November 2021

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 66, No. 4
November 2021
NVBC GENERAL MEETING—THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 8 PM
Inside
www.nvabc.org
Calendar of NVBC field trips,
November 3, 2021 – February 13,
2022
Bombay Hook Adventure
Upcoming Christmas Bird Counts
in Northern Virginia
2022 ASNV Winter Waterfowl
Survey
Roseate Spoonbills
Birding and Photography: Bird
Photography by a NonPhotographer
Insert – 2022 membership renewal
Winter Chincoteague Trip
The Wildlife of Uganda
Speaker: William Young
Uganda is an East African country teeming with birds and other wildlife.
Popular local writer and naturalist William Young will talk about what
he saw on a trip to Uganda in 2016-17. He is the author of the book The
Fascination of Birds: From the Albatross to the Yellowthroat, and he is the
co-creator (with Ashley Bradford) of the MPNature.com website about the
birds and natural history of Monticello Park in Alexandria.
The November virtual meeting will be held using Zoom. The meeting
begins at 8 pm, and you can enter after 7:30 pm. Please register in advance
by clicking on the registration link found at the upper right at the Northern
Virginia Bird Club website (nvabc.org). Upon registering, an email
automatically will be sent with a link to join the meeting. There will be
ample time for questions from the audience.
he Winter Chincoteague Weekend
Tclub
trip is tentatively scheduled for
February 11 to February 13 (Friday to
Sunday). This year’s trip will have
several changes from past years due to
the COVID-19 virus. The trip will be
limited to just 16 people. This size will
be workable even if for safety’s sake
carpooling is limited. NVBC membership is required for this trip and all tour
participants will need to declare that
they are vaccinated at the sign-up time
of the trip. Registration will open on
November 18, 2021 at 6 am. To sign
up for this trip, please email Elton
Morel at eltonlmorel@verizon.net.
Please do not make your hotel reservations until your trip registration has
been confirmed. When signing up,
please affirm that you are vaccinated
for COVID-19 virus and whether you
are interested in Sunday morning’s
CBBT Island trip. If the trip is full, your
name can be put on a waiting list. As
Continued on pg. 2
Shoebill in Uganda photographed by William Young
forget the Northern Lapwing, a rare vagrant from
Europe, that I saw in 2005. The bird was hanging out in a
people often ask birders, “What’s your favorite bird”?
farm field in Creagerstown, Maryland and was the source
For me, it’s impossible to narrow down the different
of considerable excitement among local birders, I had not
birds that I have seen to just a few favorites, much less
been birding for very long and this was one of the first
just one. Why are we especially enthralled by certain
rarities that I crossed state lines to chase. I knew that the
birds? Colorful birds like Painted Buntings, Baltimore
journey was worth it when I found a crowd of birders
Orioles and Harlequin Ducks
watching a large electric blue
can practically take a birder’s
and white plover strutting
breath away when they are seen
around in the dirt. The bird was
well in their full glory. Birds
not close to the road, but I was
that we don’t see every day can
still able to get a distant, but
also pique our interest. Many
recognizable photo. It was the
birders especially love warblers
first and only Northern Lapwing
because they fit both categories.
that I have ever seen and it’s still
These charismatic birds are the
one of my favorites.
highlight of the late spring
Even though we may have
birding season as they sing from
the most vivid memories of the
the treetops and flash their
especially beautiful and the
yellow, red and blue plumages.
especially rare bird that we have
While some of these birds will
seen, all birds are worthy of our
stay in our region to breed,
attention. They are all living
many others are just passing
their lives as the best birds that
through. Luckily for us, in early Cape May Warbler at Dyke Marsh, photographed on
they can be. They are doing their
fall, they come back through our September 26, 2021by Larry Meade
part to contribute to their
region for a return engagement as
ecosystems and perpetuate their
they migrate southward. Since many of them only are
species. With the possible exception of an invasive
here for a short time, finding them is a special privilege.
species such as House Sparrow, any one of them could be
Mega rare birds that birders are fortunate enough to
my favorite bird on any given day.
see are usually high on lists of favorite birds. I will never
—Larry Meade
P
Presidential Peentings
Winter Chincoteague Trip from p.1
an additional precaution, there will not be a group dinner
on Saturday night.
