August 2025

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SISKIN
The
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 70, No. 3
Inside
•
•
•
Calendar of NVBC field trips
August 9 – November 1, 2025
Spring Chincoteague Trip Report
Birding in Armenia
NVBC 2025 – 2027
Board Officers and Directors
The following
officers and
directors began their two-year term of
office July 1, 2025.
President: Larry Meade
Vice President, Programs:
Vice President, Field Activities:
Phil Silas
Secretary: Cindy Nickerson
Treasurer: Karen Pao
Directors: Jeremy Beck, Joan
Mashburn
August 2025
www.nvabc.org
NVBC GENERAL MEETING—THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 8 PM
Birding for Fun and Brain Health
Speaker: Phil Silas
Phil Silas now fills the Vice President, Field Activities role for NVBC as
Elton Morel has moved back to California. He is phasing out of the Vice
President, Programs role held for the past five years. Back in 2009 Phil was
looking for a new hobby after hip-replacement surgery that brought his 10
year running obsession to a close. He happened upon the Occoquan Bay
National Wildlife Refuge banding station in April 2010 and was granted the
chance to release a newly banded Grey Catbird. This led to a few bird
walks, then a better pair of binoculars, then volunteering to assist at the
banding station in 2011 and 2012. He’s now involved in a number of
birding related activities locally and has birded in all our states except
Hawaii. The maternal side of his family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease
and he’s made it his goal to learn all he can about avoiding this progressive
disease. He is happy to be able to share what he’s been able to learn, and
explain some practical examples of techniques where birding can help
exercise your brain, thus helping to avoid Alzheimer’s.
Join us in welcoming new board
volunteers, Cindy Nickerson and Karen
Pao.
Eagles at Leesylvania State Park photographed by Phil Silas
General Meeting Notes: Early bird refreshments start at 7:30 p.m. 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).
Cindy Nickerson and Karen Pao photographed
by Neal Gause
We need others in the club to fill the
positions of Vice President, Programs
and Director.
MEETING PLACE: St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane,
Arlington, 22207. Directions are on page 5.
Presidential Peentings
Northern Virginia Bird Club, it is a time of
At the
transition. Three of our board members are moving
her at our board meetings if we are still solvent, and we
always are. Fortunately, Jean is staying in the area and
on to new chapters in their lives. All three have been
will be able to assist our new treasurer, Karen Pao. Karen
outstanding members of the NVBC board and have made
is taking on an essential job for NVBC and I cannot thank
important contributions to our success as a bird club. I
her enough!
think that I can speak for the entire club when I say that
Elton Morel, our Vice President for Field Activities,
we are truly appreciative of their efforts over the years.
is known by you all. He is the only one of our three
On a personal note, I feel
transitioning board members
lucky to know them as
who is leaving the area as he
friends. Fortunately, we do
heads back to his home state
have a couple of new people
of California. Elton has led
coming on to the board to
too many bird walks and field
help NVBC move into the
trips to name. He is one of the
future.
most skilled birders I have
Diane Marton has been
known and words cannot
our secretary for many
describe how much I have
years. I have always
learned from him over the
appreciated her meticulous
years. He is a tremendous
note taking and how
walk leader and is always
thoroughly she has kept our
patient with new birders.
minutes. When we used to
Fortunately, Phil Silas has
have our board meetings at
moved into the Elton’s role as
her house, her cookies were
VP of Field Activities. Phil,
Marton, Elton Morel and Jean Tatalias photographed.by
always a big hit. We now do Diane
also
an excellent birder, is one
Neal Gause
meetings on Zoom, but I
of the most active and
miss those cookies! Diane
positive members of NVBC
and her husband, Warren, also secured the church where
and I am confident he will do a great job.
we have our meetings. Warren has been invaluable as
Since Phil was formerly the Vice President for
tech support for our program speakers. Our new secretary
Programs, that leaves a job opening in the club. This role
is Cindy Nickerson. I think many of you know her as an
mainly involves recruiting speakers and organizing the
excellent birder who is always a welcome addition to our
logistics for our meetings. We could also use another
bird walks. I am happy to welcome “Madame Secretary”
director on our board. Directors are voting members who
onto our board!
