Mason Neck State Park

The Eagle Eye

Volume II1, Issue iv Winter, 2009

Points of interest:
Program Highlight: Wild for Waterfowl
♦ The park is open daily
from 8:00 am to dusk. One of the difficulties stop by our free Wild for Wild For Waterfowl
with viewing waterfowl at Waterfowl program on is held most* Saturdays
Mason Neck State Park is Saturday & Sunday and Sundays in Decem-
♦ We’ve got lots of winter that they’re sometimes mornings in December. ber, from 10:30 to 11:30
waterfowl on the bay! See too distant to see well We’ll share our spotting am, and every Saturday
“Winter Wildlife” and “Tips with the naked eye. scope, binoculars and in January, from 10:00
for Winter Birding” for Never fear, we’ve got you knowledge with you, and am to 12:00 noon. Meet
more information. covered! introduce you to the many at the Bay View Trail
waterfowl that winter head and join us for a
Even if you don’t own here. You’re likely to see short hike.
♦ Eagles begin their court- any birding equipment, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup,
ship in December. They’ll Ruddy Ducks, and more.
also add material to their
nests in January as they
*No programs December
prepare for February’s
26th and 27th.
eggs.

Park Manager’s Notes

♦ To subscribe to the Eagle
Eye, send us an email with We had an excit- gram is and has always We continue
“Eagle Eye” in the subject ing fall here at the park, been an important aspect working to improve both
line. and provided some great of our mission, and we are wildlife stewardship and
recreational opportunities very proud of Ricardo. recreational opportunities
for our visitors. Our in- in the park. We regraded
terpretive programs Planning contin- access roads, conducted a
reached 821 participants, ues for our Visitor Center deer management project,
and Majestic Eagles con- expansion. Each week we fought the sweetgum tree
tinues to be one of our get closer to groundbreak- saplings that constantly
most popular weekly pro- ing for the new wing. Our invade our open areas,
grams. challenge now is to design and daily worked on park
new and expanded inter- maintenance. In volun-
Congratulations pretive exhibits. We hope teer news, an Eagle Scout
Inside this issue: to park interpreter Ri- to provide a fresh and candidate recently rebuilt
cardo Hoyos for becoming exciting Visitor Center some steps on the Bay
Creature Feature 2 the Virginia State Parks’ experience. Since the View Trail.
District 3 employee of the park’s budget is very lim-
Winter Wildlife 2 year. Ricardo excels in ited, Virginia Association We look forward
customer service, and we for Parks (VAFP) is rais- to seeing you out in the
Back Issues Available 3 frequently receive glowing park this winter. Al-
ing money for these ex-
Share Your Wildlife comments about him on hibits on our behalf. De- though it may be a bit
3 our customer surveys. He chilly, I do recommend
Sightings tails about our Visitor
seems equally comfortable Center will be posted on exploring this interesting
December Programs 4 leading hikes for experi- their web site in the near and beautiful season in
enced birders and for future. Until then, read nature. Enjoy your natu-
January Programs 4 young children. The about similar projects at ral environment!
park’s interpretive pro- www.virginiaparks.org/.
Winter Wildlife Garden 5
Mason Neck State Park is located at 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA, 22079.
Tips for Winter Birding 6 Phone: 703-339-2385. Fax: 703-339-2617. Email: masonneck@dcr.virginia.gov
 Page 2 T H E E A G LE E Y E Volume II1, Issue iv

Creature Feature:Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Although this woodpecker’s birds are brown and white, still with The sapsucker is important to
name sounds like a joke, it’s not. It that white stripe along the wing. All our ecosystem because later in the
is the only fully migratory wood- individuals have the namesake pale year, sap from its holes is also an im-
pecker in the eastern United States. yellow wash on the belly as well, portant food source for other animals,
Making its summer home in Can- though it’s often hard to see. such as hummingbirds and woodland
ada, north-central and northeastern butterflies like the northern pearly-
US, it winters from the mid-Atlantic A good way to find the Yel- eye.
states all the way south to Panama. low-bellied Sapsucker is to look for
Mason Neck State Park is a good its distinctive horizontal rows of drill The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
place to look for it. holes on tree trunks. In our area, arrives in our area as early as late
species reported to be popular with September. It will stick
The Yellow-bellied Sap- sapsuckers include beech, apple, around through winter
sucker is about the size of a robin. cherry and sweetgum trees. Each and early spring, and de-
It has a distinctive white stripe bird has a few favorite individual part for its summer home
along the wing, a red crown and trees to which it returns frequently. by the end of April at the
black and white bars across its Once you find the telltale neat rows very latest. Watch for it in
back. Males have a red throat while of holes, you’ve got a good chance of the park as well as your
females have a white throat. Young finding the bird. own back yard!

