Jeff Blalock and I visited Hog Island WMA in Surry Co. this morning. Highlight
of the morning was the presence of 25 STILT SANDPIPERS, all adults in various
stages of molt and an excellent number for the area. All of the Stilt
Sandpipers were located in a wet area at the north end of the peninsula in the
middle of the cornfield. This area cannot be seen from any road or path on the
wildlife management area but can be accessed by walking east down the path
opposite the observation deck until you reach the intersection with the path
that runs south. At this point, you can head back west on the other side of the
cornfield walking along the marsh towards the duck blind until it opens up.
Other shorebirds today included SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SPOTTED, WESTERN, SEMIPALMATED and LEAST
SANDPIPERS. We did see the GREAT HORNED OWL that Wendy Ealding reported
yesterday, once again being harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird. No rest for the
weary. I pasted a link to a complete ebird list below for those interested.
Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14796962 ;
