2022 Birdathon Team Summaries
Check out what’s happening with the 2022 Birdathon teams and other Celebrate Birds events. Remember, it’s not too late to form your own team and join the fun.
“Shrike Force” 
another successful year of raising money and having fun in the books!!!! This was our 16th year competing in the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Birdathon, helping to raise money for wildlife conservation in Loudoun County. Congrats to all the teams that participated this year!! I’m already looking forward to next year 
. #lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlifeconservancy #loudounwildlife #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #ebird #birding #birdingvirginia #birdphotography #yellowcrownednightheron #prairiewarbler #riverotter #farmanimals #bettertogether #loudouncounty #clarkecountyva loudounwildlife
The Birdathon has been great fun for the Ligi family for 13 years!
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The Ligi Nestlings (Spring, McKenzie, Addison and Catherine Ligi) were treated to an adult and immature Bald Eagle slowly circling above us at the Blue Ridge Center and then we heard and saw several Indigo Buntings. We also got to show the girls what an Eastern Kingbird looks like. The highlights at Olde Izaak Walton Park included a Green Heron, a baby turtle, and a groundhog.
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At Claude Moore Park, a Great Blue Heron entertained us by catching and eating a fish. We laughed as we watched the baby Canada Geese and Mallards try to keep up with their parents. An Orchard Oriole bid us farewell as we headed off to Whites Ford Regional Park where we enjoyed seeing a Killdeer sitting in the grass and discussed how they pretend to have a broken wing to distract predators away from the nest. We discovered a black rat snake and the girls were startled at first, but curiosity got the best of them and they slowly crept in for a closer look. Our last bird of the day was also our most surprising — a Red-headed Woodpecker along Spinks Ferry Road – then we celebrated another successful Birdathon with ice cream at Sweet Frog.
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Addison really impressed me with her birding knowledge. She identified 20 species on her own and has a good sense of which birds can be found in different habitats. In true teenager fashion, McKenzie was more interested in her phone than the birds, but she popped her head up every now and then to add to the conversation. Catherine is learning how to write in first grade and was excited to record the birds we saw in her notebook. She said her favorite was the Rock Pigeon — go figure!
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A big thanks goes to our friends and family for their generous support and encouragement along the way. We found 38 species and have raised over $1,200 thus far to support Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy! A special thanks goes to dad whose birding (and corralling) skills have also grown over the years. He is a big reason for our success. Happy birding!
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #birding #ebird #birdingvirginia #vabirding
Warblers Steal the Show at JK Black Oak Bird Walk
Warblers such as Black-Throated Blue, American Redstart, Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped and Tennessee Warbler were sighted.
Led by Gerco Hoogeweg, the group ended up with 58 species for the trip which was by far the most species we have recorded in a single trip at the property.
To protect the environmentally sensitive habitat and rare species, JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary is not open for general public access.
Yellow Warbler photo by Michael Sciortino
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology #celebratebirds #yellowwarbler #jkblackoak
Update on Birdathon Team Reports!
Raven Loonatics beat Shrike Force by tallying 131 bird species!
They visited these sites in the 48 hour timeframe:
Bles Park
Algonkian Park
Beaverdam Reservoir
Dulles Greenway Wetlands
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship
Trumpter Swan photo by Linda Millington
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology #trumpterswan #blespark #algonkianpark #beaverdamreservoir #dullesgreenwaywetlandsmitigationproject #blueridgecenterforenvironmentalstewardship
A huge thank you to The Bird Feeder of Reston for supporting our #LWCBirdathon for many years.
Prize donations support our Birdathon team winners.
Stay tuned for team results in the coming weeks!
Raven Loonatics on the long and muddy trail to tally as many birds as we can find in #loudouncounty #lwcbirdathon 2021
So excited to add this beauty to my life list on #WorldMigratoryBirdDay.
#LWCBirdathon #prothonotarywarbler #warbler #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #vabirds #vabirding #birds #birding #virginiawildlife #vawildlife #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #loudouncounty #birdsofloudoun
Happy #WorldMigratoryBirdDay!! Migration is a wonderful time of year. Last year one of our favorite visitors was this Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
What have you seen this year?
And don't forget to donate to your favorite Birdathon team! We're almost halfway to our goal this year. Teams are going out to observe birds, and we'll pass along their updates as we receive them. Click the link in our bio to learn about the Birdathon or donate.
#LWCBirdathon #birdsofloudoun #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #loudoun #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #yellowcrownednightheron #ebird #cornelllabofornithology #vabirds #vabirding #virginiabirds #birdsofvirginia #audubon #audubonsociety #springmigration #birdmigration #birdathon
Rarities Wow Participants on Walk at Goodstone Inn
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Goodstone Inn, a luxury inn and restaurant set on 265 acres outside Middleburg, recently opened its grounds to Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a spring bird walk. On May 3rd, six participants joined leaders Carol Sottili and Mary Ann Good to spend nearly three hours traversing the Inn’s fields and wooded areas, recording 47 species of migrants and residents.
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The walk started in light rain, but a singing Red-eyed Vireo beckoned and within a half hour, the skies lightened, temperatures rose and birds were abundant. An early highlight was close-up looks at Scarlet Tanagers; while the male wowed us with his vivid red-and-black plumage, the female, in her brighter-than-olive green, also turned heads. Grasshopper Sparrows buzzed from the tall meadow and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew past almost too quickly to identify, while a flock of American Goldfinch, the males sporting their brilliant yellow breeding color, entertained.
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The group was fortunate enough to encounter two rarities. The first, a Black-billed Cuckoo, gently called from the forest. But like a much louder Lousiania Waterthrush, it stayed hidden from view. Just as the group was heading back in, a slender and very unusual raptor flying overhead in challenging lighting caught everyone’s attention. All the usual suspects were quickly rejected: not a buteo, not an accipiter, perhaps a falcon? No, its shape and coloration made the call certain: our rarity was a Mississippi Kite.
