The subadult male King Eider continues at Kiptopeke State Park, around the
concrete ships there. Great shows by numbers of loons, including
courting/displaying Red-throated Loons (albeit in basic plumage), a relatively
surprising
sight so far south. They seem to like these warm, still days for their
courtship (probably just 'practice' courtship), which involves rapid quacking
sounds,
outstreched necks, wing flapping, and sometimes mounting. Lots of Horned
Grebes around as well, some in alternate plumage. Really good opportunities
for
close-up photography of these birds, as well as a few scoters and Common Loons.
Ospreys have been in for a while at nest sites with lee, but the more
offshore nest sites in the Bay are not yet occupied; the innermost Cape Charles
harbor nest was mostly 'finished' today, after a week or so of work, but they
add
to it through the summer.
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