Birders,
Yesterday Tom and I were able to lead bird walks at the Virginia Aquarium
(formally known as the Virginia Marine Science Museum) in conjunction with
International Migratory Bird Day. The walks were on the nature trails that
connect
the 2 buildings of the facility and follows along Owls Creek. There is a wide
variety of habitat for the 1/3 mile nature trail that splits in areas to open
grassy areas, marshy areas, wooded areas and of course the creek. We went on 3
walks that lasted about an hour (one way). We averaged about 23 species of
birds per trip. The best location (in spring) is the wooded area near the
outdoor
aviary (past the wooden boardwalk) where we saw: BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLER, REDSTART, BLACKPOLL, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, YELLOW_THROATED VIREO
and
RED-EYED VIREO. Mid way through the trail best birds were: SUMMER TANAGER,
BALTIMORE ORIOLE & WOOD THRUSH.
In all 45 species were identified and are listed below. This little trail
doesn't get a lot of attention but can hold quite a few nice birds. Just last
week at the public boat launch (to the left of the north building) we observed
2
COMMON LOONS in beautiful breading plumage. In the winter in years past we
have observed all three species of Mergansers, Buffleheads, many wading birds,
a
few peeps, rails and of course a nice variety of gulls and terns in this same
area. Three years ago were saw both species of Scaup on the creek from the
trail.
So....any of you birders reading this that visit the area and take in the
Virginia Aquarium...bring your binoculars and take time for the trail!
Here is our species list for 5-14-05
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellowlegs (sp?)
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Blackpoll
Pine Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Summer Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
Karen & Tom Beatty
Virginia Beach, VA
members of Back Bay Birding Club
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