VA BIRDers,
Still recuperating after attending a fine Eastern Shore Festival this year!
I made it down Friday, Oct 8m afternoon after a horrendous back-up on I-95
south of F-burg (jeez, do these VDOT people actually think that re-paving 2 of
3
lanes of THE north-south interstate before a 3-day weekend is a good idea?)
and joined up with co-leader David Hughes at Eyre Hall. Highlight was a Black
Tern over the fresh water pond. We also pulled out a few GC Kinglets, a
Red-breasted Nuthatch and some Swamp Sparrows later that afternnoon (plus 500
or so
Tree Swallows).
Saturday morning was reasonably good at Eyre Hall with a Philadelphia Vireo
being very cooperative in the gardens - it danced 10 feet from our heads!
Lifer for at least one participant that morning. We eventually walked away
from
it and yet we found a Philly V 2 other times elsewhere in the garden making us
think that more than one was about. About a dozen Red-eyed Vireos were also
present. Other highlights were Wood Ducks, YB Sapsucker, E. Phoebe, several
Red-breased Nuthatches, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray-cheeked Thrush
(perhaps another lifer for a participant), about 7 Brown Thrashers, a
smattering
of the other common warbler migrants, a couple of Savannah Sparrows, several
Swamp Sparrows, and several Indigo Buntings.
Saturday Afternoon at Eyre Hall revealed the Philly V yet again, but seen by
only a few. Also noted were Caspian and Royal Terns, YB Sapsucker, E.
Phoebe, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, a few common warbler migrants, and
a
single Swamp Sparrow.
On Sunday morning I tried pre-dawn birding at Ramp Road, ESVNWR hoping that
the cold front would have passed through. I seems that it did not - not much
noted there: 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush and 2 Bobolinks being the highlight before
the sky lightened. As sunrise grew close, I noted 40 Black-crowned
Night-herons and 2 Yellow-crowneds, 62 or so White Ibis (two groups), dozens of
Clappers,
plus a couple of Marsh Wrens &etc.
The Sunday morning Field Trip to Wise Point was well-attended with a visiting
California birder tallying a White-eyed Vireo for his life list. Most
birders got onto at least one of the 3 Bay-breasted Warblers that morning. We
had
fine looks at Palms (all yellow), noted a Winter Wren, and a small group of
Brown-headed Nuthatches. And one Bobolink. I estimated about 100 Yellow-rumps
-
this species clearly ramping up in numbers over the weekend.
Afterwards, I ran into David Hughes and he told of finding a juvie plumaged
Common Moorhen on the morning Eyre Hall field trip. He also said the Philly V
was very cooperative and at least one observer digiscoped it.
Before leaving I managed to snag a picture of one of the Western Kingbirds
near Arlington Road and the KSP entrance road (I too busy Friday and Saturday
to
visit!)
Kurt Gaskill
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