Re: [VA-bird] Chincoteague / Assateague suggestions
- From: William Hohenstein <wghohenstein@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: James Winkelmann <james.winkelmann@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:08:28 -0500
James;
Here is a note that I send out in response to this question. I've
updated it for late winter-- but kept some of the general info as
well. February can be an interesting time. Winter is waning and
spring is yet to come.
Coming up from Richmond you may want to stop a Kiptopeake -- the pier
had all three scoters close-in last time I went through. There are
other stops just off the beaten path: the end of Magotha road,
Oyster, Willis Wharf, Wachapreague .. all of these will take you about
an hour off the quickest route.
Eats: Pico Taqueria and Woodys will probably be closed -- a shame, I
spend my time bouncing between the two when they are open. Gary
Howards Seafood has take-out steamed shrimp -- open all year. They
know their stuff. Bill's is reliable and good - but probably the most
expensive restaurant on the island. The Island Creamery is open year
round and is awesome -- if you can live on only ice cream.
Good luck, let us know what you see.
Bill
*Great birding spots in and around Chincoteague. *
1. The causeway and Queen Island Sound boat ramp: The Causeway is the
5 mile set of bridges and dike that connects Chincoteague island to
the mainland. April-Sept Look for Black necked stilts that nest in
the small open pools in the marshes on the north side of the road
(spring through fall). Also look for large (LARGE) colonies of
laughing gulls.
Winter -- The oyster beds by the boat launch at Queens Island sound --
a pull off on the right (on the south side of the road) are great for
Am. Oystercatchers -- also
look for wintering shorebirds, dunlin and black bellied plovers are
possible here. Scan the water for Brant and diving ducks. The island
directly across the boat launch has clapper rails in all seasons. You
should see wintering forsters terns. Savannah sparrows and Boat
Tailed Grackles around the boat launch.
2. Chincoteague mud flats: This is accessible from Marsh island (a
small island just to the east(?) of chincoteague) -- There is a
connector from the causeway bridge. Basically take a right from the
bridge, and a left once you get to marsh island. drive to the end of
the road past a set of houses and just to the left of a set of condos.
Look out across the flats back toward the causeway bridge. From here a
variety of sandpipers
can be seen. You'll need a scope to really enjoy this spot. The lots
are private so stay on the edge of the end of the road. I think it is
ok to park there. More dunlin and other wintering shorebirds
possible e.g. Western Willets, loons, rb mergansers
3. Merritt Harbor -- at the south end of Chincoteague Island -- good
for scoping the birds coming in from the ocean and channel -- scoters,
mergansers, larger shorebirds, gulls and terns. The spot tends to
collect small songbirds that are building up courage to fly over the
inlet. for example, I've seen Redpolls here in December. Warblers in
fall migration. There is a small park at the end that gives views of
the inlet.
Spots on Chincoteague NWR (actually on Assateague island)
4. The wildlife loop: -- I prefer to walk around the loop clockwise
(unless you drive it in the afternoon -- and you'll need to go counter
clockwise). The road on the western side of the wildlife
loop is good for songbirds (you can expect Brown headed nuthatches,
pine warblers (all seasons), and common yellow throats, white eyed
vireos, hummingbirds, indigo buntings,
blue grosbeaks (spring through fall), listen for marsh wrens - some
winter over. There is an area of dead pines about 1/2 a mile in on the
left -- this is a great spot for woodpeckers (there have
been nesting red-headed wood peckers in past years). Depending on the
sun, you can double back and walk the loop until you find open water
the birds are similar on both sides
but the sun will either be at your back or in your eyes depending on
the time of day. If you head around the loop counter- clockwise, look
for a bald eagle nest just to the south of the loop as you walk in the
direction of the ocean
. The back side of the loop can be quiet -- but I've seen peregrines,
and coopers hawks there as well as some song birds as well. there is a
short boardwalk to the marsh that can be good depending on sun
and where the birds on the open marsh want to land. Listen for
bobwhites here - difficult to see but often heard (I have not see
Bobwhite anywhere on Assateague for several years now).
From the far side of the loop you can access the beach -- this time of
year, you may need to go out this way then north on the beach to find
quiet space on the beach. Sanderlings, willets, and rarer shorebirds
can be seen from the beach as well as piping plovers (march -october).
5. Service road: on the far side of the wildlife loop is a service
road that runs north for many miles -- again it is quicker to go
clockwise if you want to continue on the service road. It leads to
some very interesting habitat -- more nuthatches, orchard orioles,
etc. You may want to check with a ranger before heading out that way.
If there aren't many waders it may not be worth it. There is also a
tour bus that goes out that way to the wash flats. I've never done
that but have walked the entire length. It is 7.5 miles and can be
quite an adventure. There are a few places where a path cuts over
dikes to give access to the dunes and beach. The area around the pony
corral is good for songbirds, There are flats on the bay side just
north
of the pony corral that can be very good for the odd wader (whimbrels,
plovers .. the only place I've seen american golden plover (fall) on
the refuge). Past there are the wash flats (a scope is really needed
to appreciate the area), and even further are the Old Fields. The Old
Fields are the most remote impoundments and offer a good cross section
of habitat (if there is water). Keep an eye out for Turkeys and all
sorts of things. Plan for the entire day of walking, bring water, bug
spray, food, and a cell phone. After crossing the cattle guard (past
the corral) you will be in the wild horse area... I have been run off
the road by a particularly aggressive stallion, so keep your wits
about you.
