This from Scott Barnes. Looks like he may have run into the same
mystery egret.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie County
--- Begin Message ---Hi Adam,
- From: Scott Barnes <myiarchus16@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: BIGADFROMLB@xxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 19:05:51 -0700 (PDT)
Second night was a charm. Despite south winds around 10-15 mph, I heard one
very clear and audible Black Rail at the Saxis Marshes last night (May 26).
The bird was singing from the south side of the road roughly 1/4 to 1/2 mile
west of the hunting club or whatever that white building is on the north side
before you get to the actual town of Saxis. Other birds included 2-3 Virginia
Rails, a singing Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow on Hammock Road (the dead-end
before you get to the big marsh), and Great Horned Owl, plus lots of Clapper
Rails, Marsh Wrens, and Seaside Sparrows. The Black Rail was heard at 9:42 pm.
Chincoteague was kind of slow, but we did see an immature White Ibis and
Marbled Godwit. Shorebird numbers were fairly good between the Queen Sound
Causeway and the refuge, with a few thousand Dunlin, Semi Sandpipers, and
Short-billed Dowitchers. There were 10 Black-necked Stilts in the salt pannes
on the northeast side of the causeway. No landbird migrants. Also had an
interesting egret that was roughly the size of a Great Egret, perhaps a bit
smaller though no direct size comparison was available that had an entirely
black bill and lores. Have some good photos that I'll circulate for
thoughts/opinions.
Dipped yet again on the collared-doves at Townsend. A refuge staff person at
ESVNWR apparently had a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in a closed residential area
of the refuge two days ago. Not sure if it was still there or not, but
regardless, she wouldn't give me permission to go and look for it!
There were still 10 Purple Sandpipers at the public island on the CBBT this
afternoon. Headed to the Great Dismal Swamp tomorrow.
Please feel free to circulate this message to interested parties for the
state's regional bird journal, etc.
Looking forward to the Manteo pelagic on Saturday!
Scott
Scott Barnes
Senior Naturalist
Sandy Hook Bird Observatory
New Jersey Audubon Society
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com ;
--- End Message ---
