Folks,
As this nor'easter has scraped its way past us and moved further up the
East Coast, we're getting hit with strong northwesterly winds that have the
bay very churned up. I drove out to the first island on the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel for a half hour of birdwatching, parking at the southeast
corner like I usually do. Many gulls (Ring-billed, Herring, and Great
Black-backed), Double-crested Cormorants, and Rock Pigeons are taking
refuge from the winds on this corner of the island.I didn't notice any
Lesser Black-backeds today, and there were no Sanderlings present. Working
counter-clockwise up around to the northern point, the wind was howling,
and the temperatures are probably not much above freezing, with much lower
wind chills today. Large swells were moving through the channel, and a
large group of Long-tailed Ducks was out riding on them, bobbing up and
down as they passed. In addition to the Long-taileds, a good size group of
Black & White-winged Scoters was in a bit closer to the point, with one
first winter male Common Eider mixed in. I could not locate the second one
that was out there yesterday evening, but it could have been resting on one
of the rocks facing northward. The waves were crashing along the point
though, so this might be unlikely. As with yesterday, there was one Harbor
Seal with its head poking out of the water for a few minutes, but then it
disappeared. A few Ruddy Turnstones, and a pair of Lesser Scaup rounded out
the sightings on the island before I headed back to the mainland. Along the
stretch to the mainland, tons of Northern Gannets and comorants were
sitting out on the water.
Photographs are here, some nice flyby shots of the Long-taileds!:
http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150125
I stopped at Dockside restaurant just off Shore Drive, east of the Lesner
Bridge for lunch, and watched as large number of Red-breasted Mergansers
swam around in the Lynnhaven River. Also some Hooded Mergansers,
Buffleheads, and plenty of gulls & cormorants were nearby. I'd hoped maybe
a Bonaparte's Gull might come in closer to shore with the high winds, as
I've yet to pick one out this year, but no luck there. Still, a very good
lunch and nice to watch the birds and eat simultaneously from out of the
elements. Look forward to hearing about everyone else's sightings on this
cold and wet weekend.
Rob Bielawski
Virginia Beach, VA