Winter Wildlife
Never visited Mason Neck 10th Eared Grebe. 23rd White-throated Sparrow; Dark-
State Park in the winter before? eyed Junco; Kinglet (species
13th Opossum; Wood Duck; Lesser
Not sure why you should? Here are unknown).
Scaup; Ruddy Duck;
some of the highlights of last win-
Red Shouldered Hawk; Wild 29th Rusty Blackbird; Hooded
ter’s wildlife sightings. Many of
these species won’t be around in the Turkey. Merganser; Bufflehead;
summer, so come see them while 21st Bald Eagle. Mallard.
you can! 30th Barred Owl.
26th Common Goldeneye; Redhead.
For each species, only the
27th Northern Watersnake; Garter
first reported sighting each month is
Snake. February, 2008
included. Nowhere near all our win-
tertime species are listed here, only 28th Brown Creeper. 2nd Common Merganser; Mallard;
what was reported in the Visitor Gadwall; American
Center wildlife log. Don’t forget to 30th Red Fox.
Wigeon; Bald Eagle.
let us know what you see this year!
8th Bat (species unknown).
January, 2008 16th Wild Turkey.
3rd Tundra Swan. 22nd Wood Duck; American Robin.

December, 2008 4th Canvasback; Northern 26th Cooper’s Hawk; White-throated

Watersnake; Barred Owl; Sparrow.
4th Whitetail Deer; Bufflehead.
Bald Eagle.
6th Purple Finch; American Robin;
5th Common Merganser.
Cedar Waxwing;
Hooded Merganser; House 7th Gadwall.
Wren; Marsh Wren; 9th Beaver.
Eastern Towhee; White-
throated Sparrow. 10th Purple Finch.

8th Common Merganser; Tundra 11th Red-shouldered Hawk; Red

Swan; Woodchuck. Fox. White-throated Sparrow
Page 3 T H E E A G LE E Y E Volume II1, Issue iv

Back Issues Available

Have you recently sub- ♦ The Fascinating Fox ♦ Creature Feature: Saddle-
scribed to the Eagle Eye? Do you ♦ Those Deadly Deer back Caterpillar
wonder what you missed from ear- ♦ Living On The Edge: Creat-
♦ Autumn Arrivals
lier issues? The five issues listed ing Wildlife Habitat
below are available in PDF format
Spring, 2009 Fall, 2009
upon request.
♦ Creature Feature: the Vir- ♦ Creature Feature: Little
Summer, 2007 ginia Opossum Brown Bat
♦ Butterflies! ♦ Meet the Staff of Mason ♦ eBird: More Citizen Science
Neck State Park
♦ How Not To Hit A Squirrel ♦ Autumn in the Wildlife Gar-
♦ Gardening for Wildlife
den
Fall, 2007 ♦ Spring Birding Whiplash ♦ Bluebird Box News
♦ Are Aliens in Your Back Summer, 2009 ♦ Wildlife to Watch
Yard? ♦ Late Season Butterfly Photos
♦ Park Wildlife Photos
♦ Bring Nature into your Life
♦ Become a Citizen Scientist
♦ If It’s Dead, What Good Is
It? ♦ Picky Little Caterpillars
♦

