FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Back Bay area of Virginia Beach, July 1 - 5

[Scott Baron <brnpelican@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello, birders.

I spent a relaxing and well deserved weekend in the
Sandbridge section of Va. Beach, arriving Saturday and
returning Wednesday.  While there, I found some
interesting birds.

While tanning on the beach on Sunday, I saw a
PIED-BILLED GREBE on the ocean, a weird sight.  I
didn't see any in the refuge a day later.

I biked and birded Back Bay NWR and False Cape SP on
Monday, going as far south as 2 miles N of the state
line before turning back.  It was my first July visit
to this area, having been there in most other months
of the year.  Between the bug spray, thundershower,
sunscreen, sweat and sand, I felt pretty gross when I
returned to the beach house but I had a fun day.  It's
fun to go far into False Cape SP, such a remote and
neat place.  

A wide variety of terns were present on and just off
the beach of the refuge and park during my 4 mile bike
ride - CASPIAN, ROYAL, SANDWICH, COMMON, FORSTER'S and
LEAST.  All 5 gull sp. were present, including a flock
of 39 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at the park/refuge
border.  I expected to see a few early migrant or
non-breeding shorebirds but other than WILLET and
KILLDEER, I didn't note any.  High water levels in
many impoundments didn't help.  Wading birds were in
low numbers but decent variety - GREAT BLUE HERON,
GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, LITTLE BLUE HERON, CATTLE
EGRET and GREEN HERON.

On Wednesday the 5th I saw 2 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES
in the northern end of Sandbridge - my first of this
species in Virginia.  I had given up on my previous
plan to look for them as I was running late and needed
to get home.  But then I saw what looked like a pale
dove with a squared tail flying in the opposite
direction from where I was driving.  This is the area
of Sandbridge where they've been reported previously. 
So I turned around and drove the nearby residential
neighborhoods.  After several minutes, I found an E.c.
Dove perched on a wire over the road.  It flew down
into a shade tree at #2953 Sandbend Rd.  This was my
second pass at this spot, the dove wasn't on the wire
the minute before.  Back on Sandpiper Rd., I saw
another bird on a wire at the corner of Rock Lane and
Sandpiper.  So there were at least 2 birds in this
area, maybe 3.

Directions to the doves: Driving E on Sandbridge Rd.,
turn right (south) on Sandpiper Rd., the main N - S
route through the beach house community of Sandbridge.
 Drive 1 1/4 mi. south, Rock Lane is here, where I saw
one of the doves.  Turn right on Rock, then right on
Little Island Rd.  Little Island curves at one point
and becomes Sandbend.  #2953, a handsome, gray beach
house, will be on your right.  This house isn't far
after the road name change.  Soon this road dead ends.

I hope I didn't forgot anything important.  Feel free
to reply to me off the listserv if you want a complete
list of bird or other species seen during my trip.

Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.

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