A nice flock (for the Eastern Shore of Virginia) of diving ducks was present
north of the village of Saxis this afternoon, consisting of 1491 Ruddy Ducks,
14+ scaup, 590 Canvasback, 74 Bufflehead, 8 Surf Scoters, and 406 Redhead. No
Common Goldeneye could be found here. The number of Redhead is impressive,
as the species is extremely scarce elsewhere on the Virginia coast. Todd Day
clicked the numbers on a manual clicker, while I counted by 1s or 10s, coming
up with numbers sometimes within 0.006% of his "clicked" numbers -- good
practice for Christmas counts. Eight Northern Harriers were in nearby marshes,
but
no Rough-legged Hawks were around. A Virginia Rail called in the marsh on
Hammock Ln.
Also on the Eastern Shore were about 200 each of Marbled Godwits and Western
Willets (not clicked), 25 Short-billed Dowitcher, 35 Dunlin, and 1 Red Knot at
Willis Wharf, with Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, and Horned Grebe
also there. Many fields between Willis Wharf and Saxis were flooded, with Du
nlin and gulls in many, but nothing unusual could be found. Chincoteague held
perhaps 10,000 Snow Geese (many blue morphs), Ring-necked Ducks, Northern
Pintail, Am. Black Ducks, a few Mallards, Tundra Swan, Ruddy Ducks, and
Gadwall.
No wigeon of any sort were around on the outer parts of the refuge.
The new visitor center is open and has a logbook for birds, but it is not
accessible outside during non-business hours; only one or two sheets are
maintained, and the remainder are thrown out in the trash, as has always been
the
practice in the past. (If anyone happens to know the name of the Massachusetts
party who found the Varied Thrush on the Woodland Trail there last month, it
would be great if regional editors for North American Birds could get the
information.)
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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