I haven't been seeing hummingbirds at people's feeders this year, but I
have been seeing them on my regular bird walks. Not many, just one here,
one there...
On Wed, May 20, 2015 at 2:51 PM, Meadows9 <meadows9@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Where are the hummingbirds?
I have had discussions locally with several people. In 15+ years of
feeding I have never had this few. Lots of people at work have been asking
me where they are?
I would love to hear feedback from people in different parts of VA.
Lexi Meadows
Pittsylvania County
Sent from my iPhone
On May 20, 2015, at 8:50 AM, va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:end of suburban Richmond, just off Rt 33. My mom is very concerned since
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Today's Topics:
1. Hummingbirds? (Robyn A. Puffenbarger)
2. Re: Hummingbirds? (Bill)
3. Re: Mallard/Am. Black Duck ID help (Secret Egret)
4. Wood Thrush (morann@xxxxxxx)
5. Bluebird announcement (Walter Hadlock)
6. 5/19/15 - Virginia Beach - Pleasure House Point Natural Area
(Rob Bielawski)
7. Bobwhite/Harrison road/Fauquier co. (Appleaday)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 21:54:24 +0000
From: "Robyn A. Puffenbarger" <rpuffenb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "<va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Hummingbirds?
Message-ID: <476A899D-A802-4350-A593-47234FC60DC1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello-
I am staying with family in Glen Allen area which would be extreme west
usually by now she has about a dozen hummingbirds swirling around her
feeders doing serious 'top gun' moves. This year she has just 2 regular
hummingbirds. Are there any websites I can share with her or are others of
you noticing normal or abnormal numbers of hummingbirds? You can email me
off list too - rpuffenb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and I will share with her what I
found out from you. Thanks so much.
since
Cheers - Robyn Puffenbarger
Biology, Bridgewater College
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 19:02:38 -0400
From: "Bill" <BMcGovern@xxxxxxx>
To: "Robyn A. Puffenbarger" <rpuffenb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Hummingbirds?
Message-ID: <F6D64E0E01324A42A91C0656275C9D45@BillPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
We 2 regulars at our feeder last year--but none this year, so far.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robyn A. Puffenbarger" <rpuffenb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 5:54 PM
Subject: [Va-bird] Hummingbirds?
Hello-
I am staying with family in Glen Allen area which would be extreme west
end of suburban Richmond, just off Rt 33. My mom is very concerned
usually by now she has about a dozen hummingbirds swirling around her
feeders doing serious 'top gun' moves. This year she has just 2 regular
hummingbirds. Are there any websites I can share with her or are others
of you noticing normal or abnormal numbers of hummingbirds? You can
whatme off list too - rpuffenb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and I will share with her
wrote:I found out from you. Thanks so much.
Cheers - Robyn Puffenbarger
Biology, Bridgewater College
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 20:32:52 -0400
From: Secret Egret <mysecretegret@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Alyssa Freeman <tsiporah.shani@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Mallard/Am. Black Duck ID help
Message-ID: <34C554F3-DA16-4855-9808-D03148B60CB4@xxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Sent from my iPhone
On May 19, 2015, at 1:41 PM, Alyssa Freeman <tsiporah.shani@xxxxxxxxx>
of
I was in St. Petersburg, FL, a bit more than a month ago and saw a pair
supposed toducks that look like American Blacks, though I know they're not
stillbe there. I've looked at a lot of photos and in field guides and I'm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/131225548@N03/17839386136/in/dateposted-public/undecided. The speculum is not visible on either bird, they seem a bit
dark, and the coloring doesn't seem quite right for Mallards. I have a
photo that I've posted to Flickr. I'd appreciate any ideas on this pair.
