American Goldfinch.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

On a cold and damp morning, 10 people showed up for Loudoun Wildlife’s regular bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, which was led by Joe Coleman and Michael Sciortino. Using the Goose Creek Trail, the group visited the floodplain on the Carter-Luck Trail, returning by way of the Spring House Pond. The highlights of the walk included two Brown Creepers, a group of five Golden-crowned Kinglets, two flocks of Cedar Waxwings, and six woodpecker species. On the way out of the preserve a couple of us found seven Mallards and two Hooded Mergansers on the pond to the southwest of where The Woods Road intersects with Evergreen Mills Road.

A total of 40 species were found; the complete list can be seen below or viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123733398

This is the only regular bird walk held in December, but you can join us for the Central Loudoun Christmas Bird Count on Tuesday, December 28. Approximately 20 teams will cover an area from Ashburn to Purcellville and Waterford to Aldie during the Count. Everyone is welcome, and beginners are teamed with experts. You can bird for just a couple of hours or all day.  There are several other Christmas Bird Counts in our area that you can also join.

Hooded Mergansers.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

Species List:
Canada Goose 45
Mallard 7
Hooded Merganser 2
duck sp. 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
Mourning Dove 10
Ring-billed Gull 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 35
American Crow 25
Fish Crow 4
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 2
Carolina Wren 6
European Starling 12
Northern Mockingbird 3
Eastern Bluebird 4
Cedar Waxwing 30
House Finch 12
American Goldfinch 35
Dark-eyed Junco 6
White-throated Sparrow 35
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 6
Northern Cardinal 10