We had a great time on the Northern Virginia Bird Club's trip to Chincoteague
led by Val Kitchens and me. We tallied 115 species for the weekend which also
included a visit to Saxis Marsh. The trip began Friday afternoon with a trip
to the refuge where White-rumped Sandpipers and the Great White Egret (the
black billed Great Egret that was there last year) were discovered. At the
pulloff along the causeway into Chincoteague, there were five Gull-billed Terns
and some Black Skimmers. A couple of birders arriving early decided to explore
a little and found a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in town. At dusk, the area near
the Wildlife Loop and the Lighthouse was found to be thick with Chuck-will's
Widows calling from all sides.
Saturday was the big day and began with an early visit to the Woodland Trail.
Here we heard Northern Bobwhite and many Pine Warblers. The highlight was when
we encountered a nice pocket of warblers which included Black-throated Green,
Chestnut-sided, Black and White, Northern Parula, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted.
A Baltimore Oriole also made an appearance. Before we headed out to the refuge,
we found some Brown-headed Nuthatches behind the Best Western. On the refuge
we found many shorebirds including twelve Red Knots in Swan Cove and we had a
peak at some Whimbrels on the Tom's Cove side. Out at the beach we found
several Northern Gannets fishing out in the ocean. The main event of the day
was a bus ride out to the Washflats. Here we found eight more Gull-billed
Terns along with Cattle (Pony) Egrets We had many more shorebirds, but
nothing unusual. Two birds that were very popular with the group were a
Yellow-billed Cuckoo in a bush very close to our bus and a pair of well seen
Blue Grosbeaks. The day ended with a group dinner at The Village Restaurant.
On Sunday, an early morning hike payed off with a sighting of a single Piping
Plover in the breeding area on the beach. Most of the group then headed to
Saxis Marsh where we found many Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Wrens. Also of
interest were a pair of Orchard Orioles, a Yellow Warbler, Royal Terns, and
Northern Harriers.
I will have some photos of the trip soon. If you want a detailed list of
what we saw at various locations, let me know.
Larry Meade
Vienna, VA
