A couple of additional notes. A merlin was active along the south parking lot
at the beach. I saw an interesting chase between the merlin and an
out-of-place Phoebe. The Phoebe used it's skill as a flycatcher to avoid being
eaten. Rather than flying away it flew up and down --leading to an amusing
chase of vertical climbs and drops. I may have played a role in the phoebe's
escape ... when the pair headed straight for me.. causing the Merlin to
hesitate.
Also of note to birders was an article in the local paper. There is a plan for
a bike path that would go from NASA visitors center across the 175 causeway,
through town and out to the FWS visitors center. This would open up a huge
expanse of salt marsh to "relatively" safe birding. The 175 causeway has some
fantastic habitat and birding spots -- but most of it is inaccessible to
birders due to heavy and fast traffic. A local boy was killed on the causeway
a couple of years ago while trying to bike across. It would also open up spots
on the new bridge that overlook the Chincoteague mudflats. Overall this could
be a very positive development. However, there are very sensitive habitats
along the roadway. The gull colonies are important, and the South side of the
causeway is one of the only areas I know of where Black Necked Stilts breed.
http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2015/03/26/in-chincoteague-bicycle-path-across-causeway-proposed/70483262/
From: elliety@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2015 23:09:33 -0400
Subject: [Va-bird] Chincoteague Early Spring Week
All:
I finished up a week at Chincoteague, spent getting our seasonal rental "the
Black Skimmer" ready for Spring -- lots of painting and gardening. I was
able to squeeze in a few (ok many) hours of birdwatching.
The rarest bird of the week was the Eurasian Wigeon, which was present in
Swan's Cove most days -- but not this morning.
The most interesting birds of the week were the American Oystercatchers.
They are pairing up. I managed to find four banded ones -- P2, P4, 66, and
RR. Also of interest were the numbers of piping plovers. The flats between
Swan's Cove and the beach are attracting many pairs -- I counted 12 plovers
in this short section. The area is closed -- but the Rangers are having a
time keeping people out. This is likely to get much worse when the vacation
season really kicks in.
Good variety -- but low numbers of ducks: Long tailed, Bufflehead and
Scoters in Tom's Cove. Red Breasted Mergansers in several places, Gadwall -
a large flock of several hundred (an exception to the low numbers rule) on
the wildlife loop, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Green Winged Teal on the
Causeway, and Mallards.
Herons etc... Great and Snowy Egrets, Glossy Ibis flying overhead, Great
Blue, Little Blue and Tri-colored herons.
I did not hear any Clapper Rails the entire week -- which is somewhat odd.
Only a few sparrows -- song, swamp, chipping, and white throated.
Yellow rumps were everywhere, Pine were common and I found one Yellow
Throated warbler.
Gulls: Laughing and Herring Gulls are setting up colonies along the 175
Causeway. Lesser Black backed and the other common gulls are present along
the beach -- but no Bonaparte's to be found.
The flats in many areas look great for the shorebirds which will be coming
soon -- Swan's Cove and the marsh along black duck trail in particular.
The Chincoteague mudflats -- off of the main causeway -- have expanded and
could be really interesting. The wildlife loop is so full of water -- not
many flats are exposed.
Shorebirds already present include Marbled Godwit, Western Willets, Black
bellied plovers, killdeer, gobs of dunlin, both yellowlegs, the
aforementioned piping plovers and Oystercatchers, and SB Dowitchers (a few
singles and one flock of 11).
Other odds and ends: Horned Larks in the dunes along the South Parking Lot,
one bobwhite singing along black duck trail, common and Red Throated loons in
several places, brown headed nuthatches -- everywhere, and large flocks of
robins and brown headed cowbirds along the roads.
Things should pick up in the next couple of weeks. It will be interesting to
see what Joelle and Clyde turn up in their surveys.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614@N00/sets/72157651671037645/
Bill
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