[va-richmond-general] Eastern Shore weekend

Driving to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Thursday afternoon I was just trying to beat the expected downpours. I noticed Laughing Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants as I crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. As I started on to Fisherman Island two Osprey perched in the tops of snags caught my eye. Opening my car door at the overlook before the toll booths the wind caught my door and blew my skirt over my head. It was not a graceful exit. I briefly managed to clutch my skirt and my binoculars and saw 19 Ring-billed Gulls and 5 Sanderlings on the beach. Brown Pelicans and more Cormorants topped each pound net stake. In the distance I could see Terns of some sort on other stakes but didn't have the hands necessary to set up the scope and keep track of my skirt. I debated a quick drive-through of the ESVNWR but decided that a beer, some spiced shrimp and a bowl of crab soup were calling my name at Sunset Beach.
Friday morning I walked the beach behind the motel. Lots of lumber, still yellow and unweathered, of various sizes littered the beach in both directions as far as I could see. More of it bobbed in the bay. Lots of Brown Pelicans and DC Cormorants floated, fished, and vied for position on the trap net stakes. It was amusing to see one pelican standing briefly on another's back before the one on the bottom finally gave up its stake. At least that was what I think was happening. Two Osprey watched from trees above the beach. I climbed the steps leaving the shore and the first of many Bald Eagles floated effortlessly by. A quick walk of the picnic tables under the pines area produced my first-of-the-year Yellow-rumped Warblers. Song Sparrows chipped in the bushes.
When I drove across the road to the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge Black Vultures and Starlings put in appearances. At the pond on Ramp Lane were four Black Ducks. Two Great Egrets, four Snowy Egrets, and one blue and two white Little Blue Herons hunted for lunch. Several Great Blue Herons flew over.
At the boat ramp with the new fee booth ($10 for launching or just parking and not accepting Duck Stamps or National Park passes in lieu of the fee) I watched 50 to 60 White Ibis. Among them were brown immatures marvelously camouflaged in the grasses.
The tide was low and oyster flats were exposed at Willis Wharf when I arrived in mid-afternoon. Among countless (or at least, by me) Willets was one Marbled Godwit. Several Bald Eagles patrolled the area. A Great Blue Heron glided smoothly along the edge of marsh grasses. In the grasses near me were Savannah Sparrows and one Palm Warbler.
A call from my friend Becky estimating her arrival at 45 minutes and counting sent me on a return trip to Sunset Beach. Moments after her arrival more friends from Richmond Audubon called to say they were at the kayak launch on Ramp Lane. 

Over to you, Lori or Bob, Kim or Mike.


Lee Loudenslager Adams
Fredericksburg, VA
ladams42@xxxxxxx 

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