This morning between 7:45 and 9:00 a.m. at Sunset Beach (Northampton
County), I observed an adult Sooty Tern and a juvenile Bridled Tern from the
beach restaurant. Among the very large flight of swallows passing through
Wise Point and Fisherman Island was a Brown-chested Martin of the migratory
subspecies. I do not know of any other Virginia reports of this species. On
the CBBT, Bob Anderson, David Shoch, and I observed 2 Pomarine Jaegers and 4
Sooty Terns (2 ads. by Shoch early, then 2 juvs. later) but no other obvious
hurricane-related seabirds. Normally, Sooty Terns are the only pelagic
seabirds seen during or after hurricanes that pass offshore of Virginia Also
at CBBT was a flyby Olive-sided Flycatcher, amidst a steady stream of
southbound swallows. Stilt Sandpipers, American Golden-Plovers, and many
Pectoral Sandpipers are in the flooded fields in the southern part of the
county. Oyster, Va. had many more skimmers early this morning but no Bridled
Terns.
At Sunset Beach in New Jersey, birders saw 3 adult White-tailed Tropicbirds
during the same period this morning, two of them together. These are the
second and third state record for New Jersey and first for Cape May.
Now to clean up the yard and reopen the house.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, Va.
