VA-Birders,
We explored 2 spots in the White Marsh area of Gloucester County this
afternoon. The first one covered 15 miles and included Naxera/Bryant Bay -
CGL06 (end of Johns Point Rd, Rt 657) on the VDGIF Birding & Wildlife Trail.
The second one was in a single location, Haynes Mill Pond, off Hickory Fork Rd
We began on Featherbed Lane (Rt 614), turned right on Warner Hall Rd (Rt 629),
and made a circle covering Free School Rd - exploring side roads, including
Johns Point Rd (Rt 657) - and returning to Featherbed Lane. The 2 Wilson's
Snipe were seen in the field on the east side of the intersection of Rts 614
and 629. That's also where we had large numbers of Eastern Meadowlark and
Kildeer. All the waterfowl reported below were seen at the end of Johns Point
Rd (Rt 657). The large raft of Ruddy Duck was fun to see.
At Haynes Mill Pond the highlights were two immature Bald Eagles flying
overhead when we arrived, and 42 Hooded Mergansers. The bright sunlight made
their colors spectacular.
A great way (for a birder, anyway) to spend Christmas Eve afternoon!
Meredith and Lee Bell
Hayes, VA
Location: White Marsh area, Gloucester Co.
Observation date: 12/24/09
Number of species: 36
Canada Goose 12
Mallard 22
Surf Scoter 13
Bufflehead 5
Ruddy Duck 220
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 18
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 1
Killdeer 45
Wilson's Snipe 2
Ring-billed Gull 35
Herring Gull 2
Mourning Dove 17
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 49
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
Brown-headed Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 15
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 117
Yellow-rumped Warbler 7
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 29
Dark-eyed Junco 16
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Eastern Meadowlark 40
American Goldfinch 1
Location: Haynes Mill Pond, Gloucester Co.
Observation date: 12/24/09
Number of species: 11
Canada Goose 5
Mute Swan 7
Mallard 10
Hooded Merganser 42
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 2
Ring-billed Gull 54
Belted Kingfisher 1
Blue Jay 1