help set the direction of the club, but do not have specific
Jean Tatalias is an accomplished accountant who has
roles. Please let me know if you are interested in either of
been our long-time treasurer. She knows where the
these positions.
money goes and where it comes from. She has also been
—Larry Meade
invaluable in shaping the vision for our club by
formulating long-term financial projections. I always ask
2026 Dues Increase
This is a reminder that club dues
for 2026 will be $15 for individual
memberships and $25 for family
memberships, as approved at the Club
meeting on April 24. This change will
take place on September 1, 2025, since
dues paid after that date are credited to
the following year for new and up-todate memberships.
Whimbrel with crab photographed at
Chincoteague by Seth Honig
2
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Spring Weekend Trip: Chincoteague, May 16 – 18, 2025
Ninety-three bird species were found collectively on
the Northern Virginia Bird Club’s spring trip to
Chincoteague held May 16 to 18.
The Friday afternoon visit to Chincoteague always
starts with a tour around the Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge’s Wildlife Loop. At our first stop, we
briefly saw two Black-necked Stilts in the middle of Snow
Goose Pool before they flew away towards Swan Cove.
At our second stop, we found several Western CattleEgrets in full breeding plumage. A couple of White-rumped Sandpipers were at Shoveler Pool. Much patience
was needed before we finally got everybody at least a look
at the White-rumped Sandpipers in amongst a nervous and
sometimes swirling flock of Dunlins, Semipalmated and
Least Sandpipers. We were relieved to re-find the Blacknecked Stilts in Swan Cove so that all participants could
get good views of this elegant species.
On Friday evening, we looked for the Chuck-will’swidow at sunset. Several “Chucks” were heard singing,
and several observers were lucky to see a couple of
“Chucks” fly over their heads.
Saturday morning began with a walk along the
boardwalk near the hotel. We had excellent views of
Clapper Rails — one of which perched along the marsh
shoreline preening after bathing. A Whimbrel was found in
the long grass, and a long-distance view of three Black
Skimmers in flight turned out to be our only sighting of
this species all weekend.
Next, we visited the refuge’s south beach parking lot
and conducted a short sea watch; we were rewarded with a
dozen Brants flying over. A long walk south down the
beach was needed before we finally spotted a pair of
Piping Plovers in a protected area. As we were viewing the
Piping Plovers, suddenly a nearby assemblage of
Common, Forster’s and Royal Terns took flight and
amongst the terns we spotted a breeding plumage Black
Tern.
In the afternoon session, we walked a short distance on
the Marsh Trail looking for key land birds that we missed
earlier in the morning, successfully finding Brown-headed
Nuthatches and Pine Warblers plus a bonus female
American Redstart.
The Sunday morning boat trip with Daisey’s Island
Cruises in the Chincoteague Inlet was very successful,
including a surprise sighting to end the trip. At Fishing
Point, we found Red Knots, many in breeding plumage.
Traveling from Fishing Point to Black Marsh Landing, we
found Common Loons also in breeding plumage, plus Surf
Scoters in amongst a large flock of Black Scoters. A couple
of Whimbrels were at Black Point Marsh. On our way
back to the marina, we found a first spring male Common
Eider beached along the marsh near Mariners Point – what
a wonderful bird to end the weekend on!
This trip was my last time leading a group trip to
Chincoteague for the club, and in fact, my last time leading
a bird walk for the club. I want to express my gratitude to
all the club members that I have had the pleasure to meet
and bird with. I will miss you all and cherish many fond
memories of having birded with all of you.
Photos from top:
Western Cattle Egret photographed by Seth Honig
Pine Warbler photographed by Frank Klotz
Common Eider photographed by Frank Klotz
—Elton Morel
The Siskin . Vol. 70, No. 3 . August 2025
3
Upcoming Trips and Events
Compiled by Phil Silas
Note:
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips.
When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders. Phone numbers are shown below.
