FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] CBB&T today

[Gwbirds37@xxxxxxx]

Wendy Ealding and I set out from Richmond: first stop was Big Bethel 
Reservoir in Newport News, traditionally a reliable place for Redheads. Today 
the Reservoir was  completely frozen and aside from 2 Cormorants, there were 
no ducks there. Next stop was the Inlet at the Hampton VA, a very relaiable 
spot for Canvasbacks. Today aside from a few Mallards and Wigeon, it was 
empty of ducks and frozen around the edges. Next stop was Lynnhaven Inlet: 
the roosting trees that reliably hold Black-Crowned Night Herons held 5 
adults. The inlet was partially frozen but we found at least 25 Brant, a 
number of Red-breasted Mergs, and 2 Brown Pelicans.

Then on to the Tunnel Islands. All the rocks were covered with snow and 
frozen water, a very Arctic landscape. Gulls were very few and far-between, 
and almost all were Ring-bills. Island #1 had 4 Long-tailed Ducks and that 
was it for the islands. We saw no Oystercatchers on any of the islands. #'s 
1,2, and 3 had few birds, save for a huge raft on #2 of 3-400 Lesser Scaup 
very close to the rocks and fringed by 20-25 Ruddy Ducks. However, #4 was the 
Happening island - many Surf and Black Scoters ( but no White-winged), 
another raft of 150 or so Lesser Scaup, with 2 male Redheads in the middle of 
them, 2 female Goldeneye, 2 male Harlequins,and 3 female Common Eiders. Great 
Corms were common, as were Bufflehead, Purple Sandpipers, and Ruddy 
Turnstones.

We continued on towards Cape Charles, with the obligatory lunch stop at 
Sting-Rays, and following Ned Brinkley's super directions, easily found the 
splendid male Baltimore Oriole on Old Cape Charles Rd. In the same yard we 
also saw a Brown Thrasher. In Cape Charles we saw large flocks of Grackles, 
and a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds at Kiptopeke. Lastly we stopped at 
the Ramp Rd. pond at ESNWR, and, guess what? - it was totally frozen.

A lovely day birding, and it actually warmed up by afternoon.

Gerry Weinberger
Doswell
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