FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Fwd: Tidewater area over the weekend

[jfox <jjfoxfox@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Va birders,

I didn't mean to disparage our Alcidae freinds with this post, or my hosts  
and fellow birders on the pelagic trip; my apologies if I hit a sour note.  
Just tired from three long days of birding and another Sunday night on the  
I-95 International Speedway, I guess.

As noted by others, we did get a lot of good looks. The captain of the  
Nancy Anne went the extra 10 miles for us, literally, to get a lot of the  
Dovekies. The amount of color in the Puffins' bills got some remarks,  
farther into breeding plumage than usually seen. Northern Fulmar is easy  
once you see a couple.

It's a unique experience. Vast miles of water on all horizons for hours,  
and then there's new life. A line of Alcids flying hell bent for leather  
to, where? A 70 foot whale floating and blowing along suddenly dives and a  
big brown fluke is in the middle of your binos, straight up in the air.  
Highly recommended.

Brian is thinking about a fall trip out of Virgina Beach. I hope a lot of  
birders will consider going on it. His web site is at:

http://www.patteson.com/

Good Birding,

John Fox
Arlington








------- Forwarded message -------
From: jfox <jjfoxfox@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [va-bird] Tidewater area over the weekend
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:34:05 -0500

Va Birders

An immature KING EIDER was found by Brian Patteson and Butch Pearceand at
the Kiptopeke St. Park harbor this afternoon. MIke Iwanik, Vicky and I got
a decent look at it a little later.

We also refound a BLACK-HEADED GULL, first found by another birder whose
name I just cannot recall, at Lynnhaven late in the afternoon. We could
readily see the head markings and red bill of a non-breeding adult. When a
Ring-billed walked behind it on the mud flats it was striking how much
smaller our bird was. I tried as many digiscope shots as I could but with
my eyes tearing in the cold wind I'm not hopeful.

A birder on the CBBT reported three female COMMON EIDERS near the jetty on
island 4 but we coudn't refind them. Brian had five likely Eiders flying
west past island 4. Maybe Eider season is heating up.

Brian led a great pelagic on Saturday. I think I enjoyed the ICELAND GULL
and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES as much as the Alcids. At least I could see
the damned things. Those Dovekie move right along, don't they?

Good birding,

John Fox
Arlington



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