Wortman Pond with Duckweed.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

Fifteen people showed up for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s regular bird walk on November 27 at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in the far northwestern corner of Loudoun County. In spite of the cold and windy morning, the group (led by Michael Sciortino and Joe Coleman) found 34 species during the walk. The highlights included:  two Wild Turkeys seen by Michael as he drove by the center on Harpers Ferry Road; six of the area’s seven possible winter woodpeckers; an American Kestrel, seen right after the group finished tallying the species observed; two Common Ravens; numerous Eastern Bluebirds (the three trails at the center had a very bountiful year); three Hermit Thrushes; and several small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day especially when the group was sheltered from the wind.

For a complete list of the birds observed at BRCES see the list below or view online at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S98132064.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy schedules three regular monthly bird walks, one at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship on the 4th Saturday of every month (except in December), one at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on the second Saturday of the month, and one at Bles Park on the third Sunday of the month (except in December).

Hermit Thrush.
Photo by Michael Sciortino

Species List:
Wild Turkey 2
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 4
American Kestrel 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 3
Northern Mockingbird 3
Eastern Bluebird 16
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 25
Cedar Waxwing 45
House Finch 9
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco 8
White-throated Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 8