Ducks and Winter Waterfowl Field Trip

Our mission is to engage all Northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people.

Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

Join us in the field for a tour of winter waterfowl at three locations.

Pohick Bay Regional Park

Christopher Baker/Audubon Photography AwardsAre you new to birding and would like to improve your waterfowl identification skills? Join Greg Butcher and Phil Silas to view a wide assortment of waterfowl. Meet at the Pohick Bay Regional Park’s shore launch parking lot on Sunday, Feb 5 at 9:00 AM. See map below on where to meet! From there the group will proceed to the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR to become acquainted with Tundra Swans; dabbling ducks such as Mallards, Northern Pintails, and American Black Ducks; and small diving ducks such as Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads. With luck you may see large rafts of Lesser Scaup in the channel of the Potomac River. The next stop will be the Mason Neck State Park Visitor’s Center overlooking Belmont Bay to look for additional divers like Ruddy Ducks, Common Mergansers, Redheads, and Canvasbacks, and dabblers like American Wigeons and Gadwall. You may also see an assortment of waterbird species like American Coots, Great Blue Herons, and Pied-billed Grebes. You’ll learn the difference between “waterfowl” and “waterbirds.”Registration is limited to twenty people to ensure that everyone is able to see and learn about the birds. Attendance at the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ducks-and-waterfowl-identification-with-greg-butcher-tickets-491993534907">Duck and Waterfowl Identification</a> webinar on Feb 2 is encouraged but not required. Please consider signing up to volunteer for the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-waterfowl-count-tickets-492658624207">Winter Waterfowl Count</a> on Feb 11-12. <a href="https://www.audubonva.org/greg-butcher" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Greg Butcher</a> and <a href="https://www.audubonva.org/phil-silas" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Phil Silas</a> will be walk leaders for this field trip. Please note that a parking fee or State Park pass will be required to go to Mason Neck State Park.

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