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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/10/2026

I finally saw the big flocks of nomadic Pine Siskin at Ticksville that everyone was talking about. I had put down some conservative, single-digit count based on what I saw at eye-level. When I looked at the photos I took of the birds on top of tall trees, I […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A Pine Siskin photobombing some lovely white flowers and sticks. Yes it's out of focus, but the most important field mark, those green wings, is clearly seen! Sully Woodlands, Centreville, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/10/2026

Boatmobile found 5 dark ibises late yesterday. By the time I got there they had retreated deep into the wetlands and out of view. This morning I looked at the map and decided to be at the Usual Patch by daybreak. Turned out I didn't have to worry about them […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

I'm pretty sure this one is a White-faced Ibis. They are hard to ID even on a good day! All ibises are vagrant in our region. White and Glossy flyovers are not unheard of, but White-faced may be a first! This one has red eyes and a small red patch near the base of the bill. Huntley Meadows Park, Hybla Valley, VA

This one is definitely a White-faced Ibis, and not a juvenile. The red under the wing and red legs are apparent, as is the red eye. It is a vagrant bird! Is this the same bird as the other? That I'm not sure. Huntley Meadows Park, Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/10/2026

All the Indigo Buntings we saw yesterday were merely uncommon, but today they are rare, requiring eBird comments. As usual, I got a blurry photo when one popped up long enough for me to question my bird ID skill. They fledged in August and it's been a while […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A blurry photo of an immature Indigo Bunting. Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

We had some movement last night. This morning at the meadow the only warbler was Yellow-rumped and maybe a Palm. The Connecticut Warbler ("Con Warbler", as another dipper calls it) that has been there every day up to yesterday was nowhere to be found. Birds […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

An immature White Ibis. It flew right in front of a bunch of school kids, pooping in mid-air, then stopped in a tree across the water from me. I barely snapped a photo and, while I was confirming what I just saw with Merlin, it flew away. Huntley Meadows Park, Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

I hiked down to the bottom of the fort to see the Great Cormorant. Along the way I found out my shoes were waterproof and slipped on a wet leaf. The cormorant roost was empty. I ran into Birder BS and Boatmobile, who thankfully had a CAC and gave us a ride […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A very far away photo of a Great Cormorant on an old pier. It has dark head & neck, but a white belly, a field mark visible even from a distance. Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton, VA

The Great Cormorant spreads its wings. It has a hefty head & bill. Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026

Everyone had a Connecticut Warbler out east today! The same one ("continuing") was found having an argument ("intensely interacting", as the Guru wrote in his eBird comments) with a White-eyed Vireo (one of the sassiest birds). Not me. I didn't have the time […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

One of two Brown-headed Cowbirds on their way somewhere. Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2026

It's probably not over yet. Just today, out east, Kyle, Boatmobile, and Birder Ed managed to find the Connecticut Warbler that the Wunderkind found and refound a few days ago. Well, I had a skulky bird with dark hood and complete eye rings preening in a low […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A Bay-breasted Warbler whose identity I was able to ascertain (black feet!) before seeing the skulky bird. Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2026

Alas, it's game over! Warbler season basically ends when Palm Warbler shows up, and there were three on the compost pile, wagging their little tails, when I surprised them #birding

The back side of a Palm Warbler (likely Western). Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/09/2026

Today I previewed the bird walk I'll be leading next week. The hot spot is more miss than hit, except Tall Brother had an exceptional warbler day there yesterday. I don't think I made it to the spot where he found a Blue-winged Warbler (now rare, require […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A fall Blackpoll Warbler. The orange feet set it apart from the fall Bay-breasted Warbler, which looks very similar but has black feet. Laurel Hill Equestrian Center, Lorton, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/09/2026

Nothing likes the American Golden Plover to bring people to the little bridge. We were at the tail end of the nor'easter. It was gray and misty with gusty winds. At low tide, a Tall Brother, the Plant Guy, and Oz showed up with their scopes, followed by ZZ […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

We had a lot of gulls, mostly Ring-billed, and a few Laughing Gulls that were scrunched up in the cold wind. Hunting Creek Bridge, near Alexandria, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026

