Over the past month, I've been birding Cape Charles beach more than usual,
spending about 40-45 minutes each morning, weather permitting. Large
southbound flights of waterbirds have been evident on many of these days, as is
usual,
especially gulls, loons, scoters, mergansers. This morning at 0845, I spotted
a loon in flight about 100 meters off the beach, and it was easily
identifiable as a Pacific Loon by plumage (nice chinstrap visible) and
structure. Many
Common and several Red-throateds around for comparison. It continued to the
south.
A Black-chinned Hummingbird attended a feeder at a private home in town 9-11
December but has not been seen since the warm-up.
Good luck to all on the CBCs this weekend,
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
