- Acadian Flycatcher
- American Crow
- American Goldfinch
- American Robin
- Barn Swallow
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Canada Goose
- Carolina Wren
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chimney Swift
- Common Grackle
- Common Yellowthroat
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Bluebird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Gadwall
- Glossy Ibis
- Gray Catbird
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Great Egret
- Indigo Bunting
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Mallard
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Flicker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Scarlet Tanager
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Song Sparrow
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Tree Swallow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Wood Duck
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
field_report from "Huntley Meadows" on 07/24/2004 - 13:00
Field report for: Huntley Meadows from 07/24/2004 - 1:00pm to 07/24/2004 - 1:00pm
I wasn’t sure if we would have a very successful birding day at Huntley Meadows, since the previous week was cloudy and a bit rainy. When we met at the Bread and Chocolate on Capitol Hill it seemed like it was going to rain, but we were determined to go out anyway. I did want to see the Glossy Ibis that had been reported there…and I did get my hopes up over the thought of any kind of bittern. So, we loaded up and headed out to the Park. There we met up with rest of the group, who had already headed on down the trail. I think the idea of seeing a Glossy Ibis was just too exciting to have to wait on those of us who were running behind schedule!
The morning was overcast and a bit dreary, but a singing Indigo Bunting at the trailhead of the boardwalk cheered me up. Up ahead I saw Ted Vawter, an excellent birder and guide, who told me of what the group had already seen. He pointed out the dead tree of breeding Red-bellied Woodpeckers and pointed out the differences between the Tree and Barn Swallows that were chasing bugs over the marsh.
Then as we continued down the boardwalk, the Glossy Ibis was in plain view, close enough to distinguish the differences between it and the White-faced Ibis. I think we were all glad to get such a great look. Ted had to leave early, so now our group was reduced to a small group of nine cheerful birders happy to be out in this wonderful, peaceful marsh…even if there was not a new bird at every turn. Personally, I liked the great looks of both perching and flying Yellow-billed Cuckoos; and the time we were able to spend on the Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers. The lone Gadwall was a surprise, too, so I’m glad we spent as much time as we did making sure of our identification.
But…as it turns out we got quite a nice list of 40 birds, and we got an enjoyable start to our Saturday to boot. Now don’t you wish you could have been with us? Hope to see you next time! Thank you, John Beetham, for keeping the morning’s bird list and for sending it to me!
