Fellow Birders,
The fully formatted write-up with photographs and hyperlinks to all the
cited eBird reports is available on the web here:
http://www.beachbirding.com/journal/pe-20190228. Past entries of this
thrice-monthly journal are accessible here: http://www.beachbirding.com
/journal-index/.
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While it is the shortest of the thrice-monthly periods, Late February
managed to hold its own in terms of both quantity and quality! Matching
mid-February, 144 species were logged to eBird this period, and Virginia
Beach birders closed out the month with a strong list of 168 species (up
significantly from the 155 logged in February 2018). Temperatures dropped a
bit this period from the late winter heat wave experienced in the middle of
the month, though flowering trees continue to blossom. The real weather
headline was the amount of rain we received though, and it felt as though
the sun was only out for maybe one or two days in total this period.
Highlights this period included new rarity records for CACKLING GOOSE, BARN
OWL & LARK SPARROW, continuing rarity records for TUFTED DUCK, HARLEQUIN
DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER, PURPLE FINCH & BREWER’S BLACKBIRD and continuing
unseasonal records for BLUE-WINGED TEAL & BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER!
A pair of CACKLING GEESE were discovered foraging in a flood field north of
Gum Bridge Road (just west of Charity Neck Road) with a large flock of
Canada Geese on 23 Feb (vis. Matt Anthony & Nick Newberry). The pair was
observed again the following day along with Canada & Snow Geese, as well as
a single Tundra Swan (ph. Rob Bielawski). Later in the day, the
several-day-long rainstorm finally cleared and the water quickly receded
from this field; a quick check in the late afternoon revealed most of the
flock had dispersed just as the floodwaters did. While a single Cackling
Goose has been known to be present in the larger goose flock near Sherwood
Lakes, this is the first record for the year of multiple Cacklers, and the
first at this particular location.
Only the second ever recorded to eBird in Virginia Beach, a BARN OWL
observed being mobbed by crows at Pleasure House Point NA on 27 Feb (vis.
Ezra & Theo Staengl, vis. Shawn Kurtzman) was a huge surprise! Last May, a
single Barn Owl was also reported at this location under the same
circumstances, but it was never found again. One must consider that this is
likely the same individual, and it has managed to stay hidden due to its
nocturnal habits. The nearby golf course and surrounded fields/pine stands
could provide perfect habitat for this bird, and frankly it’s just exciting
to know there is one hanging out somewhere in the city.
Last of the new finds this period, a single LARK SPARROW was found foraging
along the edge of the asphalt on Nanney’s Creek Road on 24 Feb (ph. Andrew
Baldelli). This is the first Lark Sparrow seen here this year, and the
fourth of the rare winter sparrows to be logged, along with White-crowned,
Lincoln’s & Clay-colored. Perhaps as we head into March, Vesper will find
its way into the crowd. While this Lark Sparrow was not observed again at
this location, another was reported at Stuart Road on 26 Feb (vis. Karen &
Tom Beatty), which is another public road surrounded by private property,
please stay on the asphalt if searching at either location!
Moving on to continuing rarities, the first-ever TUFTED DUCK found on the
lake behind Chartway Federal Credit Union’s headquarters on Cleveland
Street on 19 Feb (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate) continued to be
observed at the same location through 26 Feb (last vis. Marlee Morris). It
was thoroughly searched for on the 27th & 28th, as well as on 1 Mar (as
this is being written), and has not been observed. There are a large number
of neighborhood ponds scattered across the Hampton Roads metropolitan area
though, and it could have simply moved to another nearby location, perhaps
with the group of Lesser Scaup is was associating with. If it pops up
again, it’ll certainly be out on the eBird alerts quickly. Many of will be
left to muse about where it may have gone too, and perhaps another city
nearby is in for a first record just like Virginia Beach was fortunate to
enjoy. Throughout the course of 8 days while it was known, a total of 120
eBird reports were logged for the bird, probably the most for a single bird
in the city dating back to the miraculous 157 reports for the Back Bay
Fork-tailed Flycatcher of 2017.
Also in the waterfowl realm of continuing rarities, the immature male
HARLEQUIN DUCK present since the Little Creek CBC on 31 Dec 2018 was logged
again this period, though only a single time on 25 Feb (ph. Baxter Beamer).
