Hello VA-Birders,
I made an overnight run up to Chincoteague this past weekend. I meandered up
through Northampton and Accomack Counties on Saturday. Most of my stops are on
the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Coastal Trail, Eastern Shore Loop
<http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/loop.asp?trail=1&loop=CES>.
CES01: Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Island 1),
CES02: Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (Ramp Rd)
CES10: Willis Wharf
CES14: Gargatha Landing
CES15: Guard Shore
CES16: Saxis Wildlife Management Area and Related sites
CES18: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
On Sunday I mostly birded at Chincoteague (with a brief detour to Ocean City to
chase the Red-Necked Stint - a worthy bird - but of course dipped). Also did a
seawatch at Chincoteague on Sunday from 6-7 a.m. with nothing of note. I had a
chance meeting with a birder from New Jersey (who gave me the gen on the Stint;
thanks) who had White-rumped Sandpiper on 8/4 which I didn't see.
I checked the fields around Capeville and Alrlington Roads near Kiptopeake, but
did not find much.
The bulk of the shorebirds and wading birds were in Swans Cove Pool. Elsewhere
is very dry.
Weekend List with notes is below. 95 species (10 spp. heron/egret/ibis, 20 spp.
shorebird, 8 spp. tern/skimmer). Not too shabby.
Keep on Birding Y'all.
Arun Bose
Richmond, VA
Canada Goose
American Black Duck 4 - Saxis 8/4
Northern Bobwhite 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret 6 - Chincoteague 8/5
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis 1 juv. Oyster 8/4
Glossy Ibis 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon 1 - Richmond 8/4 downtown carrying prey item.
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail 2 - 1 Gargatha Landing, 1 Saxis 8/4
Black-bellied Plover 6 Chincoteague 8/4 8/5
Semipalmated Plover - c.600
Piping Plover 3 - Chincoteague 8/4, 8/5
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher - Oyster 8/4, Chincoteague 8/5
Black-necked Stilt 5 - Chincoteague causeway 8/5
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet - judging by size at least 3 Western Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel - Oyster 2, 4 Willis Wharf 8/4, 1 - Chincoteague 8/5
Marbled Godwit 3 - Chincoteague 8/5
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot 4 - Chincoteague 8/5
Sanderling - c.150 - Chincoteague 8/4 8/5
Semipalmated Sandpiper c.800 - Chincoteague 8/4 8/5
Western Sandpiper c.500 - Chincoteague 8/4 8/5
Least Sandpiper c.200 Chincoteague 8/4 8/5
Pectoral Sandpiper 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Short-billed Dowitcher c.1000+ - 4 hendersoni
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Gull-billed Tern 8
Caspian Tern 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Royal Tern 6
Sandwich Tern c.20
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird - 2s and 3s seemed to be everywhere
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Marsh Wren - Guard Shore, Saxis 8/4
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird 1 - Chincoteague 8/4
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Prairie Warbler 1 - ESVANWR Ramp Rd
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1 - Saxis 8/4
Seaside Sparrow 6 - Saxis 8/4
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark 1 or 2 Saxis 8/4
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
House Finch 4 near Saxis 8/4
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