OMG so cute! There was a birder with a scope there. He seemed to think it was a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope, as its feathers are fresh and vivid, not the streaky gray of a nonbreeding adult. I dawdled. Where else could I have seen a basically pelagic bird?! It's a lifer! #birding

Red-necked Phalarope. Reflecting Pool at US Capitol, Washington, DC

Front view of Red-necked Phalarope. Reflecting Pool at US Capitol, Washington, DC

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026

On the day I saw a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher I was supposed to look around quickly for warblers then get to the Hawk Watch -- until I ran into these biologists. By the time the 2nd biologist got her photo I was birded out. That day there were more than 3000 […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

This is not a photo of the sky. Each of the specks is a Broad-winged Hawk flying south with its 50 best friends. Snicker's Gap Hawk Watch, Bluemont, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026

I saw that Ace had 17 Cape May warblers, among others, during a fallout yesterday at the little retention pond, so I went there to see if there was any leftover. There were other warblers, but most of the warblers were Cape May, the one warbler I did not see […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Cape May warbler. Arrowbrook Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/09/2026

I did get a half decent photo of a Least Flycatcher at the same patch a little over a week ago, and what I saw today was definitely not that, even as it flicked its wings and tail at us! Hopefully, with enough practice, I can someday put my eyes immediately […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Least Flycatcher. Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA. 11 September 2026

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/09/2026

What's to prevent me from purchasing 10 packages of 10 credits to get 100 credits for $9.90? Not shown in the photo, but the first discount is when one purchases 1000 credits for $79.99.

Purchasing credits in the Henle app. The pricing structure does not reward the purchase of more credits

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026

Yesterday PG (named for his eBird Region, an adjoining county in the adjoining state) told us to check the mudflats at the little bridge because he had Stilt Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalarope down the river. It was pouring rain & at high tide! After looking […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Digiscoped photo of a group of Stilt Sandpipers foraging at low tide. We actually had better look than we did at a closer distance last month because the lighting was good yesterday. Hunting Creek Bridge, near Alexandria, VA. 11 September 2026

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/09/2026

I got off the ice early today to go look for Mourning Warbler with Boatmobile that the Older Tall Brother found yesterday. We never found it, but we had a Least Flycatcher right off the bat. Boatmobile had to go back to work, but I stayed a little longer and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Least Flycatcher. Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA

Side view, Least Flycatcher. This shows a primary projection that's less than 2/3 of the longest tertial in the folded wing. Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/09/2026

I hiked down to the bottom of the trail at the fort. I ran into the person who reported the Western Willet a week ago. The willet was not there. He decided to go up to the shelter up the creek. Almost as soon as he left I saw a pair of wings flash. It was the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A blurry, faraway photo of a Western Willet stretching out its wings. It's a rather drab bird except for the distinct black-and-white wing pattern. Accotink Wildlife Refuge, Fort Belvoir, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/09/2026

Area Lake was eerily quiet and still. It was a lot of work for the two warblers I found in almost 4 hours. I blame this young and clueless Red-tailed Hawk. #birding

A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/09/2026

This morning I was on the little bridge. The Wunderkind spied a Forster's Tern. The tern was soon joined by not one, not two, but three of its friends. They would fly, then crash into the river to catch stuff. I alerted Boatmobile, who was out there but […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Where is Waldo, Forster's Tern edition. Look for a small bird with light gray wings, a white head, and a black smudge where the eye would be. Hunting Creek Bridge, near Alexandria, VA (hint: upper right corner)

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/08/2026

Yesterday someone found five Stilt Sandpipers at my usual patch. I was there this morning at 0630. I looked in the same direction and soon found these medium sandpipers that foraged in a sewing machine needle fashion. There were one big one and four smaller […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A very far away blurry view of a Stilt Sandpiper feeding in shallow water. They are easily confused with Lesser Yellowlegs; fortunately there were many yellowlegs present nearby for compare & contrast. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/08/2026

Turns out terns are hard. Last year, in May, I was on a boat in Chincoteague on a club trip led by our Former e-Bird Reviewer. We stared at this tern for the longest time. Our Former e-Bird Reviewer was almost convinced this could be an Arctic Tern. When we […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

