Greetings,
We were greeted a little after 9:00 a.m. bird time today by 2 circling
Glossy Ibis at the College Creek Hawkwatch off the Colonial Parkway near
Williamsburg . Some twenty minutes or so later 5 American White Pelicans were
observed drifting along in the current in the James River. They rose from the
river, flew to less than 50 meters above myself, Tom Armour, and Brian Taber,
then circled to a thermal right over our heads for at least 5 minutes before
departing to the north. Within 15 minutes 3 more White Pelicans were seen
soaring over Hog Island Wildlife Mamangement area to our south, bringing us a
remarkable total of 8. We suspect the 3 on Hog Island did not depart as they
soared above the trees briefly before disappearing towards the impoundments.
Later the watch was visited by 2 Least Terns. Diurnal raptors were few a
far between with the northerly air flow. We managed to record 1 Merlin and 1
Broad-winged Hawk, among a scattering of Turkey Vultures and Sharp-shinned
Hawks. Providing great background sounds were a Yellow-throated Warbler,
Brown-headed Nuthatches, Clapper Rails, Laughing Gulls, Royals Terns, and a
finely tuned Eastern Bluebird. Barn, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows
zipped by with an occasional Chimney Swift.
Bill Williams
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