Share Your Wildlife Sightings

Although you may find the observations. Washbutterflies
Pileated Woodpecker boring, a for- (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/
eign visitor may find it to be the group/washbutterflies/) is run by
most special of birds. Daily data is the Washington Area Butterfly
also important to monitor many Club, and VA-MD-DE Bugs (http://
animals’ presence, from migrating groups.yahoo.com/group/VA-MD-
birds to hibernating turtles. DE-Bugs/) discusses all of our local
insects and spiders.
Red-bellied Woodpecker You can also tap into a
wider community of bird watchers Sharing your wildlife ob-
Please share your park by joining va-bird, the Virginia servations with others is a great
wildlife observations by writing Society of Ornithology’s birding way to contribute to citizen science
them in Mason Neck State Park’s listserv. Birders from all over Vir- while doing something you love.
Wildlife Log, located in the Visitor ginia submit their bird sightings, Encouraging children to report
Center. Anyone in the park may which are then sent out to the list’s their own wildlife sightings gets
contribute to the log. The wildlife subscribers. You can track migra- them excited about nature. Thank
log entries let visitors as well as tion by watching the posts, find out you for helping us monitor wildlife
staff know when migrants have when and where a rare species has in the park.
arrived or departed, which wild- been discovered, and share your
flowers are in bloom, and whether own Virginia bird sightings. Sub-
any rare or unusual species have scribe at http://
shown up. We also use the entries mailman.listserve.com/
to update park bird and butterfly listmanager/listinfo/va-bird. As
checklist brochures as well as the described last issue, eBird is an-
“Recent Wildlife Sightings” list on other way to share birding observa-
the Visitor Center whiteboard. tions. Visit http://www.eBird.com
to find out more. If you’re more
When logging your wildlife interested in entomology than orni-
sightings, don’t hesitate to record thology, several Yahoo groups exist
to share local butterfly and bug Red-spotted Purple
even the most ordinary species.
 Page 4 T H E E A G LE E Y E Volume II1, Issue iv

December Programs
ages six and up. Maximum of 10 par- reside in Belmont Bay during the
ticipants. First come, first served. winter months. We’ll have a spotting
Meet at Visitor Center. $3/person or scope available for public use. Meet
$8/family. at Bay View Trail head. Free.

Majestic Eagles Majestic Eagles

3:30-4:30 pm 3:30-4:30 pm
Look for bald eagles with Look for bald eagles with
SATURDAYS us, and discover their fas- us, and discover their fasci-
cinating lives. Meet at nating lives. Meet at Visi-
Wild for Winter Waterfowl Visitor Center. Free. tor Center. Free.
10:30-11:30 am
Come join us as we observe
swans, ducks and other mi-
grating waterfowl that re-
side in Belmont Bay during the winter
months. We’ll have a spotting scope Parking fees apply at all times: $3 per
available for public use. Meet at Bay car on weekdays, $4 per car on week-
View Trail head. Free. ends and holidays.

GPS Adventures SUNDAYS

12:30-2:30 pm There will be no
Wild for Winter Waterfowl
Come join us on this one
10:30-11:30 am
guided programs
mile hike with park GPS
units. We’ll explore nature Come join us as we observe December 26th-
while searching for hidden caches! swans, ducks and other
This program is most appropriate for migrating waterfowl that 27th.

January Programs
Meet at Visitor Center. $3/person or and what you can do to preserve the
$8/family. natural world. Bring sturdy shoes,
water and your camera, and dress
appropriately for the weather. Meet
at Bay View Trail head. Free.
SATURDAYS
Majestic Eagles
Wild for Winter Waterfowl 4:00-5:00 pm
Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles with
10:00 am– 12:00 noon
4:00-5:00 pm us, and discover their fasci-
Come join us as we observe
Look for bald eagles with nating lives. Watch as ea-
swans, ducks and other
us, and discover their fasci- gles glide across the skies above Bel-
migrating waterfowl that
nating lives. Watch as ea- mont Bay. Meet at Visitor Center.
reside in Belmont Bay during the win-
gles glide across the skies above Bel- Free.
ter months. We’ll have a spotting
mont Bay. Meet at Visitor Center.
scope available for public use. Meet at
Free.
Bay View Trail head. Free.

