During the heavy, but much welcome, rain today at Hog Island WMA in Surry
County, I watched for more than an hour as an adult female Least Bittern and
two young moved around in the reeds, just above an adult Pied-billed Grebe
that was feeding fish to three orange-billed, stripe-headed swimming chicks.
These are quite unusual, as well as extremely shy, breeders around here.
There were also about 30 Least Terns, with newly-fledged young and for good
measure, there were hundreds of Four-spotted Pennant dragonflies perched in
the reeds, waiting out the storm.
A good deal of clearing has been done along the road, greatly improving the
visibility of the fields, impoundments and the James River.
Brian Taber
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