February is an excellent time to visit Chincoteague
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel Islands (CBBT). The Refuge is loaded with
wintering waterfowl while the CBBT is famous for
wintering sea ducks. We typically find 90 to 100 species
on this trip. Highlights from previous years have been
Northern Gannets, Red-necked Grebes, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Snow Geese, Brants, Common Goldeneyes,
Long-tailed Ducks, Common Eiders, Harlequin Ducks,
Purple Sandpipers, Great Cormorants and even Razorbills.
Plans for the weekend include birding the
Chincoteague area Friday afternoon starting at 3:15 pm.
(optional) and Saturday starting at 7:30 am. Activities on
Friday and Saturday include birding along Beach Road,
Swan Cove, Tom’s Cove and around the Wildlife Loop.
Time and tides permitting, we will also visit the Queen
Sound Flats, the Chincoteague City mudflats and
Mariner’s Point. On Sunday, we will bird Kiptopeke State
Park before our trip to CBBT Island #4. We will be limited
to a one and a half hour visit on island #4 due to the
construction of a new tunnel. The CBBT trip requires
security forms in advance and an extra fee for the security
escort, expected to be five dollars per person. The trip
concludes at 12:30 pm on Sunday.
We have obtained a special rate of $79.25 plus taxes
per night on fifteen rooms for Friday and Saturday nights
at the Best Western Chincoteague Island Hotel on Maddox
2
Boulevard. A two-night stay is usually required. Hotel
reservations must be made by January 28 to get this special
group rate. Participants should make their own
reservations by calling 800-553-6117 and be sure to say
they are with the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Check-in
time is 3 pm on Friday, February 11, with a prior 48-hour
notice policy for cancellation. Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge has an entrance fee per car.
—Elton Morel
Bombay Hook Adventure
Birders from the Northern Virginia Bird Club
assembled at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on
August 14. This is a prime time of year to find migrating
shorebirds and a nice variety of other birds. As we left the
visitor center parking lot and began to caravan towards the
refuge’s impoundments, we were treated to the sharp notes
and trill of a Sedge Wren singing next to the road. We also
enjoyed the whistling calls of several Northern Bobwhites
as they serenaded us.
As we came around the corner and lined our cars up
along the road at Raymond Pool, we noticed a gaggle of
photographers all pointing their cameras at something
down below them. It turned out that they were looking at a
Virginia Rail and several of her chicks. Fortunately, the
birds stayed around long enough for all of us to also get
some nice looks at them. It was a good day for baby birds
as we later found a Common Gallinule with her chicks.
Continued on pg. 3
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
The Christmas Bird Count organizers intend to conduct
the counts this year as safely as possible in light of the
continuing pandemic while still giving birders a chance
to get out and enjoy doing the counts and contributing
to this long-running tradition. The count coordinators
will identify COVID -19 protocols before the specified
count date. Some CBC representatives may decide
conditions warrant cancelling their circle count. Any
cancellation decision should be made by November 15.
Friday December 17, 2021
BROOKE, VA (Stafford area, lower Potomac)
Contact coordinators and compiler, Laurel Bybell at
lbybell@gmail.com or David Govoni at david.govoni
@gmail.com
Saturday, December 18, 2021
WASHINGTON D.C.
Includes area of Virginia inside the Beltway and parts of
Fairfax County south of Alexandria to include Dyke Marsh.
To participate, email compiler, Larry Cartwright:
prowarbler@verizon.net or contact the Audubon Naturalist
Society through Carol Hayes at carol.hayes@anshome.org
or call 301-652-9188 extension 10.
Sunday, December 19, 2021
MANASSAS-BULL RUN
To participate, contact Phil Silas by December 8 at epsdcva
@aol.com or 703-987-0817.
THE PLAINS/AIRLIE
To participate, contact coordinator, Bridget Bradshaw at
bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org or 540-341-3651 or email
compiler, Bert Harris at bharris@cliftoninstitute.org.
SENECA MD/VA
Count has five Virginia sectors, ranging from Great Falls
Park to the eastern corner of Loudoun County. To participate, email compiler Jim Nelson at kingfishers2@verizon
.net.
Sunday, December 26, 2021
NOKESVILLE
For more information or to register, contact Kim Hosen at
703-499-4954 or kim@pwconserve.org.
