FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Brown Booby

["Elisa Enders" <elisaenders@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just saw the e-mail with regards to access to the beach at Fort Story.  I 
wasn't even asked about why I wished to enter Fort Story.  I was out at the 
beach next to the Fort Story Club from about 1300 to 1500 today.  But, I did 
not have any problems with anyone questioning why I was on the beach.  But 
now, I think it might be better to look for the bird from the park side, 
instead of the base side.

I did not see the bird immediately and was actually overwhelmed by the 
number of possible roosting locations.  But, the BROWN BOOBY was present at 
the east end of the posts.  The tight group of posts furthest east is the 
area it spent its time.  One time it sat on the netting that stretches 
between some of the posts.  In my opinion, it is unafraid of the gulls and 
pelicans which were also in the area.  Several BROWN PELICANS tried to drive 
the bird from one of its resting locations and the booby would repulse their 
attempts.  But, I saw the booby cause both a gull and a pelican vacate their 
locations.  Kind of a feisty creature.  It seems to spend most of its time 
sitting.  The neck, head, and upper chest are a darker brown than the rest 
of the body.  When it flew or raised its wings, I could see some white on 
the underside of the wings.  The feet are a nice yellow and the bill is 
grayish.  The color of the plumage is very uniform and reminded me of 
chocolate ice cream in color.  It does not seem to be in a hurry to leave 
the area, but, in the past,  I haven't been a good judge of when a bird will 
leave.

I managed to obtain a few photographs and a movie of the bird, but the 
lighting was poor and images blurry, due to heat.

I think coming from the park (First Landing) side may be more of a walk, but 
the light (at least during most of the day) will be behind one.

Quite a nice bird.

Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA


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