VA BIRDers,
Your VSO's Roving Ravens Team managed 175 species on a tough Saturday, May
15th, in New Jersey. Finding only a few passerine migrants (a lament by nearly
all teams) we, again, placed 8th in the field of 60+ teams.
Highlights observed by the RR's during the Big Day were many American
Bitterns and Least Bitterns calling in the Great Swamp, a Black Scoter on
Poverty
Beach, a male Northern Harrier migrating north over the ridge line of Stokes
SP,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk on nest, two Peregrines (on the Delaware R.
and on Nummy Island), Purple Gallinule at the Wetlands Institute (present for
nearly a month!), King Rail in the Great Swamp, Common Moorhen on a Beaver
Pond outside of Wantage, many Piping Plover (esp. near Poverty Beach),
Whimbrel,
Red Knots, at least 600 Least Terns (3 groups) on Cape May beaches, Common
Nighthawks over the aforementioned Beaver Pond, Chuck-wills-widow in Cape May,
Alder and Willow Flycatcher, many Least Flycatchers, several Horned Lark in the
Alpha grasslands, Bank and Cliff Swallows, Red-breasted Nuthatch in Stokes,
Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrush calling overhead during night migration,
Golden-winged Warbler, two dozen Blackburnians, nearly a hundred Am. Redstarts,
Kentucky singing in mid-afternoon, a couple of YB Chats (one in Stokes), Summer
Tanager calling in the late afternoon (after much effort!), a dozen-plus
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Vesper Sparrow singing on territory at Alpha.
Found during the week by scouting were No. Gannets (missed on the Big Day!),
White-faced Ibis (thanks to Andy Rabin of MOS!), Ruddy Ducks, Purple
Sandpipers, two Parasitic Jaegers straffing the tern flock off the Cape Point
rips, Am.
Pipits in Alpha, and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
Reported by others during the week were Swallow-tailed Kite, Mississippi
Kite, Black Rail, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Swallow-tailed Flycatcher.
Once again, an interesting and educational experience! I guestimate that the
team members drove an aggregate of 2400 miles before and during the event.
Amazing!
The Roving Ravens greatfully thank our sponsor, Leupold and Stevens for
providing support during scouting and during the Big Day. We also wish to
thank
all who pledged support to the Virginia Important Bird Areas project through
the
team's efforts. The latter is the real payoff - helping to preserve our
habitats now so that those in the future can enjoy them as we do. Your support
is
great appreciated!
Kurt Gaskill
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