Thanks.
wish to unsubscribe, or modify your preferences please visit
Alyssa Freeman
Richmond
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today. Thoreau admired his flute-like song.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 20:35:25 -0400
From: morann@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Wood Thrush
Message-ID: <14d6ebf10a0-5497-46805@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I've been hearing this annual visitor for 3 days and finally saw him
backyard, we had a pair nest this spring. To counter the House Sparrows, we
Ann Donaldson
Barboursville
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 07:27:58 -0400
From: Walter Hadlock <jaybirdncarol@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx VABird" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Bluebird announcement
Message-ID: <D5DC358C-2F2F-40E3-9009-A12E2BDAB788@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Good morning VA Bird Listers,
After many years of trying to entice Eastern Bluebirds to nest in our
put another nest box on the opposite side of the yard and one in the front
yard; we took down all but one feeder; and moved the suet to the opposite
side of the yard, and we hung a gourd from a tree in the front yard that
attracted the House Wren. That, and a very aggressive and protective male
bluebird, distracted any other birds from trying to take over the nest box.
adult Gray Catbirds flying around; Northern Cardinals feeding; Blue Jays at
Yesterday afternoon, two young bluebirds fledged.
The back yard was already quite busy with newly fledged House Sparrows;
the pond. The young bluebirds ended up in two different places, but by
early evening, the parents had them together.
attempt a second nesting.
We are going to clean out the nest box and wait to see if the pair
Least
Good birding to you all,
Jay and Carol Hadlock
Herndon, VA (Fairfax County)
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 07:54:39 -0400
From: Rob Bielawski <robbielawski@xxxxxxxxx>
To: VA-Bird List <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] 5/19/15 - Virginia Beach - Pleasure House Point
Natural Area
Message-ID:
<CAE1OWgCr=ri8Yw+xnkNnvo7GPDf6HzP-Z0X8_wbsPXNZLm30KA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Folks,
*Highlights*
Pleasure House Point Natural Area - 4:50 to 6:00 PM - 2 Blue Grosbeaks, a
striking male American Goldfinch, Green Heron, 5 Yellow-crowned
Night-Herons, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, 5 Semipalmated
Plovers, Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Black Skimmers, American Oystercatcher,
Tern and many Royal Terns. 5 Mallards were only waterfowl seen.swarming,
*Warning:* There is a rather large wasp or hornet nest being built on the
ground at the western-most corner of the largest pond, right near the
junction of the main shoreline trail & the older vehicle trail that runs
north-south along the west side of the pond (the one with rainwater pools
in the old tire tracks). I didn't see it until I could hear them
it blends in very well with the surrounding soil. Just a heads up toswitch
your eyes from the treetops to the ground when walking past this point.from
*Outing Photographs*
*http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150524/
<http://www.rbnature.com/galleries/we-20150524/>*
*Full Species List(s)*
*http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23538461
<http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23538461>*
*Full Details*
After skipping a nice evening on Monday since I was just flat wore out
the previous few days of hiking, I got back out on Tuesday evening for a*Pine
quick walk up at Pleasure House Point. Arriving at 4:50 PM after heading
home from work and grabbing my gear, I parked as I typically do on
weeknights along Marlin Bay Drive, heading into the park and traveling
eastward with the sunlight at my back. On the way in, an *Eastern Towhee*
was singing loudly atop a pine tree, actually offering some looks rather
than calling from the thick underbrush that I usually encounter them in.
Warblers* could already be heard off in the distance as well, and ait
pair of *Northern
Cardinals* was seen around the smaller of the two ponds that this entry
trail splits between. Between the this pond and the deer carcass pond I
encountered a brilliantly colored male *American Goldfinch* in its summer
colors, a bird quite common around here but one I don't think I've ever
actually seen inside the park itself. After it flushed, another bird came
in and I thought it was a House Finch at first, but a look through the
binoculars revealed it was a female *Blue Grosbeak*, one of two that I'd
see on the day. As this one also eventually flew off, I heard a bird
calling that sounded like a heron, and when I approached to investigate,
flew off over the creek, clearly a *Green Heron* though. At this point intops
the day, the tide was rather low, leaving lots of shoreline exposed, and
the main cove of Pleasure House Creek that cuts into the park was almost
completely devoid of water. I was very surprised when on my first pass
around the cove I didn't pick out a single shorebird, perhahps they were
just hiding too well.
Around the cove though, *Red-winged Blackbirds* were singing from the
of every available tree, and a *Boat-tailed Grackle* was also joining inimpossible.
song. A single *Least Tern* was seen flying over the cove rather
erratically, making a photo of this small speedster pretty much
The small interior creek that flows adjacent to the next bit of trailalso
proved empty of shorebirds on its exposed sides, but a single*Semipalmated
Plover* came flying swiftly towards me, just a couple feet above thewater,
zooming past out into the marsh. This was a first for me at the park,*American
though again something others probably have seen plenty of times before.
