VA BIRDers,
I am pleased to report the following results for last Saturday's Coastal
Virginia Wildlife Observatory's Kiptopeke Challenge. Based upon checklists
currently submitted, the following are the team totals:
Wandering Siskin - 159 Species (!)
WBU of Williamsburg - 115
Dirty Dicksissle's - 111
Laughing Falcons - 101
Team Juvies (Youth Team) - 97
VSO (Special Venue) - 83
Wayward Loons (Special Venue) - 72
On behalf of the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, let me congratulate
ALL TEAMS for doing an OUTSTANDING JOB both in birding and fundraising! And
please let me encourage all of you who have yet to donate, to please send
your pledges and checks to your favorite team or the CVWO:
CVWO
PO Box 1225
Virginia Beach, VA, 23451
It was a fine day (and weekend) for birding on the Eastern Shore as the
migration "valve" opened up just a bit in between storm fronts and migrants
moved through. The funneling effect of the Delmarva Peninsula was obvious.
Good numbers of warblers, thrush and Bobolinks were heard over Chincoteague
town in the early morning hours as well as at Saxis. Tallying the in-hand
reports, 177 species were recorded on the Eastern Shore by the participating
teams including 4 species new to the Kiptopeke Challenge: Hooded Merganser
(Eyre Hall), Black Rail (ESVNWR Ramp Rd), Black-necked Stilt (Chinco NWR,
present Sunday), and Sedge Wren (ESVNWR Ramp Rd). Also of interest are
species seldom found on the Kiptopeke Challenge. For example, Baird's
Sandpiper (Chinco NWR), Hooded Warbler (ESVNWR) and Dickcissel (on a wire on
Rt 600 ca. half mile north of ESVNWR) were reported; these species have only
been reported once before in the previous eleven years of the KC. Other
species observed but seldom reported (2-3 years out of 11) were:
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (ESVNWR), White-breasted Nuthatch (ESVNWR),
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-throated Warbler, Wilson's warbler (ESVNWR), YB
Chat, and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. And then there are other species
of general interest such as White Ibis, Yellow-crowned Night Heron,
Chuck-will's-widow, Philadelphia Vireo, and Cape May Warbler that were
reported by the teams.
The CVWO invites all sponsors and interested persons to visit us during the
upcoming Eastern Shore Wildlife Festival, Oct 6-8. Several participants
will also attend CVWO's Annual Meeting, Nov 11 and all are welcome to join
in the Rarities Round-up before the meeting - several of the Wandering
Siskins will be in attendance and we would be pleased to show supporters all
the local "hot spots".
Kurt Gaskill
KC 2006 Coordinator
