The past week has been very interesting for birding, and the coming week
promises to continue the streak. Hopefully, everyone can come out for at
least part of the Eastern Shore Birding Festival, which begins tomorrow
(see esvafestivals.org for information and registration).
Highlights of the recent days have been:
* *Fork-tailed Flycatcher* at Kiptopeke 10/1 around 8:30 a.m., seen
subsequently four times through the day to the south (found by Lynn
Davidson) - beautiful adult, probably male, enormously long (!) tail
* *Red-necked Phalarope* at Kiptopeke 10/5 on Taylor Pond in the afternoon,
seen by many (found by Lynn Davidson)
* *Clay-colored Sparrow*, immature, at hawkwatch platform in the afternoon
of 10/5 and at midday 10/6 (found both times by Lynn Davidson)
* *The Green Flash* - at sunset, 10/6 (observers were encouraged to wait
patiently for this rare spectacle by ... Lynn Davidson; see a pattern?)
In addition to the river of raptors (a kettle of 220+ Broad-wingeds this
afternoon just over the platform!) and striking shorebirds migrants like
Buff-breasted Sandpipers and American Golden-Plovers,, there have been many
passerine highlights, including 4 Bicknell's Thrushes in the past two days,
5 Connecticut Warblers, over 200 Cape May Warblers, over 2000 Northern
Flickers, 500+ Northern Parulas, 500+ Gray Catbirds, 100+ Eastern Phoebes.
The mix of earlier migrants (Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole) with later
ones (Winter Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, Hermit Thrush) at this time of year
makes the southern tip of the Delmarva an exciting place to bird. There were
440 White Ibis at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR this morning - and who knows
what cranes or pelicans or Golden Eagles (aie!) are poised to pass the park
in the next few days. Cape May has had a Gray Kingbird, Brown Booby, and a
dark-morph Broad-winged Hawk this week, so the more eyes on the Virginia
coast, the better!
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, Va.
