I spent the last 3 days at Chincoteague on a family vacation and did a very
limited amount of birding chiefly at the ocean end of Swan Cove where it
adjoins the beach and the adjacent beach area.
There was good gull diversity. I was surprised to see a heavily worn 1st cycle
Iceland Gull on the beach near the parking lot at the top end of Swan Cove but
when I checked the list serv saw that it had been reported the previous week.
It is missing chunks of feathers off the forehead and nape so the bill looks
proportionately larger than it would normally. I noted a Glaucous Gull had
been reported as well recently - I did not see this. Over the 3 days I saw at
least 4 different immature Lesser Black-backed Gull, as well as a couple of
Ring-billed Gulls to add to Laughing, Herring and Greater Black-backs.
Pictures of the Iceland Gull are here:
http://harrisbirds.com/Kumliens%20Jun%20Va1.htm
In contrast tern variety was less than I had expected, with 6 species (Least;
Common; Forster's; Royal; Sandwich - max of 3; and Caspian - max of 3 as well).
Shorebirds included:
2 Marbled Godwit, seen this morning flying over Swan Cove, both in heavy wing
molt so presumably 1st summer birds
10 Short-billed Dowitcher, one in typical breeding plumage for griseus and the
rest with very limited breeding type feathers
Willet - all seemed to be Eastern that I could see
Black-bellied Plover -c.10 one day roosting in Swan Cove, two of which in
dullish breeding plumage
Semipalmated Plover - one on Saturday 25th
Piping Plover - 3 different birds seen
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt - on causeway, 2 young seen with one pair
Regards
Clive Harris
Cabin John, MD
