April 2025

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Vol. 70, No. 2 April 2025 www.nvabc.org
NVBC GENERAL MEETING-THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 8 PM
Birding in Hawaii
Speakers: Steve and Anne Bielamowicz
Steve and Anne Bielamowicz are Northern Virginia residents who picked up binoculars in May 2020 to enjoy nature and became immersed in this
wonderful hobby. They have traveled internationally to several countries to enjoy the avian fauna, including a recent trip to southeast Asia (Thailand and Cambodia) as well as a late fall trip to northern Scandinavia. In December 2024, they took a trip to our 50th state to enjoy its many sights, especially the endemic bird species. The presentation will include tales from the three islands they visited (Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai) where they observed over 100 species of birds, including 17 species that are endemic to Hawaii. The trip was mostly self-guided, and all photos being presented were taken by Steve and Anne.
‘Apapane photographed by Anne Bielamowicz
General Meeting Notes: 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.
Presidential Peentings
have enjoyed monitoring the bluebird trail at Clark’s Crossing Park for a while now. During the
breeding season, either I or one of my teammates checks all the boxes on the trail every week. Historically, Eastern Bluebirds have struggled to find
places to nest and raise their young. They need to use old woodpecker holes since they are unable to excavate cavities t h e m s e l v e s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y, invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings are also cavity nesters, and they have been crowding out our native bluebirds. Bluebird trails provide nesting sites that control for these invaders. Starlings don’t fit through the entrance holes and House Sparrows are evicted when they are found in the boxes. The result is that bluebirds now have a fighting chance to nest and breed. B l u e b i r d p o p u l a t i o n s h a v e rebounded, and the birds are doing especially well in Northern Virginia where we have many bluebird trails being closely
to share the trail with the bluebirds. It’s always exciting when we find the first bluebird eggs of the season. Not long after that, the first babies are born, and the parents now have a full-time job finding food and bringing it back
to feed them. I sometimes have helped them out by providing live mealworms. They seemed very appreciative! The babies grow and eventually leave the boxes when they fledge. Then they will hang out nearby where they beg for their parents to feed them. This is known as “branching”. Most bluebird couples will have two broods in a season, but some will have three. Once I saw young birds from an early brood helping their parents feed their siblings from a later brood. Bluebirds were constantly flying in and out of the nest box.
Hopefully, the bluebirds will have a good season this year. Last y e a r , t h e d r o u g h t p r o v e d detrimental to their breeding success. Most of the bluebirds had only one or two broods and there was no action at all in most of
monitored by dedicated volunteers. Early in the season, the birds gather nesting material and start
Bluebirds at nest box at Wolf Trap photographed by
Larry Meade
August. All are welcome to join me on June 7 at Clark’s Crossing Park for a bird walk where we will
building their nests in the boxes that they have claimed. On our trail we love getting Eastern Bluebirds, but we also get Tree Swallows, Carolina Chickadees and House Wrens. These are all native species, so they are welcome
Birds at upcoming trip locations:
monitor the bluebird boxes and see what other birds are around.
-Larry Meade
Mama Wood Duck and family at Huntley Meadows Park photographed by Larry Meade (left)
Kentucky Warbler at Trillium Trail, May 2024 photographed by Neal Gause (above)
Chincoteague Winter Trip
As often happens on winter trips, we battled the weather conditions during the Northern Virginia Bird club winter visit to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) from February 7 to 9. The group found 77 species over the weekend despite the mostly rainy day on Saturday.
Friday afternoon was pleasant (though windy) as the group visited the Wildlife Loop on the refuge where we spotted several waterfowl species, including a lone Snow Goose in Shoveler Pond amongst several Tundra Swans. Our visit to the beach at sunset was particularly windy, so we settled on studying a flock of gulls with a discussion about aging the various gull species. As we picked our way through the R i n g – b i l l e d , A m e r i c a n Herring and Great Black- backed Gulls, we ended with a bonus long look at and discussion of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
We then assembled at the pony corral for an American Woodcock watch at dusk. We waited . . . and waited . . . and not even a single ‘peent’ was heard nor a display flight seen. Some of us did manage to see a silent flyby of a woodcock but only those lucky enough to be looking in the right direction.
Let me just say it – Saturday was a tough day of birding! Our walk on the boardwalk near the hotel started in light sleeting rain, but we did manage to hear some Clapper Rails vocalize and ended the walk with a nice study of a male Boat- tailed Grackle perched on a billboard.
On our return to the refuge, we stopped at the
harder, we decided to end the morning with a drive down South Main Street to a spot where a flock of Brant had been seen the previous day. We indeed found the Brants plus a flock of four beautiful Long-tailed Ducks.