GPS Adventures
1:00-3:00 pm SUNDAYS
Come join us on this one
mile hike with park GPS
units. We’ll explore nature Winter Ranger Hike
while searching for hidden caches! 1:00-3:00 pm
This program is most appropriate for Come see Belmont Bay up
ages six and up. Maximum of 10 par- close with our Park Inter-
ticipants. First come, first served. preter. Discover wildlife
Page 5 T H E E A G LE E Y E Volume II1, Issue iv

Winter in the Wildlife Garden: planning for the spring

It’s frigid outside, and your handy web sites that offer good in- Atlantic area native plants.
garden is a winter wonderland of formation about wildlife gardening (304) 466-3154. http://
icicles and snow drifts. The most and growing native plants, as well www.enchantersgarden.com/
wildlife you probably see are the as sources for buying native plants
birds and squirrels coming to the in the mid-Atlantic region. ♦ Meadowood Nursery, 24
feeders you’ve hung in your yard, or Meadowood Drive, Hummels-
to any berries left on dormant town, PA 17036. (717) 566-
The National Wildlife Fed-
plants. Gardening should be the 9875. http://
eration (NWF) has a helpful website
last thing on your mind, right? www.meadowoodnursery.com/
dedicated to wildlife gardening:
Wrong! In between watching the www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/. ♦ Redbud Native Plant Nurs-
activity at the feeders, this is the They list information on providing ery, 1214 North Middletown
perfect time to start planning new essential habitat, attracting differ- Road, Glen Mills, PA
additions to the garden—the annu- ent kinds of wildlife, and even 19342 610-358-4300. http://
als you’ll replant as well as any per- building bat boxes and bird houses. redbudnativeplantnursery.com/
ennials you want to add. NWF has also produced a line of
native plants, American Beauties, ♦ Nature By Design, 300 Cal-
Winter is also a great time and the site offers a tool to find vert Avenue, Alexandria,
to start learning and planning for a nearby nurseries that sell the VA 22301. 703-683-GROW
brand new garden. Snuggle up in a plants. Here are a few listed within (4769). http://www.nature-by-
warm cozy chair as you look 100 miles of the park’s zip code: design.com
through books, web sites and cata-
logs of lush flowers. What could be ♦ Behnke Nurseries Com- Also check out the Native
better as snow falls outside? pany, 11300 Baltimore Ave- Plant Database at http://
nue, Beltsville, MD (301) 937- www.wildflower.org/plants/. You
You’ll probably want to in- 1100. 29 miles from zip code can search for specific plants’ info in
clude native plants in your garden, 22079. the database and peruse specialized
although not all natives are neces- plant lists for butterfly, bird, and
sarily better than non-natives at other wildlife gardens, as well as
♦ Catoctin Gardens, 35 Fairfax
providing wildlife habitat. This is regional recommendations.
Street S.E., Leesburg, VA 703-
especially true since many plants
669-1020. 35 miles from zip
broadly labeled native have very To find native alternatives
code 22079.
specific growing needs, just as some to common invasive species, try the
animals have very specific habitat Plantwise database (http://
requirements. A desert plant from ♦ Riva Gardens, 3234 Riva
www.wildflower.org/alternatives/
Arizona won’t do so well here, for Road, Riva, MD (410) 956-2942.
index.php). It can be especially
example. Do your homework and 38 miles from zip code 22079.
helpful if you’re transitioning from
consider each plant on its own mer- an ordinary garden to a wildlife-
its and requirements. ♦ Bru-Mar Gardens, 1009 Bay focused garden, or if you’re just get-
Ridge Road, Annapolis, MD ting started and want to check out
When you’re ready to buy (410) 990-9898. 43 miles from the possible benefits and drawbacks
plants, where should you go? Many zip code 22079 of a certain plant.
plant suppliers are hopping on the
native gardening bandwagon, so Finally, the Maryland Na-
Other catalogs and nurser-
you might even start your search in tive Plant Society’s web site has lots
ies that specialize in native plants
big-name catalogs such as Park of information relevant to our area:
for the mid-Atlantic area include
Seed (www.parkseed.com/) or Bur- http://www.mdflora.org/. You can
the following:
pee (www.burpee.com/), even also find other states’ native plant
though they don’t specialize in na- ♦ Native Seeds Inc., 14590 Tria- societies listed here: http://
tive or wildlife gardening. delphia Mill Road, Dayton, MD www.mdflora.org/nps_lists.html.
21036. Seeds only. Free catalog. Enjoy your armchair gar-
If you aren’t satisfied with 301-596-9818. dening this winter, and keep those
mainstream stores, try nurseries bird feeders full!
♦ Enchanter’s Garden, in Hin-
that specialize in native and wildlife
ton, WV, specializes in mid-
gardening. Below you’ll find some
Page 6 T H E E A G LE E Y E Volume II1, Issue iv

