VA BIRDers,
The third annual Fairfax Audubon Society Field Trip to the CBBT and nearby
localities took place this past weekend, Jan 18-19, 2003. The group began
birding early Saturday, making for the Bridge-Tunnel at dawn. The first
island held a good species selection including a small raft of Long-tailed
Ducks just off the rocks. Both Surf and Black Scoters were noted as well as
the always popular Ruddy Turnstones. The second island held the bonus of 3
Harlequin Ducks just off the rocks, affording great views for all. A small
group of 30 American Oystercatchers were seen holding tenuously to these
wind-swept rocks. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was perched on the rip-rap
along the island edge and a pair of American Pipits obligingly danced on the
pavement near our cars. Here we got our first good look at Great Cormorants
- one was floating off the rocks near a hundred or so scaup. Curiously, a
single Ruddy Duck floated nearby, looking a bit out of place.
We moved onto the third island where we spotted a few White-winged Scoters
plying the mouth of the bay as well as Red-throated Loons. Here we noted two
Purple Sandpipers hiding from the biting wind (yes, it was a bit chilly; I
recall one participant noting the cold wind a couple of times - OK, maybe it
was dozen times!). We spotted a few Red-throated Loons and Northern Gannets
moving through the gap between the islands as well as more Great Cormorants.
We also noted a few inquisitive Sanderlings as they edged towards our cars.
Arriving at the fourth island we found 4 Common Eiders - a wonderful contrast
to a nearby congregation of all 3 scoter species diving near the rocks with a
few Greater Scaup mixed in for good measure! Here we found a flock of Purple
Sandpipers - 30 strong - finding purchase against the icy wind on a rocky
ledge near the surf.
Heading north from the last island we spotted some Tree Swallows over
Fishermen's Island - but flying lower we noted a southbound string of
blackbirds over the road! These birds stretched from near the southern
island bridge north to Wise Point - we estimated the flock to be 5,000
strong! The group seemed to be mostly Common Grackles but there were a few
that looked like Boat-tailed Grackles and many more that appeared to be
Cowbirds or Red-winged Blackbirds.
We visited the ESNWR and noted a couple of Wild Turkey calling from behind
the pond on Ramp Rd and American Pipits here and there. Afterwards as we
drove north blackbird flocks seemed to be everywhere! All told, I estimate
total blackbird numbers were near 7500 individuals. We made the obligatory
stop at Stingray's for lunch. Afterwards, we followed Rt 600 north to the
Oyster area. We spotted several groups of sparrows near the road edges,
apparently because of the recent snow fall which covered the fields. These
were, for the most part, Savannah Sparrows, but we did note a few sparrows
with white outer tail feathers. Stopping, we soon enjoyed great scope looks
at Vesper Sparrows standing alongside the Savannahs. (You know, the Vespers
looked positively fat compared to the Savannahs!). Afterwards, as I got into
my car I spotted a Yellow-headed Blackbird in an overflying blackbird flock.
Oyster yielded the usual mix of shorebirds - Killdeer, a couple of
Semipalmated Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Willets,
Ruddy Turnstones, Western Sandpipers (ID by bill shape and length), several
hundred Dunlin, and some Short-billed Dowitchers (probable? - the folded
wings just met the end of the tail feathers).
After Oyster, we drove to Cape Charles and stopped on the street outside of
the world-famous Sterling House B&B. Here we spotted the previously banded
Rufous Hummingbird visiting the feeders on the front porch. We then drove
down Rt 13 to the Custis Tomb turnoff and soon found Fox Sparrows in double
digit numbers feeding in the grass along the road edge. The plumage of these
sparrows through our scopes looked quite different in the light of the
setting sun from what we normally observe. A nearby American Woodcock,
somewhat disturbed I suppose, ambled off from the road edge into the woods.
Close by a House Wren poked its head up from the yellowed-leaf litter and a
Pine Warbler perched on a nearby branch.
As time - and light - was fast escaping, we drove to the ESNWR to witness the
evening movement of Am. Woodcock. The first flyer was noted as we parked and
another dozen soon left the woodland edges, flying about to find an unfrozen
patch of ground to feed upon. After marveling at the display, we drove to
Magotha Rd for a little owling. Here we called up a couple of Eastern
Screech Owls. While the small owls called back to us, two different pairs of
Great Horneds dueted: one pair perhaps a 1/3 of a mile distant north and
another a similar distance south from our position. After enjoying this
winter serenade, we returned to Virginia Beach.
We started Sunday morning at Fort Story and soon found a few Northern Gannets
and Boneparte's Gulls flying NW along the shoreline to the mouth of the bay.
Further down towards hotel row, we spotted more Northern Gannets - at first
just a few but soon strings of 10 and then 20 birds appeared, apparently
making their morning trek to the feeding grounds near the mouth of the bay.
Quickly, the numbers climbed so that over a hundred of these great pelagic
creatures filled the view of our bins. And this flight continued for nearly
30 minutes. How many? Thousands is all I can say.
Later, we stopped off at Stumpy Lake and soon found a few Brown-headed
Nuthatches. Then, we visited the small pond at the Christopher Farms
subdivision just off Holland Rd (thanks Larry for the directions!). Here we
quickly spotted the Eurasian Wigeon mixed in with 50 or so of his American
cousins. Lastly, we drove south to explore the area west of Back Bay. Here
we chanced upon many Common Snipe - some just outside our car window yielding
great photo ops - as well as several Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern
Harriers. At our last stop we noted a couple of dozen Tundra Swans and a
cooperative Red-throated Loon in the inland bay just two hundred yard from
our scopes.
All-in-all we had a great time and look forward to our next visit!
Kurt Gaskill
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.