The rain kept up on Saturday afternoon as we drove along North Main Street looking for a previously scouted Tricolored Heron. Instead, we lucked upon a female Common Merganser. Just as we were about to leave
Donald J. Leonard Park, a Tricolored Heron flew by. We continued birding by car, visiting Queens Sound Boat Ramp and then back to the refuge, but we didn’t find much to add to our list with visibility dwindling with the continuing rain and the addition of fog.
Sunday gave a reprieve in the weather – pleasantly sunny. At Kiptopeke State P a r k , w e f o u n d t h e previously reported male Harlequin Duck which gave us a nice show close to the f ishing pier. After two straight years of rainouts, we finally got the opportunity to visit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel (CBBT) Island #4 in delightfully warm, albeit windy, weather. First, we found a male and two female Harlequin Ducks sleeping on the rocks and t h e n s e v e r a l P u r p l e Sandpipers blending in incredibly well with their environment as they foraged along the wet rocks and crashing waves. We had a nice though distant study of a Great Cormorant that was perched on the end of the bridge abutment amongst hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants, followed by an even better look at another Great Cormorant as it flew by. Returning to the point, a male Long-tailed Duck joined the Harlequin Ducks on the rocks. We ended our visit by v i e w i n g h u n d r e d s o f
Wildlife Loop parking lot to look for Brown-headed Nuthatches. To our pleasant surprise, we found Red-
breasted Nuthatches before
Photographs by Cindy Nickerson from top: Lesser Black-backed Gull
Male Harlequin Duck Purple Sandpipers
Razorbills f lying north
between Islands #3 and #4.
I want to thank all the participants for a wonderful weekend. We endured quite a
finding the Brown-headed Nuthatches. We eventually made it out to the beach for a morning sea watch, still in the rain. Just as we were setting up our scopes, a Dovekie flew by, low over the surf line just offshore. As the rain got
day of rain on Saturday and still found some good birds while remaining in good spirits.
-Elton Morel
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.
Check the NVBC website for updated information about trips: http://www.nvabc.org/ield-trips-this-month.
Next-day rainy day make-up day may be possible if trip leader is available. Cancellation and make up day will be announced via NVBC email exchange and web site.
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
9
8:30 AM
Frying Pan Farm Park
12
7:30 AM
Occoquan Bay NWR
Phil Silas
Trip Leaders
Elton Morel Bob Butterworth
Bob Butterworth
Adrin Andalib
703-321-6621
16
8:30AM
Meadowood Recreation Area – Lower Potomac Field Station Tom Nardone
Bob Butterworth
19
7:30 AM
Leopold’s Preserve
Toby Hardwick Ed LeGrand
Bob Butterworth
703-343-0933
Larry Cartwright
703-941-3142
Peter Frechtel
571-424-8844
Toby Hardwick
703-201-1517
Bert Harris
615-440-0666
Luke Holian
703-258-9432
Ed LeGrand
908-268-6627
Larry Meade
571-275-2523
Mer Mietzelfeld
607-643-8307
23
8:30 AM
Dyke Marsh Tom Nardone Bob Butterworth
24
NVBC
Meeting
8 PM
26
7:30 AM
Clifton Institute Bert Harris Elton Morel
Elton Morel
703-907-9951
Carol Mullen
571-313-9926
Tom Nardone
703-946-7738
Phil Silas
703-987-0817
Dixie Sommers
703-969-7931
30
8:30 AM
Huntley Meadows Hike/Bike Trail Larry Cartwright Bob Butterworth
May
3
7:30 AM
Leesylvania SP
Phil Silas Bob Butterworth
7
8:30 AM
Long Branch Carol Mullen Tom Nardone
8
7:30 AM
Frying Pan Farm Park Elton Morel
Bob Butterworth
10
7:30 AM
Trillium Trail Elton Morel Mer Mietzelfeld
14
8:30 AM
Dyke Marsh Dixie Sommers Bob Butterworth
May 16-18
Chincoteague Spring Weekend
Members only/reservations required
Sign up began February 26 @6 am
Elton Morel Phil Silas
17
7:30 AM
Occoquan Bay NWR
Luke Holian Larry Meade
21
8:30 AM
Neabsco RP – Boardwalk Phil Silas
Carol Mullen
24
7:30 AM
Manassas Battlefield Park – Portici Horse Trailer Parking Lot Toby Hardwick
Adrin Andalib
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
May
28
31
8 AM
7:30 AM
Huntley Meadows
Silver Lake RP
Park
Dixie Sommers
Toby Hardwick Ed LeGrand
Bob Butterworth
June
4
8:30 AM
7
8 AM
Long Branch
Clarks Crossing Park –
Dixie Sommers
Bluebird Trail
Larry Meade
Peter Frechtel
14
9 AM
Limberlost Trail,
Shenandoah NP X-trip
Larry Meade
Email Larry Meade for
details
(uberlarry@aol.com)
DIRECTIONS
NVBC Meeting (4/24) 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 is held.
