Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Virginia Birding > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, February 3 at 10:24 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Plains Wanderer,©BirdQuest

3 Feb Re: Unsuccessful search for shrike and rough-leg in Clarke County [Joshua Taylor ] 03 Feb Re: Bald eagle huntsman lake ["Kurt Gaskill" ] 3 Feb Re: American Woodcocks "peenting" in Williamsburg [Alyce Quinn ] 03 Feb Unsuccessful search for shrike and rough-leg in Clarke County [David Davis ] 3 Feb PEREGRINE FALCON Hanover County ["Andrew Dolby (adolby)" ] 3 Feb Palm Warbler in Eastern Loudoun ["WILLIAM Brown" ] 2 Feb American Woodcocks "peenting" in Williamsburg [Shirley Devan ] 2 Feb Glaucous Gull, City Of Richmond [Ellison Orcutt ] 2 Feb White-winged Dove [G B Harris ] 2 Feb Brown Pelican inland at Kerr Lake [Brian Bockhahn ] 2 Feb Bonaparte's Gull and Rough-legged Hawk [James Fox ] 2 Feb Re: short eared owls Zion Crossroads [c bear ] 2 Feb The Great Dismal Swamp - Jericho Ditch - Feb 2, 2012 ["Robert Ake" ] 02 Feb Good news on Sunday hunting bills ["Lynda Blair" ] 02 Feb Loggerhead Shrike in Clarke County ["David E. Carr" ] 2 Feb Update: New photos posted-Trip to Ashville Park Dev, Mackay I NWR & Belmont At York pond [Les Brooks ] 2 Feb Interesting Geese ID Help; Fwd: eBird Report - Dutch Gap Conservation Area/Henricus Park - CAP03, Feb 1, 2012 [Ellison Orcutt ] 1 Feb Fw: [vbspcawildlife] Senate Bill 176 and Senate Bill 59 [Keith and Karen Roberts ] 1 Feb Animal Welfare AVMA policy - Free-roaming Abandoned and Feral Cats [Keith and Karen Roberts ] 1 Feb Glaucous Gull, City of Richmond, 1/2 [akb ] 1 Feb Bald eagle huntsman lake [andrew armfield ] 1 Feb Golden Eagle-Gladys, VA [Melissa Roach ] 1 Feb Riverbend Park Waterfowl 2/1/12 (Fairfax) [] 1 Feb Late report- 1/31/12 Trip to Ashville Park Developement, Mackay Island NWR and Belmont At York Apartment Complex [Les Brooks ] 1 Feb 2nd Trip - Birding CBBT by Boat - 19 Feb 2012 [Shirley Devan ] 31 Jan Signs of spring in Gloucester [] 31 Jan glaucous gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park - YES [Gwbirds37 ] 31 Jan Re: Canvasbacks at James River Bridge [nicholas flanders ] 31 Jan Canvasbacks at James River Bridge ["Robert Ake" ] 31 Jan Brewers Sparrow Yes [James Fox ] 31 Jan Sunday Birding in Fishersville [Ashley Bradford ] 31 Jan Glaucous Gull on Monday [Paul Lavrakas ] 31 Jan short eared owls Zion Crossroads [Sue Garvin ] 30 Jan interesting Mecklenburg County birds ["C. Michael Stinson" ] 30 Jan Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk [Harry Glasgow ] 30 Jan Osprey arrival in Norfolk ["Robert Ake" ] 30 Jan Glaucous Gull @ Pohick Bay, 1/28 [Ashley Bradford ] 30 Jan Virginia Beach Trip ["Ray " ] 30 Jan James R. waterfowl, Newport News, 1/28/12 [nicholas flanders ] 30 Jan FW: Glaucous Gull [William Hohenstein ] 30 Jan Clapper Rail activity at Ragged Island WMA (Isle of Wight Co.) [Elisa Enders ] 29 Jan Upper Middlesex Co(Middle Peninsula), Jan 29, 2012 [Frederick Atwood ] 29 Jan Prince William Conservation Alliance Birdwalk [Harry Glasgow ] 29 Jan Huntley Sunday 1/29 -- Rusty, thrasher, and tree sparrows ["Pam and Ben" ] 29 Jan Red-Shouldered Hawk pair Ridgeview Park & other sightings [Victor Laubach ] 29 Jan Glaucous Gull ["Walter L. Barrows" ] 29 Jan Re: Common Redpoll - Virginia Beach ["Jim Nelson" ] 