Double-crested Cormorant.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

Eight people enjoyed the regular bird walk at Broad Run Stream Valley Park on July 19. The walk got off to a nice start at the parking lot with 13 Killdeer in the grass across from the cars and a Green Heron flyover. Next up was a Double-crested Cormorant in the neighborhood pond. Then it was time for the group to head through the tunnel that leads to the park.  In the tunnel was a nest full of Barn Swallow babies, an unexpected sighting.  Throughout the park we had lots of American Goldfinches and a good number of Field Sparrows.

At the back of the park, and got a treat seeing two Red-headed Woodpeckers.  Not so pleasant was the area along the back where all the trees had been cut to put in the overhead power lines. Continuing along, we saw an American Kestrel eating a rodent and then a Blue Grosbeak. It was starting to get muggy, and the birds were quieting down, but we did hear a few Common Yellow-throats and a White-eyed Vireo. We came back by the community garden and found a few Chipping Sparrows.  Along with the birds, we had some pretty cool butterflies including good looks at Common Wood Nymphs and Zebra Swallowtails.

We found a total of 48 species of birds, and the checklist can be viewed on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S261222940.

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