The were a few Sooty Shearwaters (5) yesterday seen flying north well
offshore from the southern tip of Metompkin Island, Accomack County, in 15-20
knot east winds that came up in the afternoon. Winds are supposed to
continue from the east today. It sounds as though the bird mentioned below
was also a Sooty Shearwater. These birds usually clear out of Virginia
waters by mid-June, as they summer to our north.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
In a message dated 5/29/02 1:35:00 PM, savetheocean@xxxxxxxxx writes:
<<
I was out at Chincoteague and Assateague all weekend. While lounging on the
beach at Tom's Cove late Friday afternoon I saw what appeared to be a
Shearwater crusing the surf area of the beach. By the time I grabbed my
optics it was too far away or had landed on the surf. However, the long dark
wings and the light underwings made me think it was a Shearwater.
There are several Least Terns in the freshwater flats area and I encountered
many pairs of Bobwhites along the Wildlife loop and road to the beach. They
seemed very plentiful in the area around the reforestation on the loop.
I also visited Port Mahon on Friday morning. Found lots of horseshoe crabs
and one Red Knot - a first for me, so I was pretty darn happy. Many Ruddy
Turnstones, Sanderlings, Least Sandpiper, Short Billed Dowitchers, and
Willets too.
The mudflats behind Tom's Cove in Assateague/Chincoteage produced one Piping
Plover on Sunday afternoon at low tide. Monday, same area in late afternoon
at low tide there were two Clapper Rails out of the grass as well. One even
ventured out to the mudflats as bold as you please. The second rail was a
little more shy in the Spartina grass. I approached as close as 30 feet
before I was noticed and then Mr. Clapper Rail was not happy.
The ususal suspects were also present in good numbers, but I failed to find a
single Osprey nest in the place.
Phoebetria@xxxxxxx wrote:
Today's winds along the Virginia coast were from the southeast, and the
forecast calls for 15-knot east winds for the next two days. This might be a
good time to check along the oceanfront at Virginia Beach, Back Bay, False
Cape, and Chincoteague for small flights of shearwaters, which were observed
a week ago from North Carolina's beaches (Coquina, Nags Head, Pea Island)
during similar winds. Sooty Shearwater and Wilson's Storm-Petrel
predominated, but one birder, stationed in an oceanfront room there at the
Comfort Inn/Whalebone Jct., saw Manx and Cory's from his room as well.
Greater Shearwaters have started coming through in numbers offshore, so one
would expect a few of those if the wind reaches high enough velocity. The
spring's flight of Pomarine Jaegers has been the best recorded off North
Carolina, and it seems to be about 3 weeks later than normal, so it's worth
watching for Poms from the beaches as well. Best times to seawatch seem to
be between early morning and noon, but flights can continue all day.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 10:33:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: Denise Ryan <savetheocean@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [va-bird] Re: Shearwater at Assateague
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