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
CENTRAL LOUDOUN
Sign up at www.loudounwildlife.org or contact compiler,
Joe Coleman: 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife
.org or Bryan Henson at bhenson@loudounwildlife.org.
Sunday, January 2, 2022
CALMES NECK
Parts of western Loudoun and eastern Clarke counties. The
cutoff date to join up to participate is December 18.
Contact compiler, Margaret Wester at margaretwester@hotmail.com.
FORT BELVOIR
To volunteer, contact compiler, Kurt Gaskill at
kurtcapt87@verizon.net or 703-768-2172.
SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN
Lucketts Sector is in northern Loudoun County. Sector
leader, Gerco Hoogeweg at drgerco@hotmail.com
Date to be determined
WALKERTON
Count area is primarily in Middle Peninsula. Contact by
December 13. Contact compiler, Fred Atwood at
fredatwood@yahoo.com.
Bombay Hook Adventure from p. 2
Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
Shorebirds were indeed in abundance at the refuge. Semi-palmated
Sandpipers were the most numerous as they dotted large swathes of the
mudflats. American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and Semi-palmated Plovers
were also present in good numbers. Other Highlights included three Roseate
Spoonbills, a Tricolored Heron, and a Least Bittern. Some close encounters with
Orchard Orioles and Blue Grosbeaks were crowd favorites. As a group, we
tallied over 80 species and even added a few more at Port Mahon Road after
lunch. Bombay Hook is always worth the trip!
—Larry Meade
Winter Waterfowl Survey
On Saturday, February 5 and
Sunday, February 6, 2022, birders
of all skill levels will join up to
count waterfowl in Fairfax,
Arlington, and Prince William
counties, including the Potomac
and Occoquan watersheds. Novice
birders will be paired with expert
bird enthusiasts. Larry Cartwright
continues as the volunteer compiler
for this year’s count. For more
information and to join the team,
email info@audubonva.org, call
703-438-6008, or secure your spot
by registering through the Audubon
Society for Northern Virginia
website. Protocols for COVID will
be determined in the future.
Virginia Rail preening at Bombay Hook NWR
photographed by Larry Meade
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
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 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/trips.htm.
•To receive email notices, join the NVBC eMail Exchange. For sign-up directions see back page of the
newsletter.
Sunday
Monday
now is the time for all good me
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
November
Ken Hun
Phil Silas
Tom Nardone
Trip Leaders
Larry Cartwright
Toby Hardwick
Bert Harris
Ken Hunt
Larry Meade
Elton Morel
Tom Nardone
Phil Silas
Dixie Sommers
Ed Wallace
1
703-941-3142
703-201-1517
615-440-0666
319-354-1079
571-275-2523
703-907-9951
703-946-7738
703-987-0817
703-969-7931
504-343-1433
1
8A
Leopold’s
Preserv
8:30 A
Dyke Mars
Tom Nardon
Dixie Sommers
1
8:30 A
Huntley
Meadows Par
Saturday
8A
Leesylvania S
8:30 A
Long Branc
Larry Mead
1
NVBC
Meetin
2
8A
Clifton Institut
Bert Harri
Elton Morel
8 PM
Tom Nardon
Dixie Sommer
2
8:30 A
Blandy Far
Elton More
Ed Wallace
dddddd
December
8:30 A
Long Branc
8A
Occoquan NW
Ken Hun
Phil Silas
Tom Nardone
1
8:30 A
Veterans
Memorial Par
8:30 A
Mason Neck S
Larry Mead
Dixie Sommers
Phil Silas
December 14, 2021 – January 5, 2022— CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA (See p. 3)
DIRECTIONS
NVBC Meeting (11/18) Online
meeting using Zoom platform.
——
Aquia Landing Park (1/15) 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 entrance gate to the parking
lot at the end of the road. Meet in the
parking lot.
Blandy Experimental Farm/State
Arboretum of Virginia (11/27) 400
Blandy Farm Ln, Boyce, 22620 Take
I-66 west to Rt 17 north (Exit 23,
Delaplane/Paris). Follow Rt 17 north
to junction with Rt 50 west. Turn left
at traffic light onto Rt 50/17; go 7.8
mi., turn left onto Rt 750 to the
Arboretum.
