrooms and Park Shelter
1.
Aquia Landing Beach Park (10/9)
2846 Brooke Rd, Stafford 22554 From
southbound I-95 towards Stafford, take
exit 140 to Stafford, then left (east) on
Courthouse Rd (Rt 630), go 3.5 mi.
and turn right on Andrew Chapel Rd
(Rt 629), go 0.9 mi. and under the
railroad bridge to a slight left onto
Brooke Rd (Rt 608), go 4.4 mi. to the
park entrance, continue past park
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 3 . August 2021
Sunday
entrance gate to the parking lot at the
end of the road. Meet in the parking
lot.
Bombay Hook X-trip (8/14) Take Rt
50 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Go north 34 mi. on Rt 301. Turn right
at Rt 300. Go 15 mi. to Kenton,
Delaware. At the traffic light, turn
right on Rt 42 to Leipsic. From there
go left on Rt 9 for 1.5 mi. to the
entrance of the refuge. Meet at the
Visitor Center parking lot.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage
Park (10/16) 10708 Bristow Rd,
Bristow, VA 20136. From I-95: Take
Rt 234 north (exit 152B), travel 7.5
mi. and make a left onto Independent
Hill Dr. Then make immediate right
onto Rt 619 (Bristow Rd). Travel 7 mi.
and turn left onto Iron Brigade Unit
Ave. The parking lot is located on the
left at the traffic circle. From I-66:
Take Rt 234 south (Exit 44). Travel 4.5
miles and turn right onto Rt 28
(Nokesville Rd). Travel 1.5 mi. and
turn left onto Rt 619 (Bristow Rd).
Travel 0.25 mi., turn right onto Iron
Brigade Unit Ave and continue to
parking lot. Meet in parking lot.
Conway Robinson State Forest (9/4)
12816 Lee Hwy, Gainesville 20155
From I-495, take I-66 west 27.6 mi. to
exit 43B, US-29 North in Gainesville.
Continue on US-29 for .4 mi, turn left
into access road to parking area. There
is a small parking area adjacent Route
29-S which can accommodate
approximately 10 cars. Additional
parking is permitted along the
entrance/exit road unless it restricts
through traffic.
Cub Run Stream Valley Park (9/29)
From the junction of I-66 and I-495,
follow I-66 W to US 29 S in
Centreville. Take exit 52 from I-66 W.
Turn right onto US 29 S, go 1.5 mi.
and turn right onto Pleasant Valley Rd
(State Rt 609), go 0.9 mi. and turn
right onto Blueridge View Dr, go 0.3
mi. and turn right onto Hidden Canyon
Rd, go 0.3 mi. and turn left onto
Stillfield Pl, go 0.3 mi to 15077
Stillfield Pl on the left. Park in the
neighborhood side streets nearest the
front of 15077 Stillfield Pl. Meet at the
entrance to the park to the left of the
house at 15077. Avoid any parking that
blocks driveways. There are several
spots along the trail that could be
under water. If there have been recent
rains, recommend wearing mud boots
or waterproof shoes.
Dyke Marsh (9/8) 6401 George
Wa s h i n g t o n M e m o r i a l P k w y,
Alexandria 22307 (Belle Haven Park
and Marina) From Alexandria, take
George Washington Pkwy south. Cross
I-495; continue 1.2 mi. to Belle Haven
Park entrance on the left. Meet at
south parking lot.
Fort C F Smith (9/22) 2411 24th St
N, Arlington 22207 From I-66 east,
take exit 72 (Spout Run Pkwy). At
traffic light, turn right on Lee Hwy. At
successive traffic lights, turn left onto
5
Trip Directions from page 5
Spout Run Pkwy, then left onto
Lorcom Ln, then right onto Fillmore
St. Go one block on Fillmore, turn
right onto N. 24th St (watch for speed
humps), and continue to park on left.
Meet in parking lot at east end of park.
Huntley Meadows Park (8/21) 3701
Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria 22306
From I-495, take Rt 1 south 3 mi. to
Lockheed Blvd. Right on Lockheed;
go 0.5 mi. to Harrison Ln, park
entrance on left. Meet in parking lot.
JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
(9/18) Near Lucketts. Not open to the
public. Directions to Lucketts
Community Center. From points east
and south, take VA Rt 15 north to
Lucketts. At the traffic light, turn right
onto Rt 662 and immediately right into
the community center parking lot.
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center
(10/20) Lorton From I-495, take I-95
south about 13 mi. to exit 163 (Lorton
Rd). Continue 1.4 mi. west on Rt 642/
Lorton Rd, then turn left on Rt 611/
Furnace Rd then an immediate right
onto Dairy Rd. Proceed to and meet in
the parking lot.