Check the NVBC website for updated information about trips: http://www.nvabc.org/updated- eld-trips/.
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
August
Saturday
9
8 AM
Bombay Hook X-Trip
Members only/
Registration Required
Trip Leaders
Larry Meade
Joan Mashburn
Bob Butterworth 703-343-0933
Larry Cartwright 703-941-3142
Toby Hardwick 703-201-1517
Luke Holian
703-258-9432
Ed LeGrand
908-268-6627
Joan Mashburn 703-209-8678
Larry Meade
571-275-2523
Carol Mullen
571-313-9926
Tom Nardone
703-946-7738
Karen Pao
505-310-2795
Phil Silas
703-987-0817
16
23
7:30 AM
Huntley Meadows
Larry Cartwright
Karen Pao
30
8 AM
Shenandoah River
Campus at Cool
Springs Battle eld
Phil Silas
Ed LeGrand
31
September
3
6
8:30 AM
Long Branch
7:30 AM
Leesylvania SP
Carol Mullen
Larry Cartwright
Phil Silas
Bob Butterworth
13
10
17
8:30 AM
Algonkian RP
Bob Butterworth
Carol Mullen
7:30 AM
Clifton Institute
Ed LeGrand
Andrew Eberly
18
20
7:30 AM
Occoquan Bay NWR
NVBC
Meeting
Phil Silas
Bob Butterworth
8 PM
24
27
7:30 AM
Huntley Meadows
Hike/Bike Trail
7:30 AM
Leopold’s Preserve
Toby Hardwick
Luke Holian
Joan Mashburn
Tom Nadrone
October 1
4
8:30 AM
Long Branch
Tom Nardone
8 AM
Silver Lake RP
Ed LeGrand
Toby Hardwick
Dick Bauder
fi
fi
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
4
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8
October
Saturday
11
8:30 AM
Neabsco Regional
Park – Boardwalk
8 AM
Bristoe Station
Battle eld Park
Phil Silas
Bob Butterworth
Toby Hardwick
Larry Meade
15
18
8:30 AM
Laurel Hill Equestrian
Center
8:15 AM
Sky Meadows SP
Ed LeGrand
Bob Butterworth
Tom Nardone
Karen Pao
22
25
8:30 AM
Frying Pan Farm
Park
8 AM
Manassas
Battle eld Park
— Brawner Farm
Karen Pao
Toby Hardwick
Luke Holian
29
8:30 AM
Meadowood Recreation
Area – Lower Potomac
Field Station
Larry Cartwright
Kay Bushman
DIRECTIONS
NVBC Meeting (9/18) 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.
——
Algonkian Regional Park (9/17)
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 (11/1)
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
fi
fi
The Siskin . Vol. 70, No. 3 . August 2025
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 entrance gate to
the parking lot at the end of the road.
Meet in the parking lot.
Bombay Hook X-trip (8/9) 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 (10/11) 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.
Clifton Institute (9/13) 6712
Blantyre Rd, Warrenton 20187 Take
November
1
8 AM
Aquia Landing
Beach Park
Bob Butterworth
Joan Mashburn
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. Please do not drive up to the
house and park there.
Frying Pan Park (10/22) 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 (9/24) 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 (8/23) 3701
Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria 22306
From I-495, take Rt 1 south 3 miles
to Lockheed Blvd. Right on
Lockheed; go 0.5 miles to Harrison
Ln, park entrance on left. Meet in
parking lot.
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center
(10/15) Lorton From I-495, take I-95
south about 7 mi. to exit 163 (Lorton
5
Trip Directions from page 5
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center
(10/15) 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 (9/6) 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
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 turnaround circle at fishing pier. State fee
area.
Leopold’s Preserve (9/27) 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 (9/3,
10/1)
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 Brawner Farm (10/25) Manassas
20109 From I-495 take I-66 west 21
mi. to exit 43B for US-29 N.
