Yesterday a juv. White Ibis was feeding around Black Duck Pool and Swan Pool in
Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge. It was seen from the wildlife loop road
around 11 a.m. At times it was alone and it also flew off and joined a
flock of Glossy Ibis and Snowy Egrets feeding. It was brown and white and
had a dull orange bill.
Also present in the same area was a bird that looked much like the description
and picture of white morph juv. Reddish Egret. The size of the bird was
between a Snowy Egret and a Great Egret. However, it didn't hold out its
wings or do the little Reddish Egret dance. Physical description - it
looked like a small Great Egret with black legs and feet. It had one
plume that looked a little buffy. The bill and lores were solid black.
Many of the usuals for Chincoteague were present. Oystercatchers,
Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Short billed Dowitchers, Least Tern,
Common Tern, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Sanderlings,
Piping Plovers, Black-necked Stilts, Louisiana Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great
Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Clapper Rails and the
usual swallons and migrant songbirds.
However, I was rather shocked to hear the song of a Nelson's Sharp-tailed
Sparrow and then to have visual confirmation (blurry grey streaks on the orange
breast) off of Chincoteague Island. The bird was in the nearest patch of
spartina grass near the 7500 block of Eastside Drive on the Island. A
small boat channel separates the grass from Chincoteague
Island. I saw and heard the bird from private property, but it can be
heard and viewed from a public boat dock next to Eastside Seafood. The
patch of spartina is about 100 feet off the shore and the bird was heard in
there for the last 3 days. I only had looks at it one day for
confirmation and a fly-by over the grass another day. Early morning and
late afternoon were the best times for calling. Snug Harbor Boat rentals
is just down the way and you can get a kayak to paddle up to try to get a
closer look.
In the evening, also heard from the same location were multiple
Chuck-wills-widows. They were calling after dark Friday, Saturday and
Sunday. They were very active and close to this location on
Saturday. Much farther away on Friday and Sunday.
Good birding! If you have any questions email me at the address below.
Denise Ryan
National Wildlife Federation
(202) 797-6864
ryand@xxxxxxx
or
savetheocean@xxxxxxxxx