Leesylvania State Park (9/11) 2001
Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge
22191 From I-495, take I-95 south
about 14 mi. to exit 156 (Dale City/
Rippon Landing/Rt 784). Following
the posted highway signs for
Leesylvania State Park, exit east on Rt
Proceed eastward 1.1 mi. to Rt 1.
Turn right (south) on Rt 1 and go 0.9
mi. to Neabsco Rd. Immediately past
the Wawa service station, turn left
(east) on Neabsco Rd and proceed 2
mi. to park entrance on right. After
passing through the park entrance gate,
go 2.2 mi. to end of paved road and
park in “Picnic Area” parking lot,
immediately before turn-around circle
at fishing pier. State fee area.
Leopold’s Preserve (10/2) 16283
Thoroughfare Rd, Haymarket 20169
From I-66 west, take exit 40 to Rt 15
toward Haymarket/Leesburg. Turn left
onto Rt 15 south. Turn right onto Rt 55
and go 1.7 mi. to Thoroughfare Rd.
Turn left onto Thoroughfare and go 0.3
mi. There are parking lots on both
sides of the road. Meet in the right
hand (west) parking lot. The left hand
(east) Parking lot can be used for
overflow parking.
Long Branch Nature Area (9/1, 10/6,
11/3)
625 S Carlin Springs Rd,
Arlington 22204 Take Rt 50, east from
Fairfax or west from Rosslyn to Carlin
Springs exit. Go south on Carlin
6
Springs 0.5 mi. to Nature Center on
left, just south of N. Va Community
Hospital on left.
Meet at Nature
Center parking lot.
Meadowood Recreation Area (10/27)
10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton, VA 22079
From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
Lorton exit. Left on Rt 642.
Immediately after passing under
railroad tracks (0.25 mi.) turn right on
Lorton Market Rd, which soon
becomes Gunston Cove Rd. After
crossing Rt 1, road becomes Gunston
Rd. Go 1.8 miles to Meadowood on
right. (BLM, Lower Potomac Station
Office). Park on right next to horse
barns just before field station building.
Neabsco Regional Park Boardwalk
(10/14) 15125 Blackburn Rd,
Woodbridge 22191 From I-495, take
I-95 south about 14 mi. to exit 156
(Dale City/Rippon Landing/Rt. 784).
Take exit 156A for Rt 784 east toward
Rippon Landing.
Continue 0.7 mi.
cross Rt 1 where Dale Blvd becomes
Rippon Blvd and continue down the
hill another 0.4 mi. to the traffic light
and turn right on Blackburn Rd. The
park parking lot is then 0.2 mi. on the
left.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife
Refuge (9/25) 13950 Dawson Beach
Rd, Woodbridge 22192 From I-495,
take I-95 south 9 mi. to (left) exit 161
(Woodbridge). Go south on Rt 1 about
2 mi. to left turn onto Dawson Beach
Rd. Continue on Dawson Beach 0.7
mi. to entrance gate. Meet in parking
lot. US fee area.
Shenandoah River Campus at Cool
Springs Battlefield (8/28) From
I-495, take VA-267 West (Dulles Toll
Road) to Leesburg for 36.8 mi. Take
exit 1A and merge onto US-15 South/
VA-7 West/Leesburg Bypass for 3.3
mi. Continue straight to stay on VA7
West for 17.1 mi. After passing
Snicker’s Gap but just before the
Shenandoah River Bridge, turn right at
Parker Lane (F709) then go 1.4 mi. to
the parking lot. To avoid the toll, from
I-495 take VA-7 West (Leesburg Pike)
to Leesburg for 47.2 mi. After passing
Snicker’s Gap but just before the
Shenandoah River Bridge, turn right at
Parker Lane, then go 1.4 mi. to the
parking lot.
Silver Lake Park (10/30) 16198
Silver Lake Rd, Haymarket 20169
From I-495, take I-66 west 24 miles to
exit 40 (Rt 15). Turn south onto Rt 15
(toward Haymarket) and go 0.3 mi. to
Rt 55. Turn right onto Rt 55 and go 0.9
miles to Antioch Rd. Turn right onto
Antioch and go 1.3 mi. to Silver Lake
Rd. Turn right and proceed to park
entrance and continue to parking lot
next to the lake. Meet in parking lot.
Sky Meadows State Park (10/23)
11012 Edmonds Ln, Delaplane 20144
From I-495, take I-66 west 42 mi. to
exit for Rt 17 north (Delaplane/Paris).
Go north on Rt 17 6.5 mi. to Rt 710.
Turn left into park and proceed 1 mi.
to Visitor Center parking lot. State fee
area.
