Birders,
At noon today (3-1-04) my husband and I spent an hour & 15 minutes at the
Whitehurst Tract (Back Bay area of Virginia Beach). We began by scoping out the
watery fields by the parking lot and found a nice variety of waterfowl still
present (Hoodies, GW Teal,Wigeon and Mallards. We then crossed the road to the
first entrance. We went out a very short mowed trail to the right as you enter
the area from the road when we came upon the OC Warbler feeding. It let us get
fairly close to observe and fed about 5 minutes before flying to the line of
trees across the road by the parking lot. Further down the path where the
large pond is concealed by trees and there is an island in the center of the
pond
were the same waterfowl feeding as well as Pintails. We walked along the back
areas before coming out near the rear entrance when we flushed an American
Bittern out of the reeds.
Other highlights were about a dozen Bluebirds feeding near the road, several
Meadowlarks singing, a Bobwhite calling, several Palm Warblers and about 6
Wilson's Snipe. Raptors present were: Harrier, RT Hawk, Kestrel, Sharp-shinned,
TV and BV. We observed about 30 species in the hour+ we were there.
On Sunday we made a trip to Hog Island & Chippokes Plantation where things
were fairly quiet. Of course we always appreciate the eagles at HI and all
tolled observed 40 species of birds.
Karen & Tom Beatty
Virginia Beach, VA
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