Hi Folks,
A beautiful Saturday in the 30s with not a cloud in the sky allowed me to
get out all across the city. I started off at Little Island this morning
abut 7:30 AM, first walking out onto the pier to find the water a churned
up mess from the strong onshore winds. I couldn't spot anything out on the
water with my binoculars other than some gulls so I walked across to the
kayak launch to check it out. I spooked a Cooper's Hawk, and then an
American Bittern with only marginal photographs.
I headed down to Back Bay NWR after and spent the next couple hours there
walking the Bay Trail, Loop Road, and out on the beach. I was able to add a
few birds to my yearly Virginia Beach list, having seen my first Northern
Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler, Snow Geese, and a
group of 8 Forster's Terns feeding on the bay near the parking area. For
the second weekend in a row, on the Loop Road I scared up a Wilson's Snipe.
I had walked the road in reverse this time hoping if one was in the same
area, that I might have the sun behind me for a good shot, well, clearly
they saw that coming so it moved to the opposite side and I spooked it
before I put eyes on it. There was a pair of juvenile Bald Eagles flying
about, and I saw 3 Northern Harriers as well, so a good raptor day.
Passerines were dominated by Yellow-rumped Warblers, though many types of
sparrows (Song, Swamp, Savannah, White-throated) were also seen. No Field
Sparrows yet this year though. I made a quick stop off at Little Island
again hoping to get a second chance on the Cooper's Hawk I spooked earlier
but did not see it. Instead, I found 2 American Bitterns this time, both
flying off over the far side marsh as quickly as I put eyes on them.
Photographs will be up later this evening on my site, so if you care too,
check them out here later on: http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150118
Heading out of the area north through Sandbridge I finally found my very
first Eurasian Collared-Doves (new life bird), and photographed them from
the side of the road as they sat up on the wire overhead. Also, on
Sandbridge Road just before reaching the Hells Point Canal & Bridge, there
was a pair of juvenile White Ibis feeding in the small pond on the west
side of the road, another new year bird. Being that I was already in the
area, I decided to drive through rural Pungo in the hopes of seeing some of
the massive Snow & Canada Geese flocks that folks have been reporting,
hoping perhaps to be able to spot a Ross's or Cackling Goose mixed in. I
did not find any Snows, but did see a large group of Canadas east of
Princess Anne Road from Sherwood Lakes, far back on private property
though. On Morris Neck Road I found a single American Kestrel perched on a
wire over the road, and as soon as I slowed down it took off. This was
another year bird for me though!
After the jaunt in Pungo, I drove up General Booth past the Oceanfront and
stopped at 64th Street to go into First Landing State Park. I walked the
Cape Henry Trail southwest from the entrance hoping to find some Pileated
Woodpeckers, but again missed on them. I did get some nice photographs of a
Common Loon near The Narrows though, and saw quite a few other birds
(Eastern Bluebirds & Yellow-rumped Warblers dominated).
Last stop of the day was up at Pleasure House Point, where parking at
Dinwiddie, I walked the park east to west, then back on the interior
trails. Some highlights were a Cooper's Hawk perched up in a tree, a group
of 18 Ruddy Ducks, a small flock of Green-winged Teal. I did not re-locate
the Common Goldeneye on any of the ponds today, and no luck on the Common
Redpoll that had been spotted this week either. I'm exhausted, but it was a
wonderful day.
Hope you all got the chance to enjoy it as well!
Rob Bielawski
Virginia Beach, VA
