FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Eurasian Collared Dove: nesting attempt; and other sightings

[StephenDEccles@xxxxxxx]

Have just returned from a 4-day stay at the Sterling Inn - the Cape Charles B&
B run by Ned Brinkley and Steve      - very comfortable and gorgeous 
breakfasts, highly recommended! Did only casual birding, but still managed 
almost 100 species! A few highlights below, followed by full listings for 
CBBT; Northampton County; and Craney Island. First the highlights:

Great Cormorant: immature bird seen from CBBT on May 4. Dull and rainy 
weather and bird seen from car as it took off. Could possibly be in error, 
but seemed very large and very white underneath. Not seen on May 8.

Harlequin Duck: female seen off CBBT island #4 on May 4. Not seen on May 8.

Black Scoter: group of 7 seen on water close in to CBBT island #4 on May 4 - 
6 females and one male. None seen on May 8.

Wilson's Plover: single bird at Craney Island on May 8.

Piping Plover: single bird on beach at Kiptopeke State Park on May 7, south 
of the jetty. I am told that Piping Plover does not breed on this beach, so 
probably a transient.

Gull-billed Tern: copulating pair at Craney Island on May 8.

Sandwich Tern: single bird on sand-bar (with many Royals) off Cape Charles on 
May 5; not seen again.

Least Tern: pair at Craney Island on May 8.

Eurasian Collared Dove: first three visits to site at Route 600/645, May 5-6, 
were unsuccessful. No vocalizations and no apparent reactions to my attempts 
to call in. On May 7, bird appeared somewhat to south of cited junction, 
still not vocalizing. Watched one bird carrying nesting material into tree 
and returning for more. Precise location: in yard at #29527, about 30-40 feet 
up in old sycamore/maple immediately above a small freshly painted white hut. 
Did not attempt to approach tree or talk to property owner. Was asked by 
passing Sheriff - very politely - to move my car off the road, which was not 
possible, so I moved away.

Orchard Oriole: watched female building nest, May 7, at Eurasian Collared 
Dove site. Nest was about 8-10 feet off the ground in a small clump of 3 
trees/bushes right along side road. (East side of Route 600 immediately to 
south of junction with Route 645.)

Full listings. First CBBT, then Northampton County, then Craney Island.

CBBT. First visit was at 5-6 pm May 4, under dull drizzly conditions. Second 
visit was 10.30-11.30 on May 8, in brilliant sunshine. Birds seen on both 
days unless noted otherwise:

Common Loon: one on 5/4 only, still in basic pulmage.
Great Cormorant: see note above.
DC Cormorant: abundant
Brown Pelican: abundant
Black Scoter: 6 females and 1 male on 5/4 only

Harlequin Duck: 1 female on 5/4 only.
Mallard: one male on 5/8 only
Semi-palmated Plover: one on 5/8
American Oystercatcher: two on 5/8 (one on #2, one on #4)
Spotted Sandpiper: one on 5/8

Ruddy Turnstone: abundant, many in basic plumage and many in breeding plumage
Sanderling: several, all plumage states
Semi-palmated Sandpiper: small flock on 5/8 only.
Purple Sandpiper: abundant on all islands, 5/4; somewhat less abundant on 
5/8; all plumage states
Laughing Gull

Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Common Tern: small #s on 5/4, over 100 on 5/8

Rock Dove: 5/4 only
Mounring Dove: 5/8 only
Belted Kingfisher: 5/8 only
Barn Swallow: 5/8 only
Tree Swallow: 5/8 only

Common Yellowthroat: male on 5/8 only
White-throated Sparrow: one on 5/8 only.

Northampton County. [Abbreviations used: CC - immediate vicinity of Cape 
Charles, May 4-8; EDS - Eurasian Dove site, junction of Routes 600/645, May 
5-7; ESNWR - Eastern Shore NWR, May 5-7; KSP - Kiptopeke SP, May 6.]

