From: Jeff Blalock
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 6:56 PM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Brown Booby at Buggs Island Lake
Greetings to all:
I spent nearly 12 hrs at Buggs Island Lake today looking for the Brown Booby.
I got there at 0545 hrs hoping to find the bird napping on the buoys near
the dam or on the rocks at Tailrace Park below the dam.
I first checked above the dam to 0655 and then went below the dam from 0700
to 0730 and meet up with Clyde Wilson. We returned to above the dam and I
stayed from 0735 to 1700 hrs.
After about and hour and half I found the booby flying around down near the
end of the earthen part of the dam.
I had several people to stop by and look for the booby. Everyone that came
down to see it did not go away empty handed.
The best way to see it if you go down to look for it is to drive to the top
of the dam and go across it. The first drive on the right go down hill to a
parking area near the water. Drive pass this and go to the pull off on the
right to park and walk along Hwy 4 southward away from the dam. When get
about half a mile from the pull off look for a large island which has a
single buoy in front of it. The buoy will be easier to see with a scope.
The booby was seen flying mostly around the area near this island. For about
an hour and half Fenton Day and I watch the booby perch on this buoy. It
would fly off for several minutes and then return to it to perch again.
One special note if you go down to see it you must park in the pull off on
the right and walk down or drive all the way across and park on the left and
walk but up the dam. Do NOT pull off and park on the shoulder of the road as
it is not wide enough and the road can be very busy at times. There is
plenty of room to walk down the road on the shoulder near the lake and it is
wide enough for you to stand and look for the bird. But again DO NOT PARK ON
THE SHOULDER even if you have a small car. We have not had any trouble with
the police when we walk down the road to bird but they might stop us from
walking if people park on the shoulder.
Good Luck and Good Birding.
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You
Jeffrey C. Blalock
103 Elizabeth Court
South Boston, VA 24592
Home Phone 434-572-8619
Cell Phone 434-470-4352
jcbabirder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