Exploring the Birds of JK Black
Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
Located just west of Lucketts,
Virginia sits an 87-acre parcel of land
with forests and meadows. Working
with other individuals and groups,
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
(LWC) saved the property from
development. It is a nondescript plot
of land at first glance, but it has a rich
history and an abundance of unique
wildlife. A key natural feature of the
property is an abundance of vernal
pools. JK Black Oak has several
distinct habitats such as oak-hickory
forest, meadows, and secondary
succession forests. It should not be a
surprise that it has a decent variety of
birds. To date we have documented
over 120 bird species and hope to find
more in the future. A full overview of
all that we have recorded can be
found at the eBird hotspot with
illustrated checklist at https://
ebird.org/hotspot/L7882388/media?
yr=all&m=.
To protect the environmentally
sensitive habitat and rare species, JK
Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary is not
open for general public access.
LWC is looking forward to
hosting a bird walk for NVBC on
September 18, 2021. Birding will
take place along mowed grass trails.
Space is limited to 24 people.
Registration starts at noon August
18, 2021. To sign up for this trip,
please email Gerco Hoogeweg at
ghoogeweg@loudounwildlife.org.
We will meet at the Lucketts
Community Center at 7:30 am. At
7:45 am sharp we will carpool to JK
Black Oak. Parking at the property is
limited to 12 cars.
—Gerco Hoogeweg
(Additional information on JK Black Oak
Wildlife Sanctuary and the birds are on
website-only newsletter addendum)
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Birding and Photography: Exploring with my camera
Birds of the World. I then upload selected photos to my
I’ve been taking photographs longer than I’ve been
eBird checklists.
birding. A lot longer.
Posting photos on eBird has led to more learning about
My photography journey began in the early 1980’s
birds, and occasionally additional species for my life list
with a borrowed film SLR, a business trip to California,
and use of my photos by others. Photos posted on
and my colleague who took pictures of wildflowers. We
checklists become part of Cornell’s Macauley Library. If
spent several days in the Bay Area and the Sierras before
you are lucky, your photo may be selected as a reference
arriving at our meeting in Reno,
photo for one of eBird’s species
taking flower and landscape
pages. Four of my photos are
photos and generally having a
there: Black-shouldered
great time.
Nightjar (Rwanda), BlackOf course, one thing led to
chested Snake Eagle
another. Soon I had my own
(Tanzania), Superb Parrot
camera with macro lens, a
(Australia) and Ruaha Chat
good tripod and my own
(Rwanda).
portfolio of wildflowers. I
In 2019, I visited Tanzania
found out there were classes,
with the Audubon Naturalist
workshops and trips with
Society. As usual, back home I
professional nature
edited my pictures and
photographers. I did trips to
uploaded quite a few to eBird
Denali, Yellowstone, and other
checklists. If you are an
spectacular places. I took a
eBirder, you know that local
darkroom class at the
eBird reviewers may contact
Smithsonian and soon had a
you with questions or
darkroom in my basement for
corrections on your species
black & white developing and
ID’s based on photos you’ve
printing. After moving to Ohio,
uploaded.
I found some wonderful nature
A reviewer for Tanzania
photography workshops and
contacted me about a bird seen
kept learning, traveling and
Black-chested Snake Eagle photographed by Dixie Sommers in
on the Serengeti that we had
shooting.
Tanzania
identified as a Sooty Falcon.
On returning to Virginia in
The reviewer sent the photo
2006, I started birding at the
around to various raptor experts in Tanzania and the
encouragement of my good friend Tom Nardone. That led
conclusion came back that the bird was in fact an
to a whole new type of photography: birds! I bought new
immature Levant Sparrowhawk. This migrant species
equipment for digital and telephoto. And I found out there
breeds in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, thus
were trips with “professional birders.” Perfect!
the name “levant.” The reviewer said this sighting caused
So why do I continue to lug around a heavy camera
some excitement: “This is one of something like five
when I’m out birding, especially on one of those trips?
confirmed records that we have here so awesome
There are lots of reasons. First, I love to take pictures and
sighting!!!”
the challenge of getting a good photo of difficult subjects –
The icing on the cake is that the Tanzania Bird Atlas
hummingbirds in flight, birds chasing prey, and more. So
curator asked for permission to use my photo in the atlas,
satisfying!
as they did not have flight photos for this bird. Permission
And I enjoy sharing photos through my website
happily granted! http://tanzaniabirds.net/African_birds/
www.ddpix.smugmug.com Often, after a trip I will do a
sparrowhawk_levant/ls.htm.
short email “report” on where I went, what we saw, and
And a new life bird for my
links to the galleries on the
list.
website – some of you have
been on the receiving end of
—Dixie Sommers
these messages!