Continue on US 29 for 1.3 mi. Turn
left onto Pageland Ln. Continue 0.5
mi. then turn right into Brawner
Farm. Continue 0.3 mi. to Brawner
Farm parking lot (6501 Pageland Ln,
Gainesville 20155). Meet in the
parking lot.
Meadowood Recreation Area
(10/29) 10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton,
6
VA 22079 From I-495, take I-95
south 7 mi. to Lorton exit. Left on Rt
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 (10/8) 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 (9/20) 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 the central parking lot near the
covered pavilion (not the Visitor
Information Center).
Shenandoah River Campus at Cool
Springs Battlefield (8/30) 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 (10/4) 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 (10/18)
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.
Bird Walks at Local Parks
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve,
second Saturdays, 8 a.m. Meet
at the parking lot. Online
registration. Visit the Loudoun
Wildlife web site,
www.loudounwildlife .org/events/
Dyke Marsh, Sundays, 8 a.m.
Visit the Friends of Dyke Marsh
web site, www.fodm.org
Great Falls National Park,
Sundays, 8 a.m. Meet
in the main parking lot near the
Park Visitor Center.
Huntley Meadows Park,
Mondays, 7 a.m. (Apr-Sep) 8
a.m. (Oct-Mar) Meet in parking
lot.
Merrimac Farm, last Sunday, 8
a.m. Meet at Merrimac Farm
Stone House. www.pwconserve
.org/eventsindex.html#birds
Riverbend Park, first and third
Fridays, 8 a.m., beginning April
4 to October 17. Meet at the
Nature Center parking lot off
Jeffery Road. No fee but call
Riverbend Park at 703-759-9018
to register. Leader: Robin Duska
Sweet Run State Park, fourth
Saturdays, 8 a.m. Meet at Education Center. Online registration.
www.loudounwildlife.org/events/
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Birding in Armenia
Landlocked Armenia, still relatively unknown to
birders, is a little smaller than Maryland and borders
Georgia, Azerbaijan (and its Nakhchivan exclave), Turkey,
and Iran. Having enjoyed traveling with the UK company
Naturetrek to Georgia, I traveled with them again to
Armenia in May.
After six of us flew into Armenia’s capital Yerevan and
met our leader Vasil Ananian, we headed to one of the
world’s largest high-altitude freshwater subalpine lakes,
Lake Sevan at 6,254 feet (ft), where about 5,000 pairs of
the regional endemic Armenian Gull breed. Walking in
chest-high reeds, we encountered Moustached Warbler
(Acrocephalus melanopogon). Given descriptions like “a
mid-sized, gray-brown warbler that
looks very much like other species,” I
find Old World Warblers particularly
challenging—we saw several species.
We headed northeast to Dilijan
National Park’s dense forest, where
we saw a nesting Eurasian Wryneck,
singing Green Warblers, and a Black
Woodpecker, a Dryocopus like our
Pileated.
About 200 European
Honey-Buzzards, some of the last
seasonal raptor migrants, arrived with
a storm, kettling with Eurasian
Griffons and Booted Eagles.
A 4×4 trip into the Pambak
Mountains took us along possibly the
most challenging track I’ve
encountered (visualize left wheels on
angled snowbank, right wheels in
muddy ditch, sheer cliff to right). At
8,100 ft as cold rain swept in,
we watched Caucasian Grouse
(Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) display
on their lekking grounds.
After surmounting the
Selim Pass, like travelers since
1332, we stopped at Orbelian’s
caravanserai. Below, the Arpa
River valley became
Mediterranean-like—rocky,
with phrygana plants and open
juniper forest. There, Blue
Rock Thrush, Eastern and
Western Rock Nuthatches, and
other open-area species live
near vineyards and fields of apricots and peaches.
From a 4×4 on my favorite of our nine birding days,
we first saw Mount Ararat, where Noah’s ark reportedly
came to rest after the Biblical “Great Flood.” Snowcapped Ararat, in Turkey across the closed border, is an
allegedly dormant compound volcano: Greater Ararat
(16,854 ft) and Little Ararat (12,782 ft). Then, in a sunny
wildflower meadow at 7,700 ft in the Karkatar mountains,
we enjoyed looking at both Ararat and two large cliffs
from which Caspian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius)
peered down; Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus, now
known as Bearded Vulture) also arrived. Bezoar mountain
The Siskin . Vol. 70 No. 3 . August 2025
goats found their way confidently down the cliff-face, as
did an ambling light-colored Brown Bear. Three wolves
ran fluidly down slopes below us.
