Inspired by Fred Atwood's great day shorebirding on the Northern Neck and
vicinity, I went out "to the grocery store" for 2 hours this afternoon and ran
into Sam Stuart, the new hawk counter at Kiptopeke and Bob Anderson, part of
the
CVWO team, who had the same detour in mind. Zach Smith came by a bit later
and enjoyed the birds as well. We were really impressed by the diversity (14
species) and number (over 600) of shorebirds present in and around the two
Capeville Drive ponds (just s. of Sting-Ray's) this afternoon. Totals are
below,
most of these estimates, as the flurry of Merlins in the area kept most of the
Least Sandpipers jittery. Too, the site east of Rte. 13 (just before the
Seaside Road) is rather mucky - birds pop in and out of view. The habitat
seems
ideal for Ruff - and things like Sharp-tailed and Broad-billed Sandpipers, as
long as we're hoping. If folks visit this site, be sure to pull vehicles all
the way off the road and stand off the road - locals are still getting used to
us.
Least Sandpiper 140 (>50% juv.)
Semipalmated Sandpiper 65+ (many juv.)
White-rumped Sandpiper 1 ad.
Baird's Sandpiper 1 juv. (like the White-rumped, it foraged very close to us
for 60+ min.)
Western Sandpiper 45+ (beautiful juvs. dominated, many in transitional
plumage)
Stilt Sandpiper 4 (3 juvs., also immaculate - first juvs. of the season; only
1 ad.)
Pectoral Sandpiper 45 (a few juvs.)
Spotted Sandpiper 3 (2 ads., one with spots; 1 juv.)
Solitary Sandpiper 4 (2 juvs.)
Black-bellied Plover 65
Semipalmated Plover 160
Killdeer 12
Lesser Yellowlegs 60 (about 50% juv.)
Greater Yellowlegs 15 (same ratio)
Incredibly, there were no Short-billed Dowitchers to be had - many have been
around for three weeks. We did not look for dry-field shorebirds (American
Golden-Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper), though there are
plowed potato fields aplenty, and the Wilson's Phalaropes were not around. We
did
not check the Sealand Rd. field for Marbled Godwit, though with so little
rain from Tropical Depression Gaston, that field is probably mostly dry again.
Oyster surely held Willet, Whimbrel (for another week or so!), and
oystercatcher, so there are a few other shorebirds surely around, and the
godwits should
be arriving soon to Willis Wharf.
Thanks again to Fred Atwood for posting such nice birds from the other side
of the bay - made the grocery shopping a lot better on this side.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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