Photography helps me
learn the birds. With Adobe
Lightroom, I keyword each
photo that I keep, showing the
Levant Sparrowhawk in
species name, location, and
Tanzania photographed by Dixie
other information. So, I must
Sommers
know the species for each
photo. This often means poring
over checklists from the trip,
field guides, and more recently
Cornell’s eBird pages and
The Siskin . Vol. 66 No. 3 . August 2021
7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
P.O. BOX 5812
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Arlington, VA
Permit No. 490
DATED
MATERIAL
JOIN THE NORTHERN
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for
2021 are $10 for Individual and $15
for Family Membership. Members
receive our quarterly newsletter, The
Siskin. Checks for dues should be sent
to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn:
M e m b e r s h i p , P. O . B o x 5 8 1 2 ,
Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Or join or
renew online at the club’s website at
http://www.nvabc.org/join/.
If you miss an issue of The Siskin or
need to report an address or ZIP Code
change, please send an email message
to lgmeade@gmail.com or leave a
message for Elizabeth Fenton at
703-533-0851.
Please note: NVBC does not
exchange, give away, or sell its
membership lists.
NVBC ON THE WEB
Current information and special
notices about NVBC meetings, field
trips, and other activities, along with a
printable membership form, are posted
on the club’s website, www.nvabc.org.
If you have information or pictures
you would like to see on the website,
please email the webmaster, Jeremy
Beck at jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com.
NVBC eMail Exchange
By participating in the club’s email
exchange, you can get email notices of
late updates to The Siskin and the field
trip schedule. To join the exchange,
send an email to lgmeade@gmail.com.
Put “EXCHANGE” in the subject
field and your full name in the
message area. You will receive a
response
from
nvbcexchange@googlegroups.com. The
list is for NVBC members’ use only.
General Meeting Dates: September
23, 2021 and November 18, 2021,
February 17 and April 21, 2022.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday,
September 2, 2021, 7:30 pm. To join
the Zoom board meeting or to have
items put on the agenda, please email
lgmeade@gmail.com.
Thanks to the mailing crew: Many
thanks to the April mail out crew:
Elizabeth Fenton, Joanna Taylor
Deadline for next issue of The
Siskin: The November issue will
include activities through January
Please send items for
publication by October 1, 2021 to the
editors at nvbcsiskineditor
@gmail.com.
CLUB CONTACTS
President: Larry Meade,
571-275-2523
Vice President, Programs: Phil Silas,
703-987-0817
Vice President, Field Activities:
Elton Morel, 703-907-9951
Secretary: Diane Marton,
703-527-7360
Treasurer: Jean Tatalias,
703-281-6099
Directors:
Jeremy Beck, 703-517-1816
Joan Mashburn, 703-209-8678
Joanna Taylor, 703-243-5989
Directors Emeritus: Len Alfredson,
Charlotte Friend, Don Wiesnet
Membership: Elizabeth Fenton,
703-533-0851
Webmaster, www.nvabc.org: Jeremy
Beck, jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com
Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal
Gause, nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com,
703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook
Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Exploring the Birds of JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
by Gerco Hoogeweg (continued)
In the winter months when the vernal pools are full of
water, Wood Ducks are frequently found, and we see signs
of Great Blue Heron along several of the vernal pools.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers can be found in abundance and
a few mixed sparrow flocks with the occasional Fox
Sparrow. In most years we find Purple Finches
Spring is an exciting time at the property with many
migrants stopping and foraging. We found Spotted
Sandpipers, Northern Waterthrush and a Green Heron
foraging in the vernal pools. Higher up in the tree canopy
groups of warblers forage with Scarlets Tanagers and Redeyed Vireos. The open overgrown areas of some of the
meadows are excellent habitat for a variety of birds such as
Yellow-breasted Chat and Willow Flycatcher. We have
noticed that periodically you better scan the skies for
passing migrants such as Great Egret, Osprey and Broadwinged Hawk.
From late August through the middle of October it is
often very interesting bird-wise at JK Black Oak. Warblers
are returning from their north bound journey and can often
be found right at the parking lot. Here we have seen
American Redstart, Northern Parula, Blue-winged
Warbler, several flycatcher species, and Gray Catbirds.
From May through October, it is not uncommon to count
over 30 birds along the trails. Most of the birds are easily
found in the Autumn Olives, eating the berries.
More information about the JK Black Oak Wildlife
Sanctuary can be found at the following links:
1 – LWC website: https://loudounwildlife.org/black-oak/
2 – Story map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/
5caa1bc0908748f28d30aa7ecdedb21c
3 – Virtual tour of the vernal pools: https://
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/
36305099face41e198a419916ac852dd
The Siskin . Vol. 66 No. 3 . August 2021
Photographs at JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary by Gerco
Hoogeweg:
Above, Eastern Towhee
Below: Wood Ducks in a vernal pool
Addendum website only