6. Beach Visitors center and Swan's Cove -
there are two visitors centers (one NWS and one Park Service). Across
from the Park Service one (at the beach) is Swan's cove -- the flats
here are great for sandpipers -- willets, oyster catchers, and smaller
ones, this is also a good
spot to catch a glimpse of piping plovers. In the winter expect ducks,
snow geese, and swans. There are also usually a good array of terns
here in season. View Swan's cove from the parking area across from the
visitor's center, from
the end of the north beach parking lot, and from pull offs along beach
drive. From the lot across from the visitor's center, take time to
look through the brush along the canal for night herons. I've found
sora and spotted sandpipers
along this canal.
The Dunes directly behind the visitors center is a good place for
Ipswich Sparrows -- there is a banding project underway and the
researchers would appreciate reporting any siting of color banded
birds.
7. Woodland trail -- more woody -- Red Headed Woodpecker, Thrasher,
Towhee, Hermit Thrush, BH Nuthatch, Sparrows, In spring orchard
orioles, buntings, blue grosbeaks and bugs. There is a trail off the
parking lot that leads to a horse pasture that is often good for
sandpipers -- yellowlegs, spotted, solitary -- (May-Sept) put on the
DEET.
8. Beach south to the hook -- closed during the piping plover and
least tern breeding seasons. the Beaches are great for willets, red
knots, sanderlings and a collection of shorebirds in migration. I've
seen buff
breasted here in the fall. The dunes can collect a variety of sparrows
and small song birds. There is a path through them at the old coast
guard's station and a short path at the Visitors station. Tom's Cove
can also be great for
shorebirds and in the winter will have diving ducks (e.g. long tailed
and scoter, and loons/grebes).
The walk from the South Parking lot to the Coast Guard Station along
Tom's Cove is where the Bar Tailed Godwit has been reported.
(Part are CLOSED through Mid March - Mid August)
Specific birds:
Warblers -- I have found that the mainland is better for warblers than the
Refuge. Memorial Park can be good in migration. The south end of
Chincoteague (Merritt Harbor). On the refuge, look for prothonotary, BTB,
BTG, Yellow Throated, B&W, Prairie, and of course Pine and Yellow rumps. In
the winter Yellow rumps may outnumber every other bird species on the
refuge.
Rails, seaside and saltmarsh sparrows-- A great spot early in the morning
is on the access road (beach road) to assateague island -- after you pass
the McDonalds and leave chincoteague island and enter the marsh (but before
you get to the entrance circle and gate to the NWR). At low tide scan the
channels in the marshes -- you can spot clapper rails that dart from one
set of marsh grass to another across these muddy channels. At very high
tide this is a good spot for seaside and saltmarsh sparrows -- they get
pushed up to the sides of the road when the marshes are underwater. The
visitors center at the beach is supposed to be good for seaside sparrows --
but I've never had luck there.
You could find Wintering Nelsons there this time of year.
Bobwhites: Look along the roads on the wildlife reserve as you drive along
-- especially early in the morning. I've come across them when I bike (it
is quiet). There are bobwhites at the beginning of black duck marsh trail
(right at beach road). You have to be lucky to see them -- although they
should cooperate and sing. (
Gannets are reliable from the beach in the winter. This year folks have
been reporting Razorbills
Owls: can be heard on chincoteague and assateague (barred, great horned and
screech). The wildlife loop and service road are good -- but they may kick
you out when it gets dark. Short eared are also on the refuge in the
winter. Far side of Swan's Cove and the WL Loop at dusk.
Other birds to look for: stilts (always cool); least terns (in tom's cove
and swans cove); black skimmers causeway and swans cove; black crowned and
yellow crowned night herons -- black crowned are more common -- by the
beach visitors center and on chincoteague at merritt harbor, piping plovers
along the beach and in the marshes behind the beach.
Shorebirds: Pretty much anything can show up. Get the latest on shorebird
numbers and locations from the weekly shorebird report -- it is posted
weekly on VA-Bird.
The ebird site can be searched for birds seen at chincoteague in specific
months -- it is a great resource.
On Sun, Feb 24, 2019 at 12:36 PM James Winkelmann via VA-bird <
va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi all, I recall another individual on here seeking similar advice and
received it, so thought I'd ask as well: I have two free days next week
and plan to visit Chincoteague NWR. If anyone with familiarity would be
gracious enough to offer tips I'd be grateful. I plan on driving from
Richmond early in the morning, staying overnight, returning late the
following day, so effectively two full days of birding.
I have maps of the refuge and plan on covering essentially all the trails
and loops, but if there's anything less obvious that's recommended,
including spots to stay, eat, grab a beer, etc. I'd appreciate a tip.
Feel free to reply offline to my personal email:
james.winkelmann@xxxxxxxxx
Thanks in advance!
James Winkelmann
Richmond
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