This pesky individual has been very difficult to pin down to a single
viewable location, with probably better than half of the folks who’ve
looked for it coming up empty. It has been observed ranging from the west
side of the Lesner Bridge, east to the marina on the east side of Chic’s
Oyster Bar. However, there are many nooks & crannies for this bird to hide
amongst. Twitchers be warned.
COMMON MERGANSERS continued at two separate location this period, around
Lynnhaven Inlet and at Sherwood Lakes. Last period, a group of three
females was observed at Lynnhaven Inlet and two of them were again found on
22 Feb (ph. June McDaniels). Additionally, the group of female Common
Mergansers at Sherwood Lakes persisted through at least 26 Feb (vis. Karen
& Tom Beatty, vis. Cathy Williamson). Hopefully individuals from at least
one location are still present heading into March, as it is a difficult
month-bird to come by out here (for those of us who are crazy enough to
maintain month-lists).
Continuing female PURPLE FINCHES were observed at three separate private
residences during late Feb, as follows: one in Great Neck Estates on 23 Feb
(ph. J.A.), one in Laurel Cove on 26 Feb (ph. Loretta Silvia), and one in
Church Point on 28 Feb (vis. Tracy Tate). This continues to be an excellent
irruption year for this species in southeastern Virginia, however, there
are currently no public locations known harboring the species (possibly
First Landing SP?). Perhaps that will change in March?
The wintering flock of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS along West Gibbs Road in the
Blackwater section of Virginia Beach continued to be seen this period, with
several reports occurring from 24-27 Feb (ph. Lisa Rose & Jason Strickland,
ph. Rob Bielawski, vis. Will McPhail, vis. Cindy Hamilton) after having
gone unrecorded dating all the way back to 13 Jan. The birds have been
present on a private farm, Breeze Farms to be specific, and like with the
Lark Sparrow mentioned earlier it is important to note that observers
visiting this site be highly respectful of their surroundings. Unless you
receive permission from the homeowners, it’s probably best to stay on the
public roadway. The blackbirds will often tee up in the nearby trees,
though the bulk of their time is spent hopping around the muddy horse pens
(sometimes perching on the fences). Birders beware, there are plenty of
Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds at this
location that can cause confusion of which species you might be looking at
from a distance.
In what has continued to be a banner winter for the species, continuing
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS were observed at two locations during late
February. The single individual that has been observed at Stumpy Lake NA
going all the way back to 15 Jan was again viewed on 26 Feb (ph. Steve
Myers) along the second loop of the wooded trail, and once more on 27 Feb
(ph. June McDaniels). A second continuing individual was observed at a
private residence in Great Neck Estates on 25 Feb (vis. J.A.). Four
separate locations have yielded Jan/Feb records in the city this year, and
with their average arrival date of 5 Apr still a few weeks off, we still
have time to find another potential winterer before the true migrants begin
arriving, and obscure whether or not a bird wintered here.
Late February is the final period for which BLUE-WINGED TEAL are considered
noteworthy, and we had our last such record at Little Island Park on 24 Feb
(vis. Andrew Baldelli). Since this species has a 5 Mar average spring
arrival date, the cutoff for being mentioned in this journal is 25 Feb (10
days ahead of the arrival date). For more information regarding these dates
for other species, please be sure to consult the Noteworthy Observations
Criteria Page for 2019.
Heading into early March, the coastline should continue to be watched
closely for large-scale movement of Razorbills as they begin departing the
area. Snow Geese should continue to move through in large numbers, with
massive flocks descending on agriculture fields in southern Virginia Beach
to forage. There is only one expect spring arrival species during early
March, being Blue-winged Teal (5 Mar). However, this is a good time of year
to get an early Royal Tern or Piping Plover, and it’s also worth searching
for Vesper Sparrows which are an early migrant. We are just a couple of
weeks away from the real beginning to spring migration so early March is
always a good time to wrap up seeing some species that were missed in
Jan/Feb before we start the flood of northbound migrants.
Thanks all,
Rob Bielawski
Virginia Beach, VA
www.beachbirding.com
www.facebook.com/beachbirding
