See full report on ebirds.
Mar. 20, 2012
I decided to spend most of the day birding, and besides the usual haunts I
spent a couple of hours at mid day near Brownsville Seaside Farm near
Nassawadox otherwise early morning at Cape Charles harbor and late afternoon
along the bay at N Cape Charles bay and Kings Creek at the Cape Charles Bay
shore resort. Besides the titled rarities it was a pretty good day, especially
in the afternoon when raptors began soaring.
Cape Charles harbor (37.26712 -76.02479) 7 - 8 a.m
I spent about an hour around the harbor and along railroad tracks, checking the
weeds and small trees for small birds but none. Common Grackles and A. Robins
are abundant; I saw the first 'Bronzed Grackle' I've seen since Dec. 10. A
Eastern Screech-owl responded to my horrendous immitation along Fig St. I've
had them respond at all times of day, dark days or bright sunny days. Savannah
Sparrows have been migrating for the past two weeks, av. 11-15/day. This
morning, 11 were in the weeds along the northside of the harbor, mostly the
pale (Eastern) type but two were dark ( possibly labradorius).
The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalusxanthocephalus) was seen at about 8
a.m. While looking over robins and a couple male Red-winged Blackbirds in a
group of small bare deciduous trees near Rayfield's pharmacy, it flew in taking
the top limb of a bare deciduous tree, about 30 ft. tall. I had good close
views, for about a minute. Striking in its bulk, deep body, and
proportionately shorter tail than the several male Red-wings. At first it
perched back to my then moved to profile and full frontal before leaving.
Black to Black-brown body, dark brown crown, brown cheeks, buffy face and
superciliary, dark or blackish mask like lores, and around the eye. The malar
region being buff yellow, wrapping around the neck behind the face and broadly
up the sides of the neck and nape. The yellow connected in a band across the
breast, and very quickly blending into white, mottling fading into the black
body. Sides and flanks dark. Throat
appeared white, the whole effect was a U shaped bib when seen front on. The
head and neck were robust, the bill large, longish, and deep at the at the
base. As suddenly as it arrived it left, flying east on rather broad wings,
the flight noticeably even even more so than Common Grackle. My notes show
records, including adult males, in several areas of the state. I have seen
three (immature) Aug. - Sept. in Northampton Co. during the 1980's, at Cheriton
and Oyster.
Brownsville Seaside Farm, Nassawodax where I looked over the edge of several
small ponds,
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Not especially birdy.
Noteworthy here were Accipitersp., 2 Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopuspileatus)
scarce on the eastern shore, a Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius), 1 swallow
sp. (Hirundinidaesp.), 5 Fox (Red) Sparrow (Passerellailiacailiaca/zaboria). A
small flock of nine Rusty Blackbirds was in a wet leafy area at the woods edge.
I kicked up about 10 Dark-eyed Juncos (Slate-colored) (Junco
hyemalishyemalis/carolinensis), most of which disappeared. Two took perches on
weed stalks bout 45 ft. away, and stay for about five minutes. The first bird
I glassed was, and I hate to say it, an outstanding classic 'Oregon' Junco
(Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]), a male. I have seen thousands on the west
coast, and this bird was typical. I looked as long as I could for signs of
shared genes, blending colors, but its pattern was clean, clear cut. The hood
was black (eye not visible), in sharp contrast with the mantle, sides and
flanks and underparts. Its sides and flanks were bright orange, the underparts
between each side was clear white to vent. The mantle, back and wings were
buffy orange, like the flanks, the mantle with a tinge of rufous. Sharp
separation with no bleeding into hood. Rump paled to grayish and the dark tail
was as 'Slate-colored'; the bird seemed somehow
smaller, slightly more trim, less weight, something, it just appear a little
smaller, more noticeable as the birds flew away. All I can say is it was a
beauty. But having said all that I wouldn't be surprised if it had some
'Slate-colored' genes......although I couldn't find anything to show a hint of
mingling. It was bright and crisp, nothing dull about it. I have one or two
records years ago in NOVA, this is my first on the eastern shore.
No mammals but several Carpenter Frogs called from the pond, and a number of
Fowler's Toads were calling.
N shore Cape Charles (37.279517 - 76.013288) and Kings Creek (37.2767011 -
76.0112883) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Raptors began moving close to five. GBBG's are abundant now and the most
common gull (besides Laughing) with at least 400, mostly adults. Two Forster's
Terns in breeding plumage were obvious migrants, first of the year.
Most notable were the raptors seen from Kings Creek which were moving N or
soaring for about 30 minutes. These were, most in the air at the same time: 21
Osprey (Pandionhaliaetus), 6 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetusleucocephalus), 1 Cooper's
Hawk (Accipitercooperii), 1 Broad-winged Hawk (Buteoplatypterus), very early
and especially rare on the eastern shore in spring; I have rarely seen them in
VA before early April. The earliest migrant BWHA'saccording my notes are two
over Fort Hunt, Fairfax Co. 25 Feb. 1975. This nice adult was soaring with an
adult RTHA. Proportions similar except more pointed wings, narrow tail. Much
smaller (could have been passed off as accipiter if not seen well). Underwings
white without markings except a trailing black edge. Seen for about five
minutes soaring over the pinelands; 6 Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)
(Buteojamaicensisborealis), 1 Merlin (Falcocolumbarius), 1 Peregrine Falcon
(Falcoperegrinus). It was low tide,
therefore large areas of exposed mud were apparent and I counted 18 Greater
Yellowlegs (Tringamelanoleuca), my first of the year. Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycillacedrorum) 76, in two groups, flew over N.
One beautiful Black Swallowtail was over a period of time.
David Abbott
Cape Charles, VA
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