VA BIRDers,
I walked the circuit at Occ Bay NWR today, about 3 hrs. Very windy, from
the NW so the morning was not as warm as one would hope. Extensive bush
hogging as reduced some habitats, but most of these were in the wind-swept
areas which were mainly depleted of birds. Highlights were few; tops were 2
overflying Pine Siskins. Otherwise, winter birds are down in numbers or
gone, waterfowl distributed mainly in the areas protected from winds and
these were reduced in diversity, and hawks not prominent perhaps due to the
blue skies. The list is below to give you a sense of what was around this
morning.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 9
Tundra Swan 2
Wood Duck 5
Gadwall 200
Am. Wigeon 5
Am. Black Duck 4
Mallard 6
Green-winged Teal 3
Redhead 8
Lesser Scaup 500
Bufflehead 14
Ruddy Duck 24
DC Cormorant 25
Great Blue Heron 6
Black Vulture 24
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 14, or more
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Am. Coot 400
Greater Yellowlegs 3, starting to move north
Ring-billed Gull 14
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied WP 6
Downy WP 3
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 10
Pileated WP 1
Blue Jay 2
Am. Crow 1, this is the start of nesting season for this species, so big
flocks are not typically present
Fish Crow 25
Tree Swallow 19, starting to pour through
C. Chickadee 11, lots of tail chasing
T. Titmouse 7
Brown Creeper 1, in a mixed flock
C. Wren 7
Winter Wren 1, looks like many have moved north
GC Kinglet 2, going, going...
E. Bluebird 8
Am. Robin 1
No. Mocker 4
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
E. Towhee 3
Field Sp 7, groups here and there as this species moves through, some
singing
Savannah Sp 3
Song Sp 24
Swamp Sp 9
White-thr Sp 15
DE Junco 2 - numbers are way down as this species moves north and west
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged BB 16, prob. more
Rusty BB 1, I looked in vain for more
Com. Grackle 24, or more
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 1
Pine Siskin 2
Am. Goldfinch 2
During a visit to the nearby Occ. Bay Marina the following species were
added: Pied-billed Grebe, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, and House
Sparrow.
