Hello VA birders,
I posted a couple of lists of birds that I saw this weekend at Chincoteague
NWR. Birding was very good!
I spent most of my time birding Swan cove and snow goose pool, with time
along beach rd. and Tom's cove. Swan Cove was great for Skimmers, terns
(Royal, Forester's, Least & one Common) and shorebirds (mainly Dunlin and
Short-billed Dowitchers, but this is where I found 2 Whimbrels). Snow Goose
Pool was great for waders (all 3 egrets, 4 herons & ibis). Most of the Ibis
were Glossy, but I saw one White and one White-faced (about 1 mile from the
end of the loop road, going clockwise). The songbirds I found were along
the trail to the lighthouse (Ovenbird), at the parking area for the loop
drive (Brown-headed Nuthatch) and in the bushes along the road (Orchard
Oriole) and Snow Goose Pool (Prairie, C. Yellowthroat, Chat & Yellowthroated
Warbler). I didn't see much along the beach, even though I kept trying.
Once, on the way back, I found 4 Marbled Godwits along the edge of the
parking area in Tom's Cove.
Along the causeway, I found the Black-necked Stilts posted by William
Hohenstein on April 23rd. Great post, thank you! :)
Today, on the way home I stopped at Assateague National Seashore in
Maryland. I know it isn't in Virginia, but I want to give you a quick
overview. The bird numbers were much lower than at Chincoteague, but I
still managed to see 50 species. Rather than large flocks of terns, waders
and shorebirds, I found lots of migrant landbirds. The entry road (Yellow
Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak) and "Forest Life"
trail (Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, RT Hummingbird, Wood
Pewee) were the most productive. At the end of the Forest life trail I
found a Seaside Sparrow singing in the marsh. At the end of the Marsh Trail
I found a Common Loon and a handful of shorebirds (Dunlin, Black-bellied
Plover and Willet). From the beach I saw mostly Laughing Gulls and
Dolphins, but also a small flock of Black Scoters. Of course at both
locations I found wild ponies.
If you have any questions about locations, please feel free to send me a
message. Over the course of three days and two stops I found over 100
species. :)
Good birding!
Candice Lowther
Bristow, VA
