Evening star., 1944-04-25
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1pell,

Dear Sir:
I'm recent column you mentioned
that the bluebird is a species more
talked about than seen and suggested
that frequent references to it have
given the impression that 1t is nearly
as abundant as the robin. Until this
spring 1t has been my experience also
that the bMebird Is too seldom met
with. This year, however, the bird
seems to be with us in increasing num-
bers. In past seasons I have counted
myself lucky to see three or four. This
season have seen fully a dozen over
a period Of three weeks.
While hiking down back road be-
tween Alexandra and Mount Vernon
on Easter Sunday morning my wife and
counted three pairs within a space
OF 100 yards. One bird allowed us to
approach within q few yards before
flying of. Three weeks ago we noticed
bluebirds In an old cemetery at Fairfax
Court House. Later that same day dur.
ing the snow and ice storm saw several
more OF the same species below Alex
andria, just of the Mount Vernon high
way above Hunting Greek Bridge. These
birds seemed to have been part of q
loosely formed flock. The ones saw
IN the space Of a few minutes were
flying directly into the strong northerly
wind, but they hovered near the ground
IN the lee Of rushes and alders that
line the shore. I feared that they
might perish, as numbers did in the
severe weather Of some years ago which
you mentioned, but my encounters with
them since indicate that no harm was
done.
"On the same blustery afternoon I
observed Wilson's snipe for the first
time. TWO Of the birds were feeding
meadow pond, quite undisturbed by the
sharp weather, until startled them,
when they few of and disappeared in
the marsh that extends out toward the
Potomac below New Alexandria. did
not claim positive Identification OF these
birds until had confirmed my first
imperfect view Of them through the
white-gray blur Of the snowstorm.
saw four more Of the same species at
the same location on the following Sun
day, having referred to my bird books
In the meantime to be certain that I
had not confused them with either the
| yellowlegs or the dowitcher. On my
second visit the birds obliged by making
| off with their characteristic erratic
flight and uttering their nasal, rasping
| notes.
Our Easter Sunday hike conceded
with the arrival of other species, includ-
ing the bank swallow, or perhaps the
rough-winged swallow. + sighted it
too briefly to be certain. The best
discovery Of the day. however, was the
red-bellied woodpecker. Although this
bird is listed as permanent resident
In this area, do not recall having seen
it previously. We heard its harsh call
while we were having our lunch In q
still-bare oak grove across the highway
from the Mount Vernon estate, and at
first thought it to be a flicker. Investi-
cation, however, gave me a glimpse of
its red crown and nape and the black
and white stripping Of the back. The
call, too, Is much different from that
of the flicker, although it has a super
f1c1al resemblance when heard from a
distance. Sincerely, r. A. B."
|
Red-bellied woodpeckers are compare
lively common in nearby Maryland. We
have had them constantly in the yard
for several years. A basket of suet is
what brings them.
| Wilson's snipe Is a common migrant
along the river. There Is one record for
such bird being seen in January. The
average spring appearance is from
March 13 to May and in the fall
from September to November %.
The dowitcher is an accidental vis-
liant to this area. The greater yellow
legs is a tolerably common migrant
The lesser yellowlegs is more numerous
than the greater. There is a record of
a small flock of the lesser yellowlegs
Wading in pool in the Monument
Grounds close to Fourteenth street
This was in the autumn of 1928.
We are beginning to believe that this
is a banner bluebird year, especially
in the Virginia counties close to the
National Capital Scores of these birds
have been reported near Alexandria
A complete return of this beautiful bird
to the numbers it once enjoyed in this
vicinity would be most welcome thing
since there Is not finer bird in ex-
| istenceSthan Americas own bluebird. j.