A White-winged Dove was found yesterday by John Getgood at the intersection
of Routes 645 and 600 in southern Northampton County. I heard about it at
noon today and went down to find the bird still there. This spot will be
familiar to many as the first nesting place in the state for Eurasian
Collared-Dove (a pair persists here and was present early this afternoon,
calling and singing from the TV antenna of 29511 Seaside Road, I think). At
one point, the White-winged sang from its perch deep in a maple tree (next to
a Southern Magnolia) in the yard off the SW corner of this intersection. I
left the bird in the tree there, and it was surprisingly difficult to see
when not moving. A White-winged Dove showed up a few days ago at Cape May;
the species nests as far north now as Beaufort, North Carolina, where they
favor shade trees along Ann Street, also inhabited by Eurasian
Collared-Doves.
Parking at this Virginia location, as many know, is a problem, as there is
really no road-shoulder to speak of, and local sheriffs and deputies are not
thrilled with the bend in the road here being blocked, so do take utmost care
to pull off the road (and watch for traffic) if looking for these doves in
the future.
Four Solitary Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs, and 8 Bobolinks were at
the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR as well. The strong SW winds should be
good for landbirding at Chincoteague NWR (similar weather conditions last
spring put a Lark Bunting on the beach road there and a Vermilion Flycatcher
to Maryland); the Woodland trail can be very good for migrant warblers on SW
winds.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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