Heat and Humidity Doesn’t Deter Birders at Banshee Reeks
Fowler’s Toad.
Photo by Lisa Streckfuss
Despite the heat and humidity, 21 people showed up for the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on July 8 and found over 50 species of birds. Because of the size of the group we split up for about half the walk with Jane Yocom leading one group and Joe Coleman the other.
Red Admiral butterfly.
Photo by Lisa Streckfuss
One of the highlights and mysteries of the walk was a brownish falcon seen flying to the east of the parking lot as we first gathered. Unfortunately, it flew into the morning sun and we were unable to positively identify it, but we thought it was too large to be a Kestrel and too small to be a Peregrine. Other highlights included a single Double-crested Cormorant that flew overhead as well as two different Bald Eagles, one a juvenile and one an adult. Perhaps they were heading to their home at the nearby Dulles Greenway Wetlands. We also saw a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (surprisingly uncommon this summer), very vocal multiple White-eyed Vireos, Yellow-breasted Chats and Indigo Buntings. There were also numerous singing Field Sparrows. While waiting for the walks to begin one of the participants saw a Wood Duck and a Belted Kingfisher in the pond at the corner of Evergreen Mills Road and The Woods Road.
We were also excited to find a very young Fowler’s Toad near Goose Creek. Other non-avian highlights included several butterflies and dragonflies.
For a complete list of the birds observed by the two groups, see the lists below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143903117 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S143960404.
Group 1 Species List
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 8
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 25
Turkey Vulture 12
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
falcon sp. 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 7
Acadian Flycatcher 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 8
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 3
crow sp. 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 6
Tree Swallow 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 7
European Starling 12
Gray Catbird 2
Brown Thrasher 2
Northern Mockingbird 4
Eastern Bluebird 8
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 8
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 11
Chipping Sparrow 5
Field Sparrow 12
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 5
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Yellowthroat 8
Prairie Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Indigo Bunting 6
Group 2 Species List
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 25
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 8
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
falcon sp. (Falco sp.) 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 6
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 3
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 6
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 5
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 4
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 4
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 2
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 4
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 8
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 8
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 12
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 4
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) 4
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) 2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 3
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 8
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 6
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 4
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