Common Loon - KSP (1); CC (1);
Brown Pelican - KSP; CC; ESNWR;
DC Cormorant - KSP; CC; ESNWR;
Great Blue Heron - KSP; CC; ESNWR;
Great Egret - CC; ESNWR;

Snowy Egret - CC;
Green Heron - Willis Wharf, 5/6;
Black-crowned Night-heron - ESNWR (one adult and two immatures);
Glossy Ibis - ESNWR (8)
Canada Goose - ESNWR; CC; KSP;

Mallard - ESNWR; CC; KSP;
Gadwall - ESNWR (one pair);
Black Vulture - ESNWR; KSP;
Turkey Vulture - ESNWR; KSP;
Osprey - ESNWR; CC; KSP;

Red-tailed Hawk - ESNWR;
Clapper Rail - ESNWR; Willis Wharf, 5/6;
Semi-palmated Plover - CC;
Piping Plover - KSP;
Killdeer - CC; ESNWR;

Greater Yellowlegs - ESNWR;
Lesser Yellowlegs - ESNWR;
Willet - Willis Wharf, 5/6; ESNWR;
Spotted Sandpiper - ESNWR; KSP;
Whimbrel - ESNWR (one only);

Ruddy Turnstone - Willis Wharf, 5/6; CC;
Sanderling - CC; KSP;
Purple Sandpiper - CC (at least 15 on jetty);
Dunlin - CC;
Laughing Gull - CC; ESNWR; KSP;

Ring-billed Gull - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
Herring Gull - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
Great Black-backed Gull - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
Royal Tern - CC (over 50); KSP;
Sandwich Tern - CC (one only, 5/5);

Common Tern - CC; KSP;
Forster's Tern - CC; 
Rock Dove - CC; KSP;
Mourning Dove - CC; KSP;
Eurasian Collared Dove - EDS (and see note above);

Chimney Swift - CC;
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - ESNWR;
Belted Kingfisher - CC;
Red-bellied Woodpecker - EDS;
Northern Flicker - CC; KSP;

Great Crested Flycatcher - KSP;
Purple Martin - CC;
Tree Swallow - CC; KSP; ESNWR;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - KSP;
Barn Swallow - KSP; CC; ESNWR;

Blue Jay - KSP; CC;
American Crow - KSP;
Fish Crow - KSP; CC; ESNWR;
Carolina Chickadee - ESNWR; KSP;
Tufted Titmouse - Willis Wharf, 5/6;

Carolina Wren - EDS; CC; ESNWR; KSP;
House Wren - CC;
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher - ESNWR;
Eastern Bluebird - KSP; CC;
American Robin - CC; ESNWR; KSP;

Gray Catbird - ESNWR; KSP;
Northern Mockingbird - ESNWR; CC; KSP;
Brown Thrasher - ESNWR;
Cedar Waxwing - ESNWR;
European Starling - ESNWR; CC; KSP;

White-eyed Vireo - ESNWR;
Black-throated Blue Warbler - ESNWR; CC;
Yellow-rumped Warbler - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
Pine Warbler - ESNWR; KSP;
Prairie Warbler - ESNWR (many, incl. female with nesting material); KSP;

Blackpoll Warbler - CC;
American Redstart - ESNWR;
Ovenbird - ESNWR;
Common Yellowthroat - EDS; ESNWR;
Yellow-breasted Chat - ESNWR;

Northern Cardinal - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
Blue Grosbeak - ESNWR;
Indigo Bunting - ESNWR;
Eastern Towhee - KSP;
Field Sparrow - ESNWR;

Song Sparrow - ESNWR;
Swamp Sparrow - ESNWR;
Red-winged Blackbird - ESNWR; CC; KSP;
Eastern Meadowlark - KSP;
Common Grackle - CC; ESNWR; KSP;

Brown-headed Cowbird - KSP; ESNWR;
Orchard Oriole - CC; EDS (and see note above);
Baltimore Oriole - CC;
House Finch - CC; ESNWR; KSP;
House Sparrow - CC; KSP;

Craney Island. 12.30pm-2 pm, May 8, sunny.

Brown Pelican
DC Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret

Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Black-bellied Plover

Wilson's Plover (1)
Killdeer
Lesser Yellowlegs (2)
Willet (1)
Spotted Sandpiper (3)

Ruddy Turnstone (small flock)
Semi-palmated Sandpiper (small flock)
Least Sandpiper (pair)
Dunlin (several)
Short-billed Dowitcher (6)

Great Black-backed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Gull-billed Tern (copulating pair)
Royal Tern

Least Tern
Mourning Dove
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher

European Starling
White-eyed Vireo
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle (one female)
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch

Stephen Eccles


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