Todd Day found an imm. Lark Sparrow on the northeast side of Island 4 of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel this afternoon rather late in the day; it
associated with a Chipping Sparrow. The bird frequented the sparse grassy
area along the perimeter of the tunnel's exterior wall, almost down to the
northern terminus where one would continue northbound on the tunnel (this
species prefers sparse grassy spots with sand/gravel to the high thickets of
goldenrod nearer the buildings). For those keeping score at home, I believe
this would have been Todd's 317th year bird.
I have no word of the Heermann's Gull since Saturday morning (David Hughes
and party did not find it on Labor Day, and the dredge operators did not see
it all day Sunday). I'm sure birders would appreciate finding out from those
who saw it Saturday in the afternoon or later when the latest appearance was;
most vagrant Heermann's remain in one vicinity for a long time, it seems.
The Ramp Road pond still holds a great many shorebirds, with Pectorals newly
arrived today, but nothing else new. Five White Ibis and four Stilt
Sandpipers were there about 1830 this evening. Lots of Common Nighthawks
were streaming south along 13 during the early evening and presumably
congregated at the refuge before nightfall, as they usually do this time of
year. Baltimore Orioles have been everywhere, while Bobolinks and Eastern
Kingbirds have slowly decreased in number, at least in places I've checked.
16 Empidonax were caught at Kiptopeke today, 4 of them Yellow-bellied, one
Least, the rest Traill's. Also Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, and Cape May
noted there, as well as many Summer Tanagers and Common Nighthawks.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
