I drove to several spots around southeast Virginia Beach today, after a nature
walk at Weyanoke Sanctuary in Norfolk (quiet, but beautiful morning there). I
decided to check the Ashville development off Princess Anne Road, about 1 mile
south of the intersection with Sandbridge Road. I didn't think that the
Loggerhead Shrike, seen last year and very early this year, would still be
around, but I was hopeful. For over a half-hour I wandered around, but never
saw a shrike. After deciding to leave, I walked back to my car and saw a shrike
perched nearby. Kind of strange. The location of the shrike is at the third
roundabout. It spent most of its time on the north side of this roundabout,
close to the road. Eastern Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds,
Chipping Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, an American Kestrel, and a Northern
Harrier were also seen. The development has not really developed much since
January.
Something interesting about the shrike is that it is color-banded. Its right
leg is marked with a blue band above a silver band. Its left leg is marked with
a green band above a orange band. If anyone knows who might have banded this
bird, let me know. I am interested to hear about the origins of this shrike.
A little bit north of this area, on Princess Anne Road, is another development
-- Sherwood Lakes. There are two ponds at this development. The southern pond
is difficult to view and has fewer birds than the northern pond. The northern
pond held about 100 Pied-billed Grebes last winter. Today, there were about 50
-- still a high number. There were several hundred American Coot, about 15
Ruddy Ducks, and 3 Horned Grebes. I thought that it was unusual to see Horned
Grebes on a pond of this size. This pond is a worthwhile stop for waterfowl in
the wintertime. I suspect the waterfowl are attracted to this pond because
there is a lot of aquatic vegetation. The vegetation appears to be hydrilla
(hopefully it isn't), which is unfortunately is invasive, but ducks like this
plant.
I also stopped by Rudee Inlet and a few other beach spots, but did not see
anything unusual. However, I saw both Red-throated and Common Loons, as well as
Bonaparte's Gulls, Bufflehead, and Northern Gannets. All these birds were
firsts of the fall for me.
4 Marsh Wrens were seen at the Milldam Creek boardwalk, off Blackwater Road.
It was great to get out and look at a few birds.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