Heading up towards the main point where folks often crab & fish, an
Oystercatcher* was seen flying past, and shortly afterwards, a single*Black
Skimmer* did so as well, skimming the water's surface of Crab Creek alongto
the way. Walking around the sandy areas of the point heading towards the
new pier it was obvious that the sandbars exposed were quite massive due
the very low tides. Upon reaching the pier area, it was also obvious thatsmaller,
all the birds on the sandbars were out way too far for me to pick out
anything rare. I could see plenty of *Laughing Gulls*, *Herring
Gulls*, and *Royal
Terns*, and did see one more Black Skimmer, but as far as anything
I couldn't pick it out from this distance.there
Heading back westward, with the light now in my eyes, I realized that
was quite a storm building to the southwest. In fact, Town Center'sskyline
(if one can call it that) was draped in doom-looking black clouds. Itowards
watched the thunderhead build on itself, swelling upward, but it never
seemed to get any closer to where I was, so I kept on walking back
where I'd parked just in case. At the interior creek, this time a*Spotted
Sandpiper* was sighted, and about 20 feet away from it, a single**(showing
Semipalmated Sandpiper *(showing black legs), one *Least Sandpiper
yellow legs and slightly smaller), and one Semipalmated Plover were all*overhead.
walking around the high-and-dry oyster shells. I was surprised to find 4
shorebirds, all of different species right in the same spot! Eventually,
another plover came flying in, chasing off the first and the two
disappeared into the marshes. Walking around the main cove yielded 3 more
Semipalmated Plovers, and a *Greater Yellowlegs* also landed out in the
middle, where the water was just a few inches deep. Continuing west the
birds were pretty quiet, though I heard & saw a few *Chimney Swifts
I didn't see much until I reached the far western fringe of the park,where
a group of 3 *Mallards* and a few *Yellow-crowned Night-Herons* wereseen.
westFrom here I walked back east, passing through the woods and down the
side of the largest pond. As I hit the junction with the shorelinetrail, I
heard buzzing all around me and realized there was a large wasp/hornetgeneral,
ground nest being built on the pond-side of the trail, blending in very
well with the surrounding soil. I don't know much about insects in
but I have a couple nightmare stories from Bald-faced Hornet nests Ichecking
stepped on in Minnesota as a kid, getting stung plenty of times in the
process. So when I see things like this I tend to back off quickly, not
knowing if these types of insects are even aggressive or not, just be
mindful if you walk past this area. It's easy for birders to get caught
with their eyes solely on the trees, and these ground nests and kind of
like the Cottonmouths at Back Bay, something to remind you to keep
down as well. I spent a little time walking around the smaller of the twoBlue
ponds, seeing a few Pine Warblers, and noting *Great Egrets* & *Great
Herons* out on the creek, but after this I headed back to the vehicle,Grosbeak
since the sun had now been eaten up by the thunderhead and rain seemed
imminent. Luckily, one final bird bid farewell to me, a male Blue
male that was sitting atop the nearest tree to my car.http://www.rbnature.com/blog-index/>*
*In-Depth Weekly Accounts & Photographs:*
*http://www.rbnature.com/blog-index/ ;<
didn't see any there, but did hear two Bobwhites. First time ever hearing
Rob Bielawski
Virginia Beach, VA
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 08:39:27 -0400
From: Appleaday <appleadayonsite@xxxxxxx>
To: Bird sightings in Virginia <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Bobwhite/Harrison road/Fauquier co.
Message-ID: <73C7B2D6-C1F5-47BE-B481-0E7F7E968A07@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Sherman Suter and I stopped on Harrison Road looking for Bobolinks. We
them there for me.
SemiP Plovers a Greater Yellowlegs and one Killdeer.
The drained pond close to Rt 17 held maybe 50 Least Sandpipers, 30-40
Big grassy field just east of Rectortown did give us our Bobolinks.
Rich Rieger
Alexandria
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------
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