29 Jan Great Falls National Park Walk on January 29, 2012 [] 29 Jan Weekend birding - Augusta and Albemarle Co.s [Gabriel Mapel ] 29 Jan Kerr Reservoir 1/29/Hummingbird Update [Adam D'Onofrio ] 29 Jan Second Lark Sparrow - Augusta Co. [Gabriel Mapel ] 29 Jan Common Redpoll - Virginia Beach [Jim Marcum ] 29 Jan Dyke Marsh for Sunday, 29 January ["prowarbler" ] 29 Jan Fwd: eBird Report - The Pocket, Jan 29, 2012 [G B Harris ] 29 Jan Glaucous yes, Brewer's sparrow no ["Marc Ribaudo" ] 29 Jan Yellow-breasted Chat, Nashville Warbler Hopewell 1/29 [akb ] 29 Jan Re: Glaucous Gull, Pohick Park, Frfx Co, 29 Jan 12 [William Hohenstein ] 29 Jan Glaucous Gull, Pohick Park, Frfx Co, 29 Jan 12 ["Kurt Gaskill" ] 29 Jan For people attending VSO Outer Banks trip Feb 3-5 [Meredith Bell ] 29 Jan Lark Sparrow at Stuarts Draft [Jim Elder ] 28 Jan 2 Razorbills off beach @ Back Bay NWR [Elisa Enders ] 28 Jan Saturday birds [akb ] 28 Jan Brewer's Sparrow - NO [Paul Glass ] 28 Jan Lark Sparrow-Yes [Mark Johnson ] 28 Jan MacKay Island [Jane Beavers ] 28 Jan Birds at the Blue Ridge Center, Loudoun ["Joe Coleman" ] 28 Jan NVBC field trip to Black Hill RP, Maryland, 1/28 [Michael Bowen ] 28 Jan Glaucous Gull present [Will McPhail ] 28 Jan Beginner Bird Banding Class, Warrenton VA [] 28 Jan Glaucous Gull continues Pohick Bay [Steve Hersey ] 27 Jan "Going Wild in Your Backyard": Wildlife Habitat Open House in Culpeper Feb. 4 [Pam Owen ] 27 Jan Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay ["David Larsen - birding" ] 27 Jan Northern Pintail, Portsmouth, VA [Elisa Enders ] 27 Jan Glaucous Gull - Pohick Bay [Linda Chittum ] 26 Jan Fwd: eBird Report - Back Bay NWR - CSY06, Jan 26, 2012 [Shirley Devan ] 26 Jan Merlin Shenendoah Co. [James Fox ] Subject: Re: Unsuccessful search for shrike and rough-leg in Clarke County From: Joshua Taylor <waterwagen AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:14:25 -0500 My wife and I also were out to look for the birds this afternoon - we searched later on, around 4:30. We saw a number of Red-tailed Hawks and had a female/immature Northern Harrier fly over us near the silo, but did not see either the shrike or RL Hawk. Josh Taylor Winchester, VA On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 6:47 PM, David Davis wrote: > Early this afternoon, my wife and I made a brief foray into Clarke County > to look for the Rough-legged Hawk and the Loggerhead Shrike reported along > Stone Bridge Road yesterday. We did not find either one, but we did not > spend a lot of time looking--merely driving slowly and occasionally > stopping for a minute or two along Stone Bridge Road and some of the other > roads to which it connects. We did not see any buteos at all, so there was > no question of identification. The only raptor we saw was a kestrel on > Milldale Road between its junction with Stone Bridge and the country club. > Birds in general were scarce despite the nice weather. > > Dave Davis > Arlington > ______________________________**_________________ > va-bird mailing list > http://mailman.listserve.com/**listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > > Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of > Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. > http://www.virginiabirds.net/ > -- Sent from my MacBook Wheel _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: