All cold weather brrrders,
Today, 11/23, marked the inaugural field trip for the William and Mary spring
2014 ornithology class during which was amassed an impressive late-January
list. Highlights are listed below:
WESTERN TANAGER, where it has been all winter in Williamsburg, was seen as the
early morning sun began its assault on the 20 temperatures at around 7:25
On the Jamestown Ferry there were five species of gull (laughing, ring-billed,
Herring, Great and Lesser BB (dipped on Bonaparte’s)) highlighted by fantastic
views of the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL as it followed the outbound ferry
all the way from the launch in Jamestown to the far side of the river where it
then gave great comparison views with its larger and darker cousin, the Great
BB gull. Also at the ferry were three CANVASBACKS (2m 1f) among 157 Lesser
Scaup. Two COMMON GOLDENEYES flew over as well.
All along the roads today were AMERICAN PIPITS with close to 60 seen without
even specifically seeking out this species (likely pushed east out of the
Shenandoah Valley by the recent heavy snowfall). On the sides of the more
forested roads were good numbers of FOX SPARROWS (with about a dozen spotted
and likely many more around).
At the site of the College Creek Hawkwatch was a HORNED GREBE, an enormous far
out flock of at least 500 SCAUP SPECIES that is not usually present at this
location, a pair of FORSTER’S TERN, more PIPITS, and one close male GREATER
SCAUP.
Finally, although most of the spots which typically contain waterfowl were
frozen, Lake Matoaka yielded tow male RING-NECKED DUCKS and a female COMMON
MERGANSER (a potential first for the lake, likely recently pushed south by
lakes freezing further north). Also on campus was a small flock of RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS almost certainly some of the 200 Dan Cristol (our professor)
reported yesterday.
Best of luck and get out there!
Nick Newberry (on behalf of the William and Mary ornithology class)
