On this past Saturday, 10/25/03, Scott Baron and Elisa Enders birded the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Eastern Shore NWR, Kiptopeke State Park, and
looked for the Eurasian Collared Doves at the intersection of Routes 600 and
645. Island 2 of the CBBT is still closed. Island 3 had very few birds, and
there were no landbirds seen, except a few Yellow-rumped Warblers. Another
birder told us the eider and a Purple Sandpiper were on the west side of
island 4. The eider was sitting by itself at least 100 ft off the west side
of island. Two Purple Sandpipers were found with a flock of Sanderlings and
Ruddy Turnstones. Later we saw the eider on the east side of island 4. We
looked through gulls at all islands, but did not find any rarities. Earlier
that morning, Scott had seen a Lesser Black-backed Gull at the oceanfront in
Virginia Beach.
Island 1:
A. Oystercatcher (>10)
Surf Scoter (2)
Black Scoter (1)
Great Cormorant (1)
loon species
Island 4:
Common Eider (1 immature male)
Surf Scoter (3)
Purple Sandpiper (2)
Great Cormorant (1)
After the CBBT, we looked for the Collared Doves, but failed to find any.
The banding station at Kiptopeke had many Yellow-rumped Warblers, and we did
not see any raptors at the hawk watch platform (we were there for a very
short time). The Butterfly trail at Eastern Shore NWR had a few birds
(mostly Yellow-rumps), including a House Wren, and some butterflies.
Ramp Road pond, Eastern Shore NWR:
Pied-billed Grebe
Gadwall
American Widgeon
Mallard
On Sunday, 10/26/03, we birded Back Bay NWR and some of False Cape State
Park. Highlights included:
jaeger species (Parasitic or Pomarine, at the beach)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2, on the beach)
Marsh Wren
Sedge Wren
White-crowned Sparrow
There were a nice variety of sparrow species seen at the refuge.
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
A good number of Wilsons Snipe were present. The only swan seen was a Mute
Swan, in one of the impoundments. Again, lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and
a few Palm Warblers (some Yellow) were seen. Many scoters were seen flying
by in flocks (was able to ID some as Surf). The jaegers were all far off
the beach, headed south. One bird came very close, and we had a great look
at the bird as it harassed a Laughing Gull. The jaegers were close in size
to Laughing Gulls, but had longer wings. They are very falcon-like in
appearance. There were also some shorebirds in some of the impoundments,
including a frustrating flock of Dunlins and peep (most common shorebirds at
the refuge were Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs). Some ducks were present too
(Pintail, Mallard, Widgeon, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal). The Bay Trail was
excellent for seeing wrens.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
Scott Baron
Fairfax, VA
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