Prothonotary Warbler Sings to Birders at Bles Park

Prothonotary Warbler.

Nine birders participated in the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy walk at Bles Park on Sunday May 16. The clear highlight of the walk was excellent looks at a Prothonotary Warbler loudly singing across Broad Run. Other wondrous sights included singing Indigo Buntings, Wood Duck babies chasing after their mom, and a conveniently perched Ruby-throated Hummingbird. We also saw the very large, very dark gray wings of a Great Blue Heron before he/she appeared to duck down out of sight into the tall grass, where she probably had a nest.

In total, the walk yielded 38 species of birds and provided the participants with an excellent introduction to the park. The full list can be found below or online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S88265724. The Bles Park walk is currently being held on the third Sunday of each month at 8:00 a.m., and the number of participants is limited due to the pandemic. Registration is required for all bird walks.

Species List:
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 10
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 4
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 4
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) 4
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 4
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 6
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 3
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 5
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 12
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 3
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 60 high count. Multiple flyover flocks.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) 1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 8