[va-bird] Avocets @ Craney Island, Portsmouth, VA

Went by Craney Island for 1 and 1/2 hours this afternoon. Saw an American 
Kestrel (nice looking male!), a Merlin, and a Peregrine Falcon -- not at the 
same time, unfortunately.  The south impoundment held the same duck species 
as yesterday, as well as a handful of Ring-necked Ducks.  Also saw 4 A. 
AVOCETS at the northwest corner of the south impoundment.  I had not seen 
this species during my last few visits.  They were in the deep water near 
some N. Shoveler.  There was a mixed flock of Dunlin and peep at the 
northeast end of the same pool (can be seen from the west side of the south 
impoundment).  There were >200 Dunlin and >100 peep, most of which appeared 
to be Western Sandpipers.

I was surprised by the majority of the peep appearing to be Westerns, but it 
is starting to be late for Semipalmated Sandpipers, according to dates 
listed in the Virginia Birdlife, An Annotated List.  I have the 1987 
version, which also mentions that winter reports of Semipalmated Sandpiper 
are possibly misidentified Westerns.  The birds I saw were uniformly gray 
above and white below, with the gray extending down the side of the breast a 
little, but not across the front of the breast (which was white).  The 
Merlin flushed the shorebirds, and I thought I heard a few notes of the 
"creet" of Least Sandpipers, but maybe I misheard.  I wish I had more time 
to observe those birds.

There are still Royal and Caspian Terns about in single digit numbers (on 
the west side).  The majority of the gulls were Herring Gulls.  A lot of 
Double-crested Cormorants were feeding off the west side.  Gulls, as well as 
other cormorants, were attacking the cormorants that caught fish.  The 
ferocity of the attacks was little disturbing, in my mind.  With the reports 
of Franklin's Gulls, I examined any Laughing Gulls seen.  There were a few 
sitting on the water off the north side and none appeared to be Franklin's.  
I have never seen these two species together (and many a year since I have 
seen a Franklin's), but the differences appear to be noticeable, at least 
from looking at the ID guides.

Along with Savannah and Song Sparrows, there was a Bobolink on the north 
end.  Seems late from looking at the VA Birdlife dates.  A Horned Lark flew 
overhead too.


Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA

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