Hello VA-Birders:
I just returned from a very satisfying and exciting 3-day trip to Chincoteague
NWR with my family. Thanks to Sue and John who were nice to post a couple of
my sightings so others could get a chance to see. We drove onto the refuge to
head for some beach time at about 11:30 AM Friday. Along the road are a few
places to scope for shorebirds, one of them being Swans Cove Pool. In it was a
single HUDSONIAN GODWIT. It was a little pale on the breast and belly, so I am
thinking it was a female undergoing molt. The long upturned bill was a godwit
giveaway. It showed a darker mantle and a lighter grey color in the area of
the subscapulars when it turned. It was a VA bird for me and a lifer for my
wife, who is quickly adding good birds to her life list!
Throughout the day I was treated to many of my target "year" birds such as
GULL-BILLED TERNs, WESTERN SANDPIPER (I didn't find many), and WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERs (several). Also present were many BLUE-WINGED TEAL, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS in Snow Goose Pool, PECTORAL SANDPIPERs, and
calling NORTHERN BOBWHITES.
That evening I made my way for the nearby Saxis Marsh, where I hoped to find
Black Rails. None again (4th try this year). I did get a couple of VIRGINIA
RAILS and a CLAPPER RAIL to sound off. There was a GREAT-HORNED OWL giving the
heeep! call in the nearby trees, that I believe is a begging call of the young
asking for food.
I headed to the beach the next day in the early morning hoping for a Jaeger of
some sort to be around, but that was not to be. I found some good birds,
including on MARBLED GODWIT.
It was still raining mid-morning when we had planned on some beach time, so we
decided to head for Saxis to try for SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. We found
one after an hour-long vigil in the intermittent rain. This was my first one
after several tries here. I think the secret was a combination of extreme
patience (despite the mosquitos) as well as a healthy amount of pishing. One
finally popped up from the grass, flew a distance of about 20 yards right in
front of us, and popped back down. Many MARSH WRENS there as well.
Later at Chincoteague and after some overcast beach time, I again made my way
to the Wildlife Loop. The bird I could not find to this point was STILT
SANDPIPER, but then found a few them here in Shoveler Pool (if I remember
correctly).
The bird of the trip, however, was later found in Snow Goose Pool (opposite
Shoveler Pool). The RUFF was standing about 75 yards away so I could see it
from the side. Around it were both Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, and others.
By comparison, the bird appeared to be chunkier and "heavier" than the other
birds around it, which is what first drew my attention to it while scanning.
It was a medium-grey color overall, lightening toward the belly and vent. It
had orange legs, a short bill, white and black tail, and what appeared to be a
darker assortment of feathers on the scapulars. It had a white area at the
base of the bill, and the face appeared to be washed out. It didn't move much,
but when it did it was only short strides. There were no adorning feathers
around the neck or breast. A true treat to find, and my life Ruff. With that
I called it a day.
This morning (Sunday) I decided to scope before sunrise from the back deck of
my hotel (the Comfort Suites - Nice!) which is along the channel that flows
beneath the drawbridge as you head into town. I was really hoping to find a
White Ibis, so I thought this may be my best shot as they leave their roosts.
It didn't happen. However, this turned out to be a great place to watch birds.
Many interesting species and in greater numbers than we are accustomed. 65
TRICOLORED HERONS, for example. CLAPPER RAILS back there as well.
My two other target birds of the trip were American Avocet and Red Knot. After
chatting with John Fox via phone the night before, he mentioned that Val
Kitchens had posted about Avocets at Chincoteague on a bus trip to the northern
part of the island. I didn't have time for the bus, but it did give me more
confidence that Avocets were actually there. I drove to the beach just after
scoping the channel and walked the Swan Cove Trail. The map showed
impoundments along the trail that I had never visited. Amazingly, after
walking close to a mile on this trail, 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS flew nearly over my
head giving constant call notes. It appeared that they were taking off from
Swans Cove and heading northeast, perhaps toward Mallard Pool. I had just
scoped all of Swans Cove from several different angles and I did not find them.
Thanks to Val and John for giving my renewed confidence that one could find an
Avocet at Chincoteague. Since I was close to the beach, I decided to walk back
to the car down by the water for Red Knot. After a long and unsuccessful
"stroll" through the sand, I called it a trip. I spent the rest of the day
with my family on the beach and picked up a couple of SANDWICH TERNS.
I had a lot of great birds on this trip, and it sure seems like a great time of
year to make a Chincoteague weekend. I think I'll do it annually. In the end
I missed some target birds but picked up others. I'd like to thank my family
for putting up with my many hours of scanning, before sunrise wake-up calls,
and "that last trip around the Wildlife Loop." In all, we had 95 species of
birds, which is not bad for spending almost no time in the trees. Contact me
offline if you would like a complete trip list.
Take Care,
Jay Keller and Family,
Arlington, VA
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