20 members of the Monticello Bird Club and Augusta Bird Club had a
productive birding weekend Nov 21-23 on the eastern shore. Our thanks to
Brenda Tekin for organizing much of the trip and co-leading it.
Approximately 85 species were reported. A female Long-tailed Duck and 3
Great Cormorants were the only unusual CBBT sightings by the group as we
crossed over to the Eastern Shore on Nov 21. This was the first time I ever
birded the tunnel islands in November without layers of outer garments,
headgear and gloves. A T-shirt was perfectly adequate and comfortable.
Those who went on the Assateague Island wash flats trip on Nov 22 with
Brenda saw an array of good birds including Little Blue Heron and Snowy
Egret, while those of us who remained behind missed those two waders. The
same day Nancy Spahr, Jim Reed and Liz Reed had a close up view of an
American Bittern across from Tom's Cove Visitor Center. Of course, we all
saw the expected waterfowl, including the clouds of Snow Geese, and the few
remaining shorebird species. Other accomplishments of sorts was finding 4
warblers (the usual one plus Pine, Palm and Common Yellowthroat) and 4 wrens
(including Winter, House and Marsh). Brenda heard Barred, Great-horned and
Eastern Screech-Owls in a predawn trip into the refuge on Nov 23 and it was
mentioned that a possible Short-eared Owl was sighted in Saxis Marsh at dusk
on Nov 22. Mozelle Hinkle, who has been spending several months in
Chincoteague, had seen a Common Moorhen earlier in the week in the ditch
between Swan Cove and the Woodland Trail. We tried to relocate it but never
could, presumably due to the heavy human traffic on such a lovely weekend.
Nancy and I stayed on the Eastern Shore until today, Nov 30. I briefly
returned to Chincoteague on Nov 28 when I glimpsed a darting Peregrine
Falcon at Wallop's Island just before entering the causeway. During my own
several day peregrinations on the "shore" I returned to the CBBT on the 25th
and was able to get great looks at the male King Eider, male and female
Harlequin Ducks and a male Long-tailed Duck. At least one White-winged
Scoter was mixed in with flocks of Surf and Black Scoters on islands #3 & 4.
Also on Nov 25, I had the pleasure of joining Jason Wade and Liz Rogan in
the Smith Island Lighthouse for the Cape Charles Seabird Watch (see Bill
Williams' note on Nov 18 calling for volunteers). We counted hundreds
(perhaps thousands) of scoters (all 3 species) and Northern Gannets along
with the usual gulls, a few Royal Terns and a late Osprey. This was great
fun and a worthwhile experience. Tried for the Harris's Sparrow at the
Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge several more times to no avail. In several
trips to Willis Wharf, I too saw the numerous Marbled Godwits and Willets
mentioned by Todd Day. The Long-billed Curlew never crossed my binocular or
scope field either. My only other birds of interest were 2 Greater
White-fronted Geese and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Northampton
Co. landfill on Nov 26, another Osprey, this one near Exmore (Craddock Neck
marsh off Teakle Road) on Nov 29, and a Horned Grebe at the same place on
Nov 30. On the way home we stopped in (unannounced) at Ned Brinkley's in
Cape Charles where he graciously invited us into his kitchen for a window
view of his array of feeders in his side yard. We saw at least one
Baltimore Oriole, a few House Finches and a throng of House Sparrows. We
spent a few minutes looking through the House Sparrows for the Dickcissel.
It did not make an appearance so we thanked Ned for allowing us to intrude
and set out for home. A final stop on the CBBT islands allowed Nancy to
also see the King Eider, Harlequin Duck (male only) and Long-tailed Duck --
a fine way to conclude 10 great days on the Eastern Shore.
John Spahr
Waynesboro, VA
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