Plenty of Birds and a Beetle on the Banshee Walk
Photo by Michael Sciortino
On June 10 Loudoun Wildlife hosted the monthly Banshee Reeks bird walk on a clear and comfortable morning. Fortunately, the threat of smoke from the Canadian wildfires subsided on Friday in time for the Saturday morning event. Sixteen birders joined leaders Michael Sciortino, Scott Harris, John Denice and Dori Rhodes and split into two teams that went in opposite directions to look for birds. The combined total for both groups was 55 species during the walk.
Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle.
Photo by Michael Sciortino
One early highlight was an excellent view of a Blue Grosbeak at the top of a tree along the entrance road. It was visible for all to see on Michael and Dori’s team and heard well by Scott and John’s group. A female Orchard Oriole hunted for breakfast as the group made the turn onto the Raspberry Trail. We had a quick glimpse of an Osprey as it flew over the Raspberry Trail heading north. Michael and Dori’s team had excellent looks of numerous Pileated Woodpeckers along the Lookout Rock Loop to the thrill of the attendees. Meanwhile, Scott and John’s team recorded a sighting of a Bald Eagle and had good looks at a Great Crested Flycatcher.
Michael and Dori’s team also paused for a moment to admire the emerald green color of a Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle as it waited for prey to cross its path. As this group made its way back to the Spring House, we observed a vocal Prairie Warbler in good light atop a pine tree for all to see.
For the complete list of species recorded, see below or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S141091521 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S141093319.
Species List for Scott & John’s Team
1 Mourning Dove
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Great Blue Heron
3 Black Vulture
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Bald Eagle
3 Red-shouldered Hawk
4 Downy Woodpecker – PO
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Acadian Flycatcher
4 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
5 White-eyed Vireo
5 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue Jay
6 American Crow
2 Fish Crow
1 crow sp.
2 Common Raven
4 Carolina Chickadee
3 Tufted Titmouse
4 Tree Swallow – ON
5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
3 House Wren
9 Carolina Wren
1 Brown Thrasher
4 Northern Mockingbird
4 Eastern Bluebird
1 Wood Thrush
1 American Robin
1 House Finch
5 American Goldfinch
5 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
3 Eastern Towhee
1 Yellow-breasted Chat
1 Red-winged Blackbird
3 Brown-headed Cowbird
8 Common Yellowthroat
1 American Redstart
7 Prairie Warbler
8 Northern Cardinal
1 Blue Grosbeak — Heard
3 Indigo Bunting
Species List for Michael & Dori’s Team
Canada Goose 4
Mourning Dove 3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 5
Acadian Flycatcher 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
White-eyed Vireo 3
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Tree Swallow 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Carolina Wren 6
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 3
Eastern Bluebird 2
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
Field Sparrow 5
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Parula 2
Prairie Warbler 4
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 7
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
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