Even though it snowed around an inch the night before, the Banshee Reeks monthly bird walk on Saturday, January 11 turned out to be surprisingly productive. Four intrepid birders joined Michael Sciortino and John Denice to walk through the fresh snow in search of winter species. The sun was out, there was not much wind, and it was very quiet. The conditions were excellent for hearing and seeing birds as they dug themselves out from the newly fallen snow.

Northern Flicker.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

We left the parking lot and walked back up the entry road as the snow and ice crunched under our feet. We took the first left down onto the Raspberry Trail. The trail was much better than we expected with a male Purple Finch mixed in with Downy Woodpeckers and American Goldfinches jumping from branch to branch near the treetops. Carolina Chickadees and Eastern Bluebirds were active as well. The trail was still snow covered from the previous storm, but the fresh powder provided good footing as we made our way.

We stopped to peer into the Dulles Wetlands valley area near the Courtland Farm Village and got looks at a Red-shouldered Hawk as it flew west and perched. Along the trail we got good looks at a Brown Creeper, heard Eastern Towhees, and saw an American Kestrel as it flew past. Northern Flickers were active throughout the walk.

We then came back by way of the Spring Pond that was not entirely frozen over to our surprise. Earlier in the walk we did have a Great Blue Heron fly over the group coming from the pond direction and heading northwest. Perhaps it was wading in the pond earlier. Along the way we observed and heard clearly the calls of two Common Ravens, our only Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a Pileated Woodpecker, a second Red-shouldered Hawk, more bluebirds, our only Bald Eagle, and rounding out the day with a Field Sparrow. We passed the garden and headed back down the service road to the Visitor Center where we tallied and dusted ourselves off from the snow.

We recorded a total of 33 species that are listed below and can be viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S208872755.

Sunrise at Banshee Reeks.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

Species List:
Mourning Dove 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
American Kestrel 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 2
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 6
Northern Mockingbird 4
Eastern Bluebird 14
American Robin 9
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 6
Field Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 8
White-throated Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 10
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 18

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