Burke Lake Park (1/12) 7315 Ox
Rd, Fairfax Station 22039 From
I-495, take exit 54 west (Braddock
Rd). If coming from the North, stay
in right lane of exit. Go 1.5 mi. on
Braddock Rd then left onto Burke
Lake Rd. Go 4.7 mi. and turn left
onto Rt 123 (Ox Rd). Turn left at
second traffic light (big park signs),
and turn left immediately after the
entrance booth. Park in the first lot on
the right (by the mini-golf course).
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Upcoming Trips and Events
Monday
Tuesday
January
Wednesday
Thursday
8:30 A
Long Branc
Tom Nardone
Friday
Saturday
8A
Northern Neck X-tri
Members only
email leader to
registe
Larry Mead
Ed Wallace
1
8:30 A
Burke Lake Par
Tom Nardone
1
8:30 A
Neabsco Regional
Park – Boardwal
1
8A
Aquia Landing Par
Elton Morel
2
8:30 A
Riverbend R
Larry Cartwright
Phil Sila
2
Februar
2
8:30 A
Dyke Mars
8A
Silver Lake R
8:30 A
Long Branc
8A
Occoquan Bay NW
Tom Nardone
Tom Nardone
Toby Hardwic
Phil Sila
Ken Hunt
11-1
Chincoteague Weeken
Members onl
Sign up via email starting on
November 18, 2021 at 6 a
Elton Morel
Clifton Institute (11/20) 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 0.5 mi. between
two lakes and park in the parking lot
below the main house. Meet outside
the house.
Dyke Marsh (11/10, 1/26) 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.
Huntley Meadows Park (11/17)
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,
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
Sunday
park entrance on left. Meet in parking
lot.
Leesylvania State Park (11/6) 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 (11/13) 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 (11/3,
12/1, 1/5, 2/2) 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.
Mason Neck State Park (12/11)
7301 High Point Rd, Lorton 22079
From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
Lorton exit. Left on Rt 642 to Rt 1.
Right on Rt 1 to Rt 242 (Gunston
Rd.). Left on Rt 242; go 4 mi. to
Mason Neck Management Area. Turn
right, follow paved road to end at
Visitor Center. State fee area.
5
Trip Directions from page 5
Neabsco Regional Park Boardwalk (1/19) 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 it 156A for Rt 784 east
toward Rippon Landing. Continue 0.7
mi. across Rt 1 where Dale Blvd
becomes Rippon Blvd and continue
down the hill another 0.4 mi. to a stop
light and turn right on Blackburn Rd.
The park parking lot is then 0.2 mi.
away on the left.
Northern Neck X-trip (1/8) Meet at
the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield
Mall. From the Beltway, take I-95
south to exit 169A (Springfield/
Franconia) (Rt 644E). From exit
ramp, turn right onto Franconia Rd E.
Stay in the right lane. Go about 0.3
mi. on Franconia Rd E, past Loisdale
Rd, and turn right into Springfield
Mall. Go about 325 ft; turn left and
go about 150 ft; then turn left again
and go another 200 ft to the Silver
Diner on the left.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife
Refuge (12/4, 2/5) 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.
Riverbend Park (Visitor Center)
(1/22).8700 Potomac Hills St, Great
Falls 22066 From I-495, take Rt. 193
west 5 mi. to Rt 603 (Riverbend Rd).
Turn right onto Rt 603; go 2 mi. to
Jeffery Rd. Turn right onto Jeffery;
and go 0.8 mi. to main park entrance
sign on right. Turn right and continue
0.5 mi.to Visitor Center parking lot.
Meet in front of Visitor Center.
Silver Lake RP (1/29) 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 mi. 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.
Veterans Memorial Park (12/7)
14300 Veterans Dr, Woodbridge,
22191 From I-495, take I-95 south 9
mi. to (left) exit 161 (Woodbridge).
Go south on Rt 1 about 3.5 mi. to left
turn onto Featherstone Rd. Continue
on Featherstone about a mile and
cross the RR tracks, turn left and
proceed about 1 mile to the
community center on the left, meet
near Veterans Drive in front of the
center.
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
Great Falls National Park,
Sundays, 8 am Meet in the main
parking lot, closest to the Park
Visitor Center.
Huntley Meadows Park,
Mondays, 7 am (Apr-Sep) 8 am
(Oct-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#bird
Roseate Spoonbills, normally found in Florida, showed up this summer in unprecedented numbers along the East Coast. These
two were at Huntley Meadows. Photographs by Larry Meade.
