FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Common Eider, Brant etc.

[Phoebetria@xxxxxxx]

The first-year male Common Eider found in early October on the 4th 
(northernmost) island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was still present 
this 
morning, off the jetty's tip of that island.  Northern Gannets and many Black 
and 
Surf Scoters were also present.  On Fisherman Island, about 75 Brant were on 
the 
northeast side of the island.  Last January, I photographed a Brant at the 
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel that looked very much like the as-yet-undescribed 
form called "Gray-bellied Brant".  I've sent the photographs around to people 
who know this form, and so far, all have agreed that the bird looks like a 
Gray-bellied Brant (though the possibility of some sort of hybrid is difficult 
to 
rule out).  While looking at Brant on the Eastern Shore, birders should look 
for Dark-bellied, Black, and possible Gray-bellied Brant and try to get 
photographs when possible. 

The wind is already in the northwest, and tomorrow should be a great day to 
bird the Eastern Shore, especially at the southern tip.

Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA 

You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.