VA-Birders,
My family and I ventured to Chincoteague for a few days over the weekend for
some fine R&R on the beach. As usual, we took advantage of the bird hotspots
on and off the refuge, heading over to Saxis Marsh one morning as well.
Highlights at Chincoteague, in addition to the shorebird list below, are as
follows: A NORTHERN HARRIER was flying over the causeway Thursday morning.
Also on Thursday morning, I was surprised to scope a COMMON LOON also at Swan
Cove. I did not see it again over the next 4 days.
On Friday, a WHITE-FACED IBIS (juv) and WHITE IBIS (juv) were among many
GLOSSY IBIS at the previously-described location on the Wildlife Drive near the
Black Duck Trail beginning. A SORA called out from the marsh along the
Assateague Channel on Friday morning early.
Two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were seen & heard on Saturday. Saturday morning, a
single COMMON NIGHTHAWK flew overhead near the beach. Later, a BLUE GROSBEAK
was heard from the open area across from where the horses are often seen (can't
remember the name here).
The single off-season BRANT was present fairly regularly near Swan Cove. A
couple of CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen & heard flying overhead on the town of
Chincoteague.
Terns included GULL-BILLED, CASPIAN, ROYAL, SANDWICH, COMMON, FORSTER'S,
LEAST, BLACK (a few each day), and dozens of BLACK SKIMMERS.
Chincoteague shorebird list below (24 species)
Black-bellied Plover - only a handful of these each day
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - a single bird on wildlife loop Saturday afternoon
Semipalmated Plover
PIPING PLOVER - single birds on two days
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt - single day high count of 11 on wildlife loop
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
WHIMBREL - one on causeway, several flying just offshore Sunday morning
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper - a few birds each day
Least Sandpiper
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - one at close range near Swan Cove on edge of flats
White-rumped Sandpiper - 7 birds flying just offshore Friday
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper - several along wildlife drive and near Swan Cove
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher - only two confirmed - one by call, one by sight
Unfortunately I could not find any Ruffs, Upland Sandpipers or Buff-breasteds
despite thorough searching. Many birds were beyond reasonable scope range, so
there could easily be one or more of these out there somewhere.
On Friday morning at Saxis, we found 4 SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and a
single SEASIDE SPARROW.
That's about it.
Jay Keller,
Arlington
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