Hello Birders,
Fourteen birders participated in an adventure to Tangier Island with
Richmond Audubon Society on Sunday. We left from Reedville aboard the
Chesapeake Breeze. On our way out to the island and on our way back to
Reedville in the afternoon we encountered good numbers of Wilson's
Storm-petrels (16 on the way out and 26 on the way back).
Tangier was intresting and delightful but from a birding prespective we
encountered mostly standard birds considering the habitat. Considering
that, the birds were great, but nothing that really shouldn't be seen on a
remote salt marsh island in the Chesapeak Bay. Around the homes the most
common birds were House Sparrows and starlings, but we managed a few other
passerines...a few Song Sparrows, a Carolina Wren, mockingbirds and one
cowbird. The powerlines and open spaces were busy with Purple Martins and
Barn Swallows. In the marshes there were plenty of Seaside Sparrows, as
well as, Boat-tailed Grackles and red-wings.
Waders captured the majority of our attetnion. We saw a nice diversity of
wading birds with close looks at many of them. Shorebirds were scarce, but
the tide was very high and we didn't encounter any roosting birds. We did
have a few species, with the highlight being a flyover by three Pectoral
Sandpipers.
Gulls and Terns were present but not overwhelmingly abundant. Also, a nice
flock of Black Skimmers.
A little bit more bushwacking could have drummed up a few more species I
suspect. So too could a walk out towards the southern end of the island.
We viewed that area from afar and could see some washout areas that looked
to have birds on them but there wasn't enough time. In the limited time
the ferry allows you, beach jogging would be the only approach to covering
the southern beach while still getting to explore the heart of the island.
It was a fun day which included some Tangier Island blue crab for the ferry
ride back to Reedville. Below is the eBird link to the list for our time
on Tangier Island.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19239851
Goods birds,
Ellison
--
Ellison Orcutt
Birder/Naturalist
Richmond, Va
Cell: (804) 339-6976
Mr.EllyO@xxxxxxxxx