An adult Common Tern in breeding plumage. Seen from Chincoteague Inlet. Chincoteague Island, VA. 18 May 2025

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/08/2026

Those "Least Terns" turned out to be Forster's Tern, but the whole episode had me re-examine my small terns from last year. I had reflexively identified the two small terns in the photo here as Forster's Tern because of their size, but they were more likely […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

This was taken 18 August 2025 at Hunting Creek Bridge near Alexandria, VA. The circled tern has a full black cap, suggesting that it is a Common Tern, as Forster's in mis-August would have lost most of its cap. Its outer primaries are black extending past its tail, also indicative of Common Tern but not diagnostic. It sits low, but one would need to compare it to an actual Forster's Tern to nail that. Finally, Kayak Todd had found a Common Tern in the same waters the day before. The bill shape on the tern could suggest Forster's, but there's not enough pixels to determine that.

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/10/2025

Even though this is the best look I've ever had of a Blue-headed Vireo, I only managed one blurry photo.#birding

Even in this blurry photo of a Blue-headed Vireo one could see the goggles. It is easier to ID this bird during the spring migration, when it sings a song that's similar but has a different quality from that of a Red-eyed Vireo. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/07/2025

Just to show what the big deal is: I have to go way back in time to find a photo of an adult Little Blue Heron. There were adults visiting us since, but they were far away and elusive. #birding

An adult Little Blue Heron. Note the bi-color bill. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA. May 15, 2022

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/07/2025

I just worked out what's going on: this eBirder thought the Green Heron was the Little Blue Heron! They use their own hotspot almost daily so it's easy to go to the hotspot and see all observations. Green Herons are a common sight at this location and have […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A Green Heron. It is mostly blue. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA. 17 June 2025

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/07/2025

Oh the birds were good too. Saw first of the returning shorebirds: a Solitary Sandpiper and three (most likely) Least Sandpipers. Plus the Blue Grosbeak that's been singing all summer -- and its mate -- finally got close enough for a look, albeit against the morning sun. #birding

A male Blue Grosbeak. Can't really make out the blue in this light, but one could see its enormous beak and the patches of red in its wings. Plus it was singing. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA.

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/07/2025

PS: my second Brisket Egg Taco has eggs in it. I did not realize that the Texas breakfast taco is just a tortilla barely holding some fillings (whereas the burrito is when the fillings are *enclosed* in a tortilla). Buc-ee's make their own tortillas in the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Half of a Brisket Egg Taco. I did not appreciate that the Texas breakfast taco is just a tortilla barely holding stuff

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/07/2025

Our haul, minus the breakfast brisket egg taco and breakfast burrito we got, and the Icees for the road..we didn't stay for lunch, but they had brisket sandwiches already. Plus I got another breakfast brisket egg taco because the first one didn't have eggs

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/07/2025

"Beef on the table", I think that's what they said.

Guy carving a beef brisket for breakfast tacos and burritos at the Buc-ee's

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/07/2025

There were three little babies in the Kingbird's nest! #birding

Three baby Eastern Kingbirds in a nest. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

One of the three baby Kingbirds was all mouth. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/06/2025

#Gravy the Cat doesn't know what "trending" means

Gravy the Cat, so named because he's a little chonky and gravy-colored

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/06/2025

At my usual patch is an explosion of Green Herons. Not sure how many there were actually but 5 were seen at the same time, and many were juveniles #birding

A juvenile Green Heron that still has some fuzz on its head. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

A trio of Green Herons on a log. It's hard to judge their age from this far away photo, but at least 2 of them still have downy white feathers showing on their blue heads. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

Four Green Herons on a pile of sticks. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2025

There were four NOMO in that little patch: the guy doing neighborhood birds, a mama, and two very hungry young mockingbirds begging for food #birding

A juvenile Northern Mockingbird in the tree. Its mom was nearby watching me. Vienna Reservoir, near Fairfax, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2025

Temperature plummeted to the high 60's so I went out, even though it was gray and misty. There was a mockingbird whose repertoire included Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, etc -- all the birds you'd expect in a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A Northern Mockingbird whose mimic skill had me taking a bunch of birds off my checklist. Vienna Reservoir, near Fairfax, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2025

LOL they did fine, although the rest of the tree came crashing down as the SUV owner possibly redlining it

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2025

While I called the town police, a bunch of paunchy middle-aged white guys in shorts were all set to move the tree off the road. They eventually decided on dragging it with a car

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2025

Yesterday the top floor got real hot, a combination of heat rises and the modern forced air AC doesn't blow hard enough. In desperation, I put a layer of aluminum foil over the window screens in one of the hottest rooms. It's so far kept that room bearable.

