May 20 2012 - take 2

Interesting breeding season at home, a nest under the deck probably a robin and house wrens in our nest box , not bad for such a small area. Previously we've had song sparrow nesting in our bushes. Its not clear where they nested this year but it is clear that they hatch a young cowbird which has been begging from its adopted parents and fearing on our seed.

Bizarre as it seems I was checking out my new gear for the arctic in 80 degree weather at the patch today - new boots and trousers to badly paraphrase Ian Drury - oh and a new small camera.
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And again... Portsmouth may 7th 2012

Hobby over the M25 in the rain.

Of course there were more birds, gulls and sandwich terms over the solent, shelduck at siddlesham ferry.

Visiting dads I found another buzzard, third record he reckons after i found the 2nd at Christmas. Goldcrest were singing, several Jackdaw flew over and a Stock Dove, all good records. Peacocks were calling somewhere along the valley! Magpies, great-spots and Jay were putting on a good show at the feeders

Alexandria and Riverbend May 5 2012

A good and birdy Saturday started out well with a Philadelphia Vireo singing at home as Chrystal and I left early for Riverbend.
The report for the warbler walk follows. Despite warblers being few and far between there were some good birds, two yellow-throated warber and a showy yellow-throated vireo probably being the highlights.
At Greendale,good progress on the early Bluebird nests. At box 8, a long time house wren stronghold, a pair of bluebirds were sitting on the box, closely watched by a pair of tree swallows in a standoff the early Clint Eastwood films would have been proud of. A partial house wren nest was cleared from the box.
Speaking of that species, our nest box at home has attracted house wrens to start building. The materials seem to be more grass based than the Greendale nests which are always made of sticks. It will be interesting to see the finished article.
On Sunday, while on our deck, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers were repeatedly coming to the fat just feet away. Tracking them back to the woods, a nest with large young was watched.
And off to Heathrow I went.....
Date: May 5, 2012 21:01:33 EDT
This morning's Spring Walk, sponsored by Riverbend Park attached a good group of birders and some notable spring sightings.
Warblers were not numerous but two yellow-throated warbler were good. Northern Parula were plentiful around the park include a female collecting spiders webs for nest building.
Cedar Waxwings we're abundant particularly around the boat ramp as we both orioles.
A record of three Ring-necked duck was unusual for this time of year.
A vociferous Yellow-throated Vireo was found near the visitor center after the walk.


Rob Young
Alexandria,va



Riverbend Park, Fairfax, US-VA
May 5, 2012 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:
Submitted from BirdLog World for iOS, version 1.4.2
53 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 20
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 3
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 35
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 30
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 15
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 5
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 4
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 4
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 10
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) 1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 4
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 10
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 10
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 5
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 5
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 7
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 50
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 3
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) 2
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 8
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Common Grackle (Purple) (Quiscalus quiscula quiscula/stonei) 10
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 8
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) 8
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 15
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)