Clarks Crossing Park – Bluebird Trail (6/7) 9850 Clarks Crossing Rd, Vienna 22182 From I-495, exit onto Chain Bridge Rd (Rt 123) toward Vienna. Continue on Maple Avenue (still Rt 123) in Vienna, turn onto Beulah Rd. Continue for about 1 mile until left turn onto Clarks Crossing Road. Continue to the end of Clarks Crossing and park at the parking lot overlooking the W&OD Trail.
Clifton Institute (4/26) 6712 Blantyre Rd, Warrenton 20187 Take 1-66 West to exit 40, to merge onto US-15 south towards Haymarket (0.4 mi), then turn right onto VA-55 West. Drive 5 mi. and turn left onto Blantyre Rd. Proceed 5.6 mi. and then turn right on to a dirt road. Drive northwest for about 0.3 mi. to the first lake and park in the parking lot on the
left. Meet your leader at this parking lot. Please do not drive up to the house and park there.
Dyke Marsh (4/23, 5/14) 6401 George Washington Memorial Pkwy, 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.
Frying Pan Farm Park (4/9/, 5/8) 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon 20171 From Fairfax County Parkway (Rte 286), go 0.8 miles northwest on West Ox Rd (Rte. 608), turn right into the Visitor Center Parking lot. Meet the group in the parking area at the north end of the Visitor Center.
Huntley Meadows Hike & Bike Trail (4/30) From I-495, take Rt 1 south 0.5 mi to Rt 633 (S. King Hwy). Turn right (west), go 2.5 mi. to park entrance and lot on left (just before Telegraph Rd).
Huntley Meadows Park (5/28) 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria 22306 From I-495, take Rt 1 south 3 mi. to Lockheed Blvd. Turn right on Lockheed and go 0.5 mi. to Harrison Ln to park entrance on left. Meet in parking lot.
Prothonatory Warbler at Occoquan Bay photographed by Larry Meade
Leesylvania State Park (5/3) 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 784. Proceed eastward 1.1 mi. to Rt 1. Turn right (south) on Rt 1 and g o 0 . 9 m i . t o N e a b s c o R d . 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.
(continued p. 7)
Trip Directions (from p. 5)
Leopold’s Preserve (4/19) 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 (5/7, 6/4) 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 Springs 0.5 mi. to Nature Center on left, just south of N. Va Community Hospital on left. Meet at Nature Center parking lot.
Manassas Battlefield Park – Portici Horse Trailer Parking Lot (5/24) Manassas 20109 From I-495 take I-66 west 17 mi. to exit 47B for Sudley Road (VA-234 North). Immediately turn right on Battleview Parkway and continue for 1.5 miles as the parkway loops around and turns into Vandor Lane. Turn left into the horse trailer parking lot. Due to the limited parking area, park lengthwise (front-to-back) in the trailer parking spaces. Meet in the parking lot. Do not park at the Portici Trailhead parking lot on Rock Road.
Meadowood Recreation Area (4/16) 10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton 22079 From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
The park parking lot is then 0.2 mi. away on the left.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (4/12, 5/17) 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 at the parking lot.
Silver Lake Park (5/31) 16198 Silver Lake Rd, Haymarket 20169 From I-495, take I-66 west 24 mi. to exit 40 (Rt 15). Turn south onto Rt 15 (toward Haymarket) and go 0.3 miles to Rt 55. Turn right onto Rt 55 and go
0.9 miles to Antioch Rd. Turn right onto Antioch and go 1.3 miles to Silver Lake Rd. Turn right and proceed to park entrance and continue to parking lot next to the lake. Meet in parking lot.
Tr i l l i u m Tr a i l – G . R i c h a r d Thompson Wildlife Management Area (5/10) (Fauquier Co) From I-495, take I-66 west 51 mi. to Linden exit (Rt 79). Go left (south) from exit ramp on Rt 79 approx. 1000 ft. to Rt
Turn left (east) onto Rt 55; go 1.2 mi. to Rt 638 (Freezeland Rd). Turn left (north) onto Rt 638. Follow Rt 638, as it bears right, 5.3 mi. to Trillium Trail Parking Area on right
-look for sign on kiosk. (Parking Area is just before radio towers.) Note: participant must have an access permit issued by VA Department of G a m e a n d I n l a n d F i s h e r i e s , w w w . d g i f . v i r g i n i a . g o v ,
Lorton exit. Left on Rt 642.
1-866-721-6911.
African Openbill photographed by Robin Duska
Birding in Zambia
What landlocked African country is a little larger than Texas, borders eight countries, and hosts the world’s largest sheet of falling water, largest mammalian migration, and 782 bird species?
Zambia, where in November 2024 the dry season was ending and more water starting to flow over all of that largest sheet, Victoria Falls, on Zambia’s border with Zimbabwe. Even then, the Sotho name for the falls, Mosi- oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”), was apt.
I flew into Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital, via Johannesburg and joined Wings’ 23 November to 7 December Zambia tour with Ethan Kistler, one of eBird’s data reviewers for much of the African continent. Wouter van Spijker, a Dutchman who
works for the relatively new company Birding Zambia, also guided the five of us clients. Wouter and driver Thomas drove us over 1700 miles in two 4-wheel-drive vehicles. We started out in the nearby Mosi- oa-Tunya National Park and visited Kafue, Kasanka, and Lower Zambezi National Parks as well as the Choma and Mutinondo areas, Nkanga River Conservation Area, and points in between, often in miombo and mopane woodlands. Both Ethan and Wouter were expert guides, and I’m looking forward to trips in their good company
again.
Our quest for the Zambian endemic black-cheeked lovebird (Agapornis nigrigenis) was tough. The birds are found in small patches of deciduous woodland dominated by mopane (Colophospermum mopane), which the birds use in the dry season-but only where the mopane is near woodland dominated by a threatened teak, Baikiaea plurijuga, which they use in the rainy season. In Kafue National Park, which is about the size of Massachusetts, we waited by a supposedly favored watering hole for hours.
Having resigned ourselves to
missing the species, we drove away-but then three individuals flew in, giving us excellent long looks.
The second of Zambia’s two endemics, Chaplin’s barbet (Lybius chaplini) was easier to find-the species is almost completely restricted to areas where the fig Ficus sycomorus is abundant. The farms of the Miller family, whose great-grandparents David Livingstone had welcomed to Zambia as medical missionaries, have plenty. We were grateful when, after our trip’s only massive storm
swept in, the Millers invited us for coffee on their porch during an impressive downpour.
In addition to birds, we saw over 40 mammal species. We witnessed impala kills by both leopard and African wild dog, heard lions, and saw white rhino, genet, plains zebra, savannah elephant, hippopotamus, and several monkey and other smaller species. Thirteen antelope species included the gorgeous sable and black lechwe.
That largest mammalian migration? One of Zambia’s smallest parks hosts it: Straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) with wingspans of up to 30 inches travel from sub-Saharan Africa in groups of up to one million to roost in only five acres of Kasanka National Park. From a tall
tower at sunset we raised a glass to an estimated 10 million heading out to forage. At dawn we returned to see them come back to their roosts while thousands of barn swallows also flew beneath us.
Having netted around 150 lifers from a group total of 364 bird species, I was especially thrilled to get extended looks at a s i n g l e w a t t l e d c r a n e (Bugeranus carunculatus), the antepenultimate species in my quest to see the world’s 15 species of crane.
Not surprisingly, in a country with a per capita GDP of
$3,700, our accommodation was generally basic. Zambia largely relies on hydroelectric power and as the dry season ended, water pressure in some pump systems could not yet be fueled. We often had limited or no electricity in our rooms, but I only lacked water for a shower one day. Rooms were clean, insects not troublesome, and I slept comfortably. Nanzhila Lake Camp and Mutinondo Wi l d e r n e s s L o d g e w e r e especially quiet, dark, and beautiful.
Wings is planning another Zambia tour in 2026. Birding Zambia frequently runs both scheduled and tailored tours.
(https://wingsbirds.com/tours/zambia/; https:// www.birdingzambia.com/)
-Robin Duska
Photos from top:
African Emerald Cuckoo photographed by Robin Duska Miombo Scrub-Robin photographed by Ethan Kistler
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
P.O. BOX 5812
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
JOIN THE NORTHERN
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for 2025 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: Membership, P.O. Box 5812, Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Or join or renew online at the club’s web site, 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 email Elizabeth Fenton a t emfenton@cox.net.
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 l g m e a d e @ g m a i l . c o m . P u t “EXCHANGE” in the subject field and your full name in the message area. You will receive a response from nvbc-exchange@googlegroups
.com. The list is for NVBC members’ use only.
General Meeting Dates: April 24, September 18, and November 20,
2025.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7:30 p.m. To join the Zoom board meeting or to have items put on the agenda, please email lgmeade@gmail.com.
Deadline for next issue of The Siskin: The August issue will include activities through October 2025. Please send items for publication by
July 1, 2025 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, 571-447-7977
Directors: Jeremy Beck, 703-517-1816,
Joan Mashburn, 703-209-8678 Directors Emeritus: Charlotte Friend, Joanna Taylor, and Don Wiesnet
Membership: Elizabeth Fenton, emfenton@cox.net
Webmaster, www.nvabc.org: Jeremy Beck, jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal Gause, 703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook Group: Allie Guidry (please contact through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com