6
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Birding and Photography: Bird Photography by a NonPhotographer
Northern Waterthrush with its head twisted toward its
I am not a photographer. I have friends who are
back. One of the differentiating fieldmarks between the
outstanding nature photographers, and what I do does not
two waterthrushes is the amount of spotting on the throat.
closely resemble what they do. I carry a camera into the
Even though the bird’s eye was not visible, I have used the
field in case I need to document what I see. Sometimes,
photo of the waterthrush throat in my classes.
someone will see one of my photos and ask what kind of
During spring migration, many
lens I use. I don’t have a separate
songbirds at Monticello Park in
lens. I use a Nikon P510 pointAlexandria bathe in the stream,
and-shoot camera, which I have
which provides excellent
owned since 2013. It has a 42x
opportunities to photograph
zoom, which allows me to take
fieldmarks which you usually
close-up photos without disturbing
cannot see when the birds are in the
birds.
treetops.
A Dickcissel at Hains Point in
I take a lot of photos when I
December, 2011, induced me to
travel, especially internationally. I
buy my first camera. I was
enjoy visiting places which have
documenting the bird on the first
large birds who are relatively
day of Christmas Count week. It
stationary. South Georgia Island in
was on the ground about 15 feet
the Antarctic and the Galapagos
from me, and I wrote detailed
Islands off of Ecuador are two of
notes about the plumage. I
my favorite places for photography.
realized I would not have had to
do this if I had had a camera to Saddle-billed Storks photographed by William Young in The birds are accustomed to
humans, and you can get close
take photos of the bird right in Uganda
without disturbing them. Uganda
front of me. A few clear photos
also offers wonderful
can be worth more than a thousand
photographic opportunities. The
words of documentation. For
shortcomings in my photos are
unusual sightings, photos can
more likely to be overlooked if the
eliminate a lot of “are you sure”
birds are spectacular or highly
questions.
unusual.
I have a slight build, and until I
I also use my camera to record
can hire a Sherpa to lug my
video, which I use for the nature
equipment, I will use a camera that
videos on my YouTube channel. I
is light and easy to carry. My P510
have taught classes about bird
weighs about 20 ounces. I have
behavior, and behavior can be
traded pixels and feather detail for
shown more effectively with
carrying comfort. Another issue
video.
regards not having enough hands.
One of my favorite photos is of a
Birders now must juggle binoculars,
Barn Swallow at Huntley
cameras, and mobile phones.
Carrying extra photographic Gentoo, Chinstrap and King Penguins at South Georgia Meadows whose open mouth is
the shape of a heart. I use the
equipment compounds the problem. Island photographed by William Young
photo in some of the talks I give
The “giant eye” of a camera
about my Fascination of Birds book, which has silhouettes
lens can be a significant problem. When trying to
of swallows on the cover.
photograph a bird, it often flies just as you raise your
My camera is one of many valuable tools I use in the
camera. This is not due merely to bad luck. The reflection
field. In addition to documentation, it often shows me
from the camera lens (and to a lesser extent from binocular
things about birds which I cannot see with my naked eyes.
lenses) can startle a bird. My primary goal in the field is to
For these reasons, I am grateful to the Dickcissel who got
observe birds. If I can take photos after looking at them, so
me started.
much the better. If I reach for my camera first, the result
often is that the bird flies, and I will have neither a good
—William Young
look nor a good photo. I usually look first, then reach for
the camera.
Author Note: William Young is a writer who lives in Arlington.
I attended a workshop in Australia with the noted
He teaches classes about birds for the Audubon Society of
wildlife photographer Graeme Chapman (not the Monty
Northern Virginia. You can see his photos at https://
www.flickr.com/photos/145890709@N08/albums.
Python guy). He said that the most important part of any
The nature videos on his YouTube channel (https://
bird photo is the eye. For me, this does not always apply. I
www.youtube.com/user/williamyoung42) have had more than
have taught classes about bird identification, and certain
three-quarters of a million views.
photos are useful to me, even though many photographers
might discard them. For instance, I took a photo of a
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
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VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for
2022 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 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 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: November
18, 2021, February 17 and April 21,
2022.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday,
December 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 August mail out crew:
Elizabeth Fenton and Joanna Taylor.
Deadline for next issue of The
Siskin: The February issue will
include activities through April 2022.
