[va-bird] Allen's Hummingbird and CBC highlights


The Allen's Hummingbird, first seen 26 October, has persisted until 30 
December, when it was seen briefly in the morning at about 0720.   It has not 
been 
seen today as yet.   This bird, reliable daily (usually all day) throughout 
late October, all of November and much of December, has been a very infrequent 
visitor to the yard for the past week during the unusually warm weather.   I 
suspect it has found some better situation, and many camellias are now in full 
bloom, so it may be in a nearby neighbor's yard most of the time.   The yard 
has 
not had much else of note; a Dickcissel with the House Sparrows in early 
December visited only for a few minutes, and the White-winged Dove has not been 
seen for over 4 weeks now.   I will post further reports of the hummer here.

Software problems at National Audubon have precluded posting data for the 
Chesapeake Bay CBC, held 26 December 2005, the 12th annual CBC here.   
Highlights 
were an adult Bald Eagle (new to the CBC, found by Bob Anderson), a Manx 
Shearwater (new to the CBC, found by Bob Ake), an adult Black-headed and a 
first-winter Little Gull (found by myself, neither new to the CBC) among heavy 
'flurries' of Bonaparte's Gulls (at least 9500), a high count of 380 
Long-tailed 
Ducks (conservative count), 3 Red-necked Grebes, 3 Harlequin Ducks, a Common 
Eider, a Harbor Seal.   In all, 35 bird species were counted.

We did not have a compilation for the Cape Charles CBC 30 December; Harry 
Armistead phoned and noted that he'll be able to post a preliminary tally late 
in 
the week.   Highlights that I know of included a Eurasian Wigeon, Glaucous 
Gull, at least 3 Red-necked Grebes, a Vesper Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Doves, 
35 White Ibis, Redhead, Purple Sandpipers, Common Moorhen, American Bittern, 
and the Allen's Hummingbird.   Back Bay CBC on 29 December had dozens of Red 
Knots, a Ross's Goose, at least 27 Eurasian Collared-Doves, and an American 
Bittern.   

Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA

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