FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] VA Bch lakes, inlets & ocean

[Chirp50@xxxxxxx]

Birders,
The brisk winds today steered us away from the CBBT (we are fair weather  
birders some times!) and took us to places we seldom visit in search of  
waterfowl.
First stop was Kings Grant. We were surprised at the condition of the lakes  
we saw...filthy! We did see Hooded Mergansers, Gadwall, Shovelers, Mallards 
and  one ugly Muscovy.
Next stop Lake Wishart viewed from N. Witchduck Rd. In additional to what  we 
saw at Kings Grant (less the Muscovy) we were delighted to see a few  
Canvasback Ducks and Pintails & Lesser Scaup. A little ways down the road at  
Saw Pen 
Point  (looking at several areas from the road in the car) we saw  MORE 
Canvasback (about 15) and proceeded to add American Wigeon, Green-winged  Teal 
and 
Black Ducks to our list.
We proceeded up to Shore Dr. and headed towards the oceanfront. On the way  
we stopped at Bay Lake. The fishing was very good there. We saw so many  
Cormorants we lost count, at least 4 Great Egrets, 6 Great Blue Herons, 4  
Black-crowned Night Herons along with Green-winged Teal, Shovelers, Gadwall and 
 
Mallards.
We stopped at Lynnhaven Inlet. The water was high and not much of anything  
was on the water except a few Buffleheads. We did enjoy a Harrier and Crow  
interacting. 
We went on to Fort Story and looked over the water at the Harbormaster and  
added Surf & White-winged Scoter to our list along with Red-breasted  
Mergansers and Gannets.
Our last stop is an old stand-by for us...Owls Creek by the public boat  
launch at the Museum. When we first parked a lovely Common Loon was in pretty  
close. The past two weeks when we have stopped by we have seen loons  where 
people launch the boats. There are always several Pelicans there and  assorted 
Mergansers. In the distance we saw a Red-throated Loon and a couple  Ruddy 
Ducks. 
What struck me as odd was the Loon with it's tail up...just like a  Ruddy 
holds his. I have never seen a loon do this. Has anyone else seen this  
behavior? 
The loon had the nice high white cheeks like you see on a Red-throat  and was 
the correct size. I didn't study the bill very well and it kept diving  under 
for fish (fishing was pretty good at Owls Creek) and later began to  question 
the whole tail thing and wonder if I could have seen one of the large  grebes 
and mistakenly identified the bird as a Red-throat. My first impression  was a 
Red-throat but the tail thing bugs me.
Anyway...it was a relatively warm day birding most of the time in the car  
and seeing 48 species.
 
Karen & Tom Beatty
Virginia Beach, VA

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