Please send items for publication by
January 1, 2022, to the editors at
siskineditor@verizon.net.
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, 703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook
Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Birding and Photography: Bird Photography by a Non-Photographer
by William Young (continued)
Photographs taken by William Young on
International trips
Upper left, Whooping Motmot, Panama
Upper right, Ocellated Turkey, Belize
Left, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Ecuador
Lower left, Southern Ground-hornbill, Tanzania
Lower right, Blue-footed Booby, Galapagos
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
Addendum website only 1
Nesting Mississippi Kites Near Green Spring Park
Photographs © Donald Sweig, 2021
Adult feeding Cicada to Juvenile, August 9, 2021
Perched Juvenile, August 9, 2021
Juvenile in Flight, August 19, 2021
Subadult Second-year bird with some adult head and body
plumage change, but retaining much juvenile wing and tail
plumage. Both wings also show molt in the primary flight
feathers. June 17, 2021
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
Adult in Flight, August 19, 2021
Addendum website only 2
Treasurer’s Report for
Fiscal Year 2021
Bombay Hook NWR Birds
The Club 2021 Financial Report
follows. At the end of the year, the
Club had 133 family and 267
individual memberships and 533
members. Memberships are up by
over 40 from September 2020.
Membership remained strong as
did donations to the Val Kitchens
Memorial Educational Grant funds.
Once again the Club gave a grant to
the Community Cloud Forest
Conservation organization.
Meeting expenses were low due
to the use of virtual meetings.
Printing costs were higher than usual
because the Board decided to print
the Siskin is color to enhance the
featured articles on bird photography.
At the close of the year, the Club
had $14,676 in total assets,, including
those reserved for future years
($3,815)and for future Education
grants ($598).
Income received
Dues for 2021
Bird Watcher’s Digest &
pin sales
Donations – Educational
grant fund
Gifts received
Total Income
4,365
0
600
96
$5,061
Expenses
Organizational costs
$783
(includes fees for web host
PO box, VSO, Paypal,
supplies)
Meeting expenses
199
Printing and postage
2,924
(includes bulk mail permit)
Educational Grants
500
Donations given
50
Total expenses
Net for 2021
-$4,456
$605
—Jean Tatalias, Treasurer
Photographs by Seth Honig at Bombay Hook NWR:
Top right: Common Gallinule and chick
Middle: Virginia Rail chick
Botttom: Orchard Oriole
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 4 . November 2021
Addendum website only 3
2022 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOTICE
This is your 2022 dues notice. Annual dues are $10.00 for individual membership
and $15.00 for family membership. Dues should be paid by December 31.
Club dues do not include Virginia Society of Ornithology membership.
Renewals: Please check your November 2021 Siskin mailing label. You do not owe dues if
your label shows in the top left corner “22” (dues paid-through 2022) or a later year or “CO”
(complimentary).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: YOU CAN JOIN AND PAY DUES ONLINE!!!
NVBC is using PayPal so members can JOIN and RENEW ONLINE. Go to the Club’s web site,
www.nvabc.org and click on the “join” tab. You can select individual or family memberships
for one, two, or three years. As you complete the transactions, you will post your name, address
and email information. Please add your email address (if different from your PayPal account
email), phone number and names of family participants for family membership to “add special
instructions to the seller.”
PayPal is a way to send money securely, with the flexibility to pay by a customer’s PayPal
account, bank account, or credit card. When you pay online you can choose to pay by your
PayPal account if you have one, but it is not required. You can pay by credit card as you would
for any other online shopping transaction.
If you want to pay by check, complete the form below and mail to the address at the bottom.
You may also use this form to submit changes in your name and mailing information or you can
call the membership chair, Elizabeth Fenton, at 703-533-0851.
WAY TO HELP THE CLUB
Field trip leader: If you are willing to volunteer to lead club bird trips, check

Northern Virginia Bird Club Membership
Name _______________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _______________________________________________
Phone___________________________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________________________
Please check:
Renewal
New Membership
Dues:
Individual
$10.00/1 year
$20.00/2 years
$30.00/3 years
Family
$15.00/1 year
$30.00/2 years
$45.00/3 years
Please send this form with your dues payment (check payable to NVBC) to:
Northern Virginia Bird Club Membership, PO Box 5812, Arlington, VA 22205-0812