Aluminum foil has kept the worst of the sun from entering the window panes

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/06/2025

A week ago we all got rare bird alert for Dickcissel. I was mad, because I told her I would not go, I didn't get to see the bird, but her team and others did. She clearly contacted each individual afterwards to ask them to hide their lists, because their […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A Northern Mockingbird on top of a sign at the Landfill. Fairfax County I-95 Landfill, near Lorton, VA. June 2023

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/06/2025

Nobody told me it was off-limits and nobody stopped me when I was there. I asked her if she was going to make some sort of announcement, and what is she going to do when Dickcissel season rolls around. Nobody is going to need to see *my* list to be encouraged […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A very well hidden female Dickcissel at the Landfill around the end of May, 2024. I took the picture without knowing what I was looking at; unbeknownst to me, this was the last Dickcissel I saw. Fairfax County I-95 Landfill, near Lorton, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/06/2025

A few years ago there was a hoodie that was left behind. I called it Macaulay. It was seen fending for itself throughout the summer. It was growing up, with some of its feathers turning white. Then it was seen a lot less. One day late autumn there was a male […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Macaulay the Left-behind Merganser. Huntley Meadows Park, Summer 2022

Macaulay the Left-behind Merganser, Huntley Meadows Park, late Summer 2022

A lone male Hooded Merganser was seen in choppy waters in November 2022 -- a little early -- at Huntley Meadows Park.

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/06/2025

It was not a total loss: there was a red bird in a tree near the start and it was not a cardinal. Not too many people have seen the Summer Tanager at my regular patch (although I was sure I heard it the last time, but Merlin never picked it up). #birding

Male Summer Tanager. Huntley Meadows Park, near Hybla Valley, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/05/2025

Merlin's Photo ID was not too helpful; it identified all three empids as Alder Flycatcher, which is a rarity around here and triggers BS alarms in eBird Reviewers. I wish Merlin would offer "scores" (like softmax...I think Merlin uses a neural net […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Empid No 1. We decided it was an Acadian. All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Empid No. 2. We decided it was also an Acadian. All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/05/2025

LOL PINN as brittle as George Karniadakas's friggin ego

Tammy Kolda, who posted the article on LinkedIn, was apparently attacked by George Em Karniadakis, who was once a mathematician but long ago became a salesman peddling, as of lately, PINN

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/05/2025

Technically none of these terns are lifers, but this is the best and the longest looks I've had on Royal, Common, and Black Terns, and all together #birding

A faraway look of a bunch of terns that are not Caspian or Forster. Left to right: Royal, Common (with red legs), Black, and more Royal Terns. Chicoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Island, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/05/2025

Our departing eBird Reviewer led an early walk at the farm near where I used to work. He once had a magical experience at the fields there one early-May morning, and he wanted us to experience the Bobolinks. Alas, only one male Bobolink in breeding plumage […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

An Eastern Meadowlark claiming his territory (although he didn't have any rivals). Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/04/2025

LOL speaking of Caspian Tern...come for the Wood Duck at our little lake, stay for the Caspian Tern #birding

A pile of male Wood Duck. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA

One of two Caspian Terns surveying Lake Fairfax, a small inland neighborhood retention pond + water park. The most prominent field mark of the largest tern on this planet is the large orange bill that looks like someone has stuck a carrot on its face. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA

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Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/04/2025

Taking Friday off from the usual #birding as well because I'll be doing some up-close kind of birding...maybe they'll let me hold a bird this week. (There was an Eastern Phoebe singing near the banding station...I wonder if this was the one) All banding […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

An Eastern Phoebe after banding and before being released. Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 3/28/2025. All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.

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