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Special thanks to Mary Ann Good for arranging the hike and the Goodstone Inn for allowing our group to enjoy their lovely grounds.
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Photo by Bruce Hill
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#mississippikite #goodstoneinn
#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology
#celebratebirds
New birders and experienced birders alike enjoyed the Big Sit birding event at Morven Park last Sunday.
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Some of the more experienced birders had the pleasure of adding a couple new birds to their life list of sightings! A total of 63 bird species were seen – Here is a complete list:
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Canada Goose
Mallard
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Solitary Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology #celebratebirds #bigsit
Bryan & Allison will be hanging out at The Big Sit at the Gatehouse at Morven Park until 4pm. One of the highlights of the morning was a small flock of Cape May Warblers.
Stop by to hang out out, and who knows what we will find this afternoon?
#LWCBirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #loudoun #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #morvenpark #birdsofloudoun #capemaywarbler #birds #birding #ebird #vabirds #vabirding #bigsit #birdathon #audubon #audubonsociety
Migration is underway at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands!
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Mary Ann Good and Mike Scott led five enthusiastic birders through the Dulles Greenway Wetlands on the morning of April 27 tallying a count of 54 bird species.
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Photo is of a Double-crested Cormorant
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Species List:
Canada Goose 12
Wood Duck 5
Chimney Swift 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 6
Osprey 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 56
American Crow 20
Fish Crow 4
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 16
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 3
European Starling 1
Gray Catbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
American Goldfinch 10
Field Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 24
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Common Grackle 2
Common Yellowthroat 10
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 8
Northern Cardinal 10
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology #celebratebirds #dullesgreenwaywetlandsmitigationproject #doublecrestedcormorant
Forty-nine species of birds, numerous wildflowers and one young toad made an appearance on April 24 for a bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES).
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This walk is the first of 11 events that Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is sponsoring to Celebrate Birds this spring.
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Red-headed Woodpecker photo by Michael Sciortino
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Species List:
Canada Goose 2
Wild Turkey 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Mourning Dove 3
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 10
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 3
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 5
Tree Swallow 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 2
Purple Finch 10
American Goldfinch 12
Chipping Sparrow 4
Field Sparrow 15
White-throated Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
Common Grackle 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
American Redstart 2
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 4
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#celebratebirds #blueridgecenterforenvironmentalstewardship #redheadedwoodpecker #lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology
The #LWCBirdathon officially kicked off yesterday, and I’ve spotted 68 species over the last two days just having fun. And, I saw a couple mama ducks with their new ducklings.
You can click the link in my bio to donate to the Fully-palmated Birders to support my team. I’m excited to see how many species we will find when we’re trying to get as many as possible.
#birdsofloudoun #warblingvireo #blueheadedvireo #prairiewarbler #yellowrumpedwarbler #treeswallow #easterntowhee #woodduck #hoodedmerganser #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birds #birding #birdathon #ebird #audubon #audubonsociety #vabirding #vawildlife #virginiawildlife #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #loudoun #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #virginia
Birding is family fun! Don’t just take our word for it – hear what Joseph, Maddie and Annika have to say. They participate in the #LWCBirdathon with their Grandfather!
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Grab your friends and family to form your own Birdathon team. It is fun and the donations you raise help us continue to create a place where people and wildlife thrive. You can win prizes for the most birds observed by a Family Team, Fledgling Birders (18 years and younger), and other categories!
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Here is a link to more information https://loudounwildlife.org/citizen-science/bird-counts/celebratebirds-birdathon/
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#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #ebird #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology
Birding is family fun! Don’t just take our word for it – hear what the Ligi Nestlings have to say. They have been participating in the #LWCBirdathon for 10 years!
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Grab your friends and family to form your own Birdathon team. It is fun and the donations you raise help us continue to create a place where people and wildlife thrive.
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You can win prizes for the most birds observed by a Family Team, Fledgling Birders (18 years and younger), and other categories! Here is a link to more information https://loudounwildlife.org/citizen-science/bird-counts/celebratebirds-birdathon/
For nearly 20 years birders from Central America through Canada have been celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. The goal is to raise awareness to the amazing journey migratory birds take. Closer to home the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy also celebrates the migration by offering several bird walks and the chance to participate in a Birdathon. If you’re interested in either, check out loudounwildlife I’m looking forward to participating and competing in the Birdathon with “Shrike Force”, this will be our 16th year raising funds for conservation within Loudoun County, and having a great 24 hours doing so! Please consider sponsoring a team 
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Vireos to the left of me!
Warblers to the right!
Here I am stuck in the middle with who?
Why that's a Barred Owl. What birds are you hoping to observe during our #LWCBirdathon?
Our Celebrate Birds walks are filling up fast, but you can follow all of the action on social media by following #LWCBirdathon. We'll be posting extra bird content for you from now through May 23 as we Celebrate Birds during our Birdathon.
There's still time to form a team to observe birds and raise money for Loudoun Wildlife. We have new prize categories this year, and a special grand prize drawing for a pair of @Zeissnature binoculars!
Click the link in our bio for all the details.
#lwcbirdathon #loudounwildlife #loudounwildlifeconservancy #birdsofloudoun #birdathon #loudoun #loudouncounty #loveloudoun #visitloudoun #birding #barredowl #blueheadedvireo #whitethroatedvireo #palmwarbler #capemaywarbler #ebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birdingvirginia #virginia #virginiawildlife #vabirding #audubonsociety #audubon #cornellsocietyofornithology
Reports from the Field: Team Summaries
Check back here for reports from the teams about their birding adventures.
