Hello, birders.
I went to Va. Beach this weekend. Hadn't been down
there in a year and a half. It was nice to come back.
I participated in the Back Bay CBC on Saturday. I was
partnered with some really nice birders from Va.
Beach. Our territory was part of False Cape SP. The
top species there was WHITE IBIS - 23 of them in 3
different groups - mostly immatures and all were
flying. KING RAIL (3), BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1),
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (7) and AM. PIPIT (3) were some
other neat birds that we had. Thanks very much to
Dorie Stolley of Back Bay NWR for her hospitality this
weekend.
I've never done a CBC with biting mosquitoes before.
The day started mild and the temp. reached 70F in
early afternoon before dropping after 2pm. I knew
that there was a chance of seeing butterflies on such
a warm day but I was very surprised that the one I
observed was a Monarch!!! The other really cool
non-bird sighting was a resting seal on the beach of
Back Bay NWR, identified by others as a Hooded Seal.
At sunrise on Sunday I visited Sandbridge Beach in the
rain. It was much cooler today, the high reached the
mid 40s. The wind driven rain came from the NE so I
didn't stay for long. A big flock of BOAT-TAILED
GRACKLES, over 60, fed on the beach. I next drove
rural roads in the rural SW part of the city, birding
at interesting looking places. Lots of blackbirds in
farm fields and front yards. Next I paid my first
visit to the Whitehurst Tract of Princess Anne WMA.
Nothing too exciting there but it was nice to see 9
LESSER YELLOWLEGS feeding in a flooded field. There
were lots of SONG and SWAMP SPARROWS, MALLARDS and
RING-BILLED GULLS.
In the early afternoon I birded Island #1 of the CBBT.
It was very windy. I got spectacular looks at many
of the birds there, including PURPLE SANDPIPER (3),
GREATER SCAUP (5m, 1f) , LONG-TAILED DUCK (40+/-) and
COM. GOLDENEYE (1f).
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
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