Bev Leeuwenberg and I braved rain, snow, and damp cold all day to visit a
variety of locations, starting at Newport News, then Va. beach, Eastern Shore,
and finishing up at the Painted Bunting feeder in Chesapeake ( where we were
successful at 5:30pm ). Highlights and low-lights included:
1. Susan hubbard's Belmont at York pond in newport News where there were
indeed over 100 Redheads ( and little else ) serenely floating in the complex
pond
- one literally need not get out of one's car to see these beautiful ducks.
2. Va. Beach feeders - hone of the Western Tanager who indeed made her
appearance after 15 minutes of our standing in the rain. Pine Siskins continue
there
as well, altho we only saw 4.
3. CBB&T - numbers are way down, and it was raining. No R-N Grebe, but 3
Harlequins continue on #4 (a male and 2 FMs). The only Great Corms were also on
4
- 7 of them, 6 in breeding plumage.
4. Not a single Canada Goose at the pond on Wash. Ave. in Cape Charles
5. Kiptopeke SP - amidst what felt like the beginning of a blizzard, we had
crippling looks at the 1st year male King Eider, about 50 ft. from the end of
the Boat Slip, but on the left side, not the Rock jetty side. On that side,
however, 2 R-T Loons swam within 30 ft. of us - probably the best looks I've
ever
had of this bird, certainly the closest.
6. And last, but by no means least, the Painted Bunting - what a stunning
bird - which fed leisurely once it decided to make it's presence known.
Total of 52 species on a miserable day with great birds.
gerry weinberger
doswell.
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