Tips for Winter Birding

Winter is a great time to near food sources like holly trees or decoys on the water. Hunting is
come birdwatching at Mason Neck the Visitor Center bird feeders. never allowed on Sundays in Vir-
State Park. Many fascinating Hiking the Bay View Trail is your ginia, so visit then if you prefer to
birds are here only in the cold best choice for seeing both songbirds avoid the hunters altogether.
weather, from the shy Winter and waterfowl. Listen for chicka-
Wren to the elegant Tundra Swan dees as you walk along too. They What special equipment should
and the dramatic Hooded Mergan- often are found with other species, I bring?
ser. Winter also holds special so their “chick-a-dee-dee-dee!” might
weather-related attractions not to alert you to kinglets, nuthatches, Of course bring your usual
be missed. If you’re unfamiliar sparrows and more. birding equipment: a field guide,
with visiting the park in winter, or your binoculars, and especially a
with wintertime birding in general, Bald Eagles are most likely spotting scope if you have one,
here are some tips to help you plan to be seen flying over Belmont Bay, since the ducks are sometimes far
and enjoy your trip. whether hunting for fish or engag- across the bay. After that, consider
ing in courtship displays. When we the weather and dress for warmth.
get a prolonged cold snap, however, Multiple layers of clothing are best
the entire Belmont Bay may freeze so you can add or remove them as
over. This attracts dozens of Bald needed. The park is usually wind-
Eagles to congregate on the ice and ier than inland areas, so expect
scratch for frozen minnows. An ea- additional wind chill-- gloves are a
gle waddling comically across the must for using your binoculars.
ice is a sight not to be forgotten! Good waterproof hiking boots (not
sneakers) should keep your feet
Tundra Swan
When should I come? warm and dry even if there’s snow
What can I expect to see? As during the rest of the on the ground. A day pack will hold
year, birds are most active first extra clothing along with the rest of
Our winter-only residents your supplies. A thermos of hot cof-
include waterfowl like Ruddy thing in the morning. You may en-
ter the park as early as 8 am, when fee or cocoa and some portable
Ducks, Bufflehead and Common snacks like granola bars or dried
Loons; songbirds such as Dark- we open. There are also special
winter occasions to visit the park. fruit should keep up your energy
eyed Juncos, White-throated Spar- along the trail.
rows and both Golden-crowned and During or after a snowfall, you can
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and many look for tracks and other signs in
more. Eagles also will be courting the snow and listen to birds chirp-
in the winter so watch for their ing and singing among the serene
midair displays. Consult the snow covered trees. If you visit just
“Birds of Mason Neck State Park” before a snowstorm hits, look for
brochure, available at the visitor birds hastily searching for food. As
center, for a full list of seasonal mentioned above, one of the most
species. special winter moments can occur
after several very cold days and
nights. If the bay has frozen over Hooded Merganser (male)
Where will I see it? you may find dozens of eagles scat-
Large mixed rafts (floating tered across the ice-- we’ve seen as Even if you’ve never hiked
flocks) of ducks & other waterfowl many as 50 out there at once. Also in wintertime before, let alone
can be seen on Belmont Bay, from consider attending one of our guided birded then, give it a try this year.
the mouth of the Occoquan River bird walks— see the program sched- You’ll be amazed at how different a
across to our shores and up into ules on page 4. Whenever you visit, place the park is in the winter, and
Kanes Creek. Good views of the keep in mind that duck hunting sea- how rewarding. Whether you have
bay are from behind the Visitor son is November 21st-December 5th a single target species like Tundra
Center, from the overlook in the and December 12th-January 30th. Swan or Bald Eagle, or want to
Picnic Area, and from the bay side Although there is no duck hunting rack up as many species in a day as
of the Bay View Trail. within the park, several hunters’ you can, Mason Neck State Park is
blinds are in Belmont Bay near our a great place for winter birding.
Songbirds often congregate boundaries. You may hear occa- Hope to see you soon!
in brush piles or dense bushes, and sional gunshots or see the hunters’