Hey,
I conducted a beach survey this morning at Back Bay NWR where there
was VERY little on the beach except for six Snow Buntings. Out over the
ocean it was a bit better, but not much. All three scoters were seen in
fly-bys plus Red-breasted Mergansers, a few Red-throated and Common
Loons, a few Northern Gannets. The gull scene was meager with Lesser
Black-backed Gulls almost non-existent and only twenty-some Sanderlings
to keep the shorebirds on the ledger.
On my way through Sandbridge there were three Eurasion
Collared-Doves on the wire at 3621 Sandpiper Rd and two more at 2900
Sandpiper Rd.
At Rudee Inlet there was a little pod of six Horned Grebes, a
couple of gannets, a good mix of gulls including a couple dozen Lesser
Black-backed Gulls but no Bonaparte's Gulls, no shorebirds, and only one
Surf Scoter, one Red-breasted Merganser, and a baker's dozen Bufflehead.
At the campground side of First Landing State Park there were
several thousand Double-crested Cormorants and a pair of adult Bald
Eagles on the pound nets. Many of the cormorants were streaming out to
a feeding area a short way off shore where some Northern Gannets were
plunge diving. Several groups of ducks included about 40 Lesser Scaup,
140 Red-breasted Mergansers, a few Buffleheads, 30 Ruddy Ducks, and one
immature male Common Eider. There were a few Horned Grebes and one
Red-necked Grebe directly in front of the observation platform.
At the west side of Little Creek inlet I finally found some
Bonaparte's Gulls along with 40 Sanderlings and a mix of other gulls, a
female Red-breasted Merganser, and a pair of Buffleheads.
I'm looking forward to a little sun this afternoon and tomorrow to
brighten things up.
Cheers,
Bob
Norfolk
