[va-richmond-general] Fisherman's Island and points North Oct 27.

....and then there were 12. Started out with 21 on our sign-up list but rain and unforeseen circumstances for some brought our group number to 12. The weather men were once again a little over-zealous in their forecast as our weekend was perfect. Pam Denmon from the ESNWR-led us along Fisherman's Island in truly balmy conditions (really Brian ;-) Occasional passing cloud bursts made for some hat and hood installation but basically the morning was great. The entrance pond had a trees stacked with Black-crowned Night-Herons, Great Blues and a Snowy Egret.
 
 High tide made for a narrow beach to walk along but we had good looks at Royal Terns, Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants along the shore. Ghost crabs gave us a lot of entertainment. Tree swallows flocked overhead as we left the beach, a bounding deer with the white flag up headed into the field and some fasting moving raptors zipped over the trail.  The remainder of the day we spent at Willis Wharf where the most incredible cloud formations and BLUE sky hung over the retreating tide and wading birds. Marbled Godwits, Semi-palmated Plovers and Willet-fest were a few of the highlights. More Bald Eagles then I can ever recall seeing there as well as a fly-over Merlin and a Peregrine falcon.
 
A quick stop-over in Oyster gave us a pair of ............Oystercatchers and a pair of displaying Belted Kingfishers in an apparent territorial dispute. We wrapped up at Wise Point (Ramp Road) with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen-we were all weeping ;-) Rail were "clapping" in the marsh grasses and our thoughts were turning to dinner at Kelly's Gingernut Pub in Cape Charles.
 
5 of us camped under the waning gibbous moon. Great weekend all around.
 
Thanks for those who turned out for our annual Halloween Extravaganza and big thanks to the ESNWR especially Pam Denmon and Yvonne Schultz who know RAS will show up no matter what the forecast.
 
Julie Kacmarcik
Chester
 

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