Fellow Birders,
*Highlights*
Princess Anne WMA (Whitehurst Tract) - 7:30 to 8:30 AM - Shorebird counts &
variety surprisingly down from last weekend, only 5 Killdeer & 4 Spotted
Sandpiper sighted (last week there was Least, Solitary & Spotted
Sandpipers, as well as a dozen Killdeer present). No Bobwhite calling for
the 2nd straight outing after 3 outings of hearing them in a row.
Stumpy Lake NA - 9:00 to 10:30 AM - Nothing truly noteworthy, though seeing
a a few Eastern Wood-Pewees here in the city boundaries was nice.
*Photographs (All photograph from this week are posted)*
*http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150802/
<http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150802/>*
*Notes*
Early this morning I ran out to Princess Anne WMA (Whitehurst) to check for
shorebirds, and for the first time in the last couple of weekends I regret
to mention that I was a bit disappointed. Of course, I was only
disappointed since the last couple of weeks the variety & counts have been
pretty firm, but they appeared to take a step backward this weekend, which
could probably be chalked up to many reasons. While working my way around
the southern group of impoundments counter-clockwise (hugging west edge
towards south, then east, then north along the east boundary) in order to
keep the sunlight positioned properly for my arrival to the northernmost
impoundment that has held the shorebirds recently, I noted only 4 Spotted
Sandpipers. These birds were sighted where I had previously (as of last
weekend) seen Least, Solitary, & Spotted Sandpipers, and about a dozen
Killdeer. My goal for the walk (as it has been the last couple of weeks)
was to spot my first Pectoral Sandpipers of the year, but unfortunately
that goal was unmet again this weekend. Perhaps in a week or two they'll
start showing up at this site, which seems a perfect habitat, and one that
I saw a couple (though at the time was unable to properly ID and have since
done so via photographs). I am sure there are plenty of spots throughout
Virginia where Pectorals are common, especially during their migration when
essentially 'anything goes', however, I haven't yet found any members of
the species here that I can count for my 'County Big Year' which still sits
at 182 species, with my goal from the start of the year being to identify
200 species by sight. Even if I don't manage to find them here in Virginia
Beach this year, the attempt at seeing as many birds as I can here in my
home city/county equivalent has definitely challenged me to learn as much
as I can about each species and I feel that through the outings & the
writings I've tried to share afterwards have surely helped to increase my
knowledge of the birds that are found in this region. But, I'd still like
to spot some Pectorals, given that I did see them here last mid-August when
seeking out the Ruff that Bob Ake initially spotted!
Also of importance, I did not hear the Bobwhites during this outing that
I've heard while out the last couple of weeks. Perhaps they aren't happy
with someone stopping in each week to check them out, and are instead used
to this area being a dead zone for birders until mid-August as the eBird
reports suggest. With checking the park each week through these hot, summer
months, I realize why most folks tend to avoid this area in summertime
since the activity of most birds, and the variety of species tends to die
down after most were already observed during the springtime. I know that
not everyone birds according to a list of sorts, or a # of species goal for
the year, but the descending amount of activity, and the increase in
ticks/chiggers at the park must have something to do with other birders'
lack of observations posted for the park during the heat of summer, or so I
speculate. And I must say, they are right to do so, as the ticks can get
quite bad in this area throughout the hot, humid summers. Fortunately, I've
only pulled a few of the blood-suckers out of me this year, relying heavily
on high % Deet to keep them off me, but still finding a few individuals
unaffected by my efforts to thwart them. A risk that is taken in the name
of observing birds though, and therefore, a worthwhile one.
After the hour at at PAWMA, I headed back towards home, but quickly changed
the itinerary, realizing it might be an opportune time to target a bird I
still haven't seen here in my home county, the Hairy Woodpecker. This
attempt unfortunately, also proved futile, as very little bird activity was
observed within the roughly 2-mile figure-8 loop through the forests. Upon
exiting the forest though, and walking back towards my vehicle, I met up
with another birder, Una Davenhill, and was delighted to see several
species while chatting, including at least 3 Eastern Wood-Pewees, which
while they are plenty common birds, they are a species I've only seen once
so far within the Virginia Beach boundaries this year so I consider them
quite a catch. We also noted some Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Pine
Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Chipping
Sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and a Great Egret while standing still
in the forested area between the hiking & golf course parking areas. I had
plans to swing by Pleasure House Point afterwards, but it was already in
the 90s by 10:30 AM, and I was ready to just head home to lay down. I will
try to check out PAWMA again next week just to give an idea of what species
are seen there since it appears to be an area not many eBirders arrive at
during August, unless there is a Ruff present!
*Full Details & Photos (Posted each Monday for the previous Mon-Sun
Timeframe)*
*http://www.rbnature.com/blog-index/ ;<http://www.rbnature.com/blog-index/>*
Rob Bielawski
Virginia Beach, VA
