Tina Trice and I birded Hog Island WMA in Surry County today. It was really
dry there. The impoundments on the east side were virtually free of water.
The most water was found in the first impoundment and that's where most of the
shorebirds, herons and egrets were concentrated. As expected, there were
numerous GREAT EGRETS and GREAT BLUE HERONS and a nice showing of SNOWY EGRETS.
Also present were 16 WHITE IBIS, at least 2 LITTLE BLUE HERONS and 8
TRICOLORED HERONS, all immatures. Two GLOSSY IBIS rounded out the waders.
Shorebirds included SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, both YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER,
WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER.
At the north end there was a nice group of CASPIAN TERNS with a few ROYAL
TERNS mixed in. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie County
