A Snowy Owl was reported at Chincoteague, on the outer beach (as they always
seem to be), south of the south parking lot in the area fenced off for Piping
Plover nesting; the report comes from 3 April by C. Swarth and P. Hurley.
Today, no owls on the beach, but a pair of Piping Plover doing their full
butterfly courtship display was a treat. In and around Tom's Cove, about
40-50 Horned Grebes (mostly in alternate plumage), 15 Common Loons, many
Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, and Sanderling, and small numbers of Bufflehead,
Surf Scoter, and Red-breasted Merganser. In Snow Goose pool, not a lot of
birdlife other than flocks of Glossy Ibis, but young of Northern Watersnake
(ca. 15 cm long) and Red-bellied Turtle (one not larger than a quarter!), and
an American Copper along the Marsh Trail.
Chimney Swifts arrived yesterday after noon in Cape Charles, where tens to
hundreds of loons, mostly Commons, have been noted off the beach in recent
days. A male Purple Finch, the first of the species here since November, was
at the feeder here in the yard all morning.
The King Eider at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel continued to be seen
through this evening, when it was noted on the ocean (east) side of Island #2
resting on the rocks of the jetty. Only a few Northern Gannets had been seen
yesterday, but several hundred were seen here today. The Eurasian
Collared-Dove continues at the intersection of 645 and 600, just east of
Kiptopeke, and Todd Day found a possible nest of the species here (this would
be the state's first). Make certain that you pull safely off the road if
looking for this bird, and respect local property rights, of course.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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