We spent parts of three days above 11,480 ft but never
slept above 8,500 ft. Dressing in layers allowed one to
cope with same-day weather changes from very cold/
windy/rainy to hot/sunny. Hotels and B&Bs were clean
and comfortable. The Armenian diet focuses on meat, but
with plentiful legumes, eggs, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes,
and fresh herbs like dill and tarragon by the handful,
vegetarians can eat well.
I observed 177 bird species, 18 of which were lifers.
From along restricted-access fish ponds, I was especially
happy to get close to tiny Bearded
Reedlings (Panurus biarmicus), the
only species in their family. Other
highlights were Emberizid Old World
Buntings (Gray-necked and Ortolan),
the soda-can-sized Eurasian ScopsOwl, and an endangered Saker Falcon
with four nestlings.
Wildlife trafficking is a problem
in Armenia, not only of falcons but
also of common species like
European Goldfinch. Because of our
guide’s concerns about revealing
species’ locations, Naturetrek asked
that we not document locations via
Internet. eBird’s “Sensitive Species”
protocols did not address all species
of concern, so I hid all my eBird
checklists.
This means data are
hidden from anyone who accesses
eBird, including, unfortunately,
for scientific analysis.
Most days, Common Cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus, the species
that sounds like the clock) were
persistently audible and Mount
Ararat often visible from
steppes, lakes, foothills, and
other mountain ranges. Because
there is little grazing of
domestic animals, the land is
widely carpeted with
wildflowers, often in red-white
or yellow-blue combinations. I
found Armenia in springtime to
be one of the most beautiful countries in which I have
birded.
—Robin Duska
Photographs by Robin Duska from top:
Bearded Reedling
Birders in wildflower meadow with Mount Ararat in background
Crimson-winged Finch on Page 6
Note: additional photographs contained in on-line addendum
7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
P.O. BOX 5812
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Dulles, VA
Permit No. 400
DATED
MATERIAL
JOIN THE NORTHERN
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for
2026 are $15 for Individual and $25
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
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 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
18, and November 20, 2025.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday,
August 28, 2025, 7:30 pm. 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 November issue will
include activities through January
Please send items for
publication by October 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: Phil
Silas, 703-987-0817
Secretary: Cindy Nickerson,
cnandcats@gmail.com
Treasurer: Karen Pao, karen.i.pao
@gmail.com
Directors:
Jeremy Beck, 703-517-1816
Joan Mashburn, 703-209-8678
Directors Emeritus: Charlotte Friend,
Joanna Taylor, 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, nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com,
703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook
Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Birds of Armenia
Photographed by Robin Duska
Ortolan Bunting in tree
Little Owl
Mount Ararat: Lesser and Greater Ararat
Raddes Accentor
Black-headed Bunting
Siberian Stonechat
The Siskin . Vol. 70 No. 3 . August 2025
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Birds of Armenia
Photographed by Robin Duska
Black Woodpecker
Eurasian Kestrel
The Siskin . Vol. 70 No. 3 . August 2025
Long-legged Buzzard
Saker Falcon
Addendum website only 2
Additional Chincoteague Birds
Common Loon photographed by Seth Honig
Brown-headed Nuthatch photographed by Frank Klotz
Dunlin photographed by Frank Klotz
Red Knot photographed by Frank Klotz
Sanderling and Dunlin photographed by Seth Honig
The Siskin . Vol. 70 No. 3 . August 2025
Addendum website only 3
Additional Chincoteague Birds
American Oystercatcher photographed by Seth Honig
Snowy Egret photographed by Seth Honig
The Siskin . Vol. 70 No. 3 . August 2025
Addendum website only 4