I birded up and down the Eastern Shore on Thursday, June 21 through Saturday,
June 23, 2007, including CBBT, Fisherman's island (as seen from the scenic
overlook on the CBBT), Eastern Shore NWR, GATR Tract of Mockhorn NWR, Magotha
Rd, Oyster (mostly at the landfill), Willis Wharf, Saxis area, Chincoteague
NWR, and in route (including but not limited to: US 13, Routes 692, 695, 703,
701, 774, 695, 697, & 714) Notable sightings were:
* AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - adult with 2 ducklings at Saxis on 6/21
* NORTHERN BOBWHITE - thrilled to hear them every day up and down the
Eastern Shore as they are much more common here than in the Lynchburg area
* COMMON LOON - a single one in non-breeding plumage at Chincoteague NWR
on 6/21
* GREAT BLUE HERON - rookery with at least 3 nests and as many young at
Eastern Shore NWR
* WHITE IBIS - 12 seen at the Oyster landfill on 6/21 were the only ones
seen
* OSPREY - nests with young were nearly everywhere (again these aren't
nearly as common in the Lynchburg area)
* CLAPPER RAIL - heard/seen everyday at Chincoteague NWR, Saxis, &
Eastern Shore NWR including a juvenile seen in Saxis area on 6/22
* BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - single in non-breeding plumage seen at
Chincoteague on 6/22 & 6/23
* SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - a single seen on 6/22 & then 4 seen on 6/23, all
at Chincoteague
* PIPING PLOVER - single adult on nest (in enclosure) at Chincoteague on
6/22
* BLACK-NECKED STILT - a single seen on 6/22 at Chincoteague
* WILLIT - seen nearly everywhere including 3 different adults with one
or two young each at Chincoteague and in Saxis area on 6/21 & 22
* WHIMBREL - 1 hudsonicus seen at Chincoteague on 6/23
* MARBLED GODWIT - seen everyday at Chincoteague, high count of 5 on 6/23
* SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 2 immatures seen at Chincoteague on 6/23
* BONAPARTE'S GULL - 2 in non-breeding plumage on 6/21 at Chincoteague
* RING-BILLED GULL - singles seen on 6/21 at Oyster landfill & 6/22 at
Chincoteague
* BLACK SKIMMER - seen on 6/21 & 23, high count of 54 on 6/21 with 34 on
Fisherman's island, 1 from Magotha Road & 19 at Chincoteague
* HORNED LARK - 1 seen north of Saxis on Route 774 on 6/22
* MARSH WREN - numerous in Saxis area, seen & heard 6/21 & 22
* Warblers - nothing unusual but saw or heard PARULA, PINE, PRAIRIE,
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, HOODED, CHATS (high counts of 3 Chats each at GATR Tract
NWR on 6/21 & ESNWR on 6/23)
* SEASIDE SPARROW - maritimus seen or heard more than once in Saxis area
on 6/22
If you have any questions or are interested in the complete list of species
for a particular location, please request off-the-list.
Rexanne Bruno
Lynchburg, VA
