For a first trip to the Eastern Shore since moving to Virginia, a
sunless Monday and rainy Tuesday turned out to be decent birding.
We stopped in Newport News to watch two Monk Parakeets busily adding to
the large "community" nest. The best look at them I've ever had. They
were high atop the grain elevator in Illinois, and high atop the ball
field lights in Austin, TX. To see them so close was quite a treat.
Next stop was the CBBT where we found 4 Long-tailed Ducks (2 pairs), at
least 11 Purple Sandpipers, many Gannetts, 2 Oystercatchers, many
Turnstones, 1 Seaside Sparrow, and the DCCormorants and gulls. Many
Brown Pelicans and a Great Black-backed Gull at the north end of CBBT.
On the Eastern Shore we first stopped at Magotha Road, off Route 600 in
Northampton Co, where a Eurasian Collared Dove was on the utility wire
as we turned the corner. Then to Willis Wharf, off Route 600 in Occomack
Co, both Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning (in the rain). Highlights
follow:
Marbled Godwit 200+ lots!
Whimbrel dozen or more
Common Loon 3
Dunlin 5
Boneparte's Gull 4
Forster's Tern 3
Oystercatcher 26
Semi-palmated Plover 1, likely more
Short-billed Dowitcher 4
Also, Red-br Merganser, Green Heron, GBH, Fish Crow, Kingfisher, Great
Egret, Willet, various peeps. Many gulls, mostly Ring-billed, Laughing,
a few Herring. Likely more of everything and anything, but obscured by
either approaching dusk or rain.
Stopped at Eastern Shore of VA NWR coming back. Highlights were the
Bobwhite calling, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-heron in a tree. At
the VC, the scope is on the Osprey nest, as is a camera. There are
currently 3 eggs in the nest.
Joyce Bathke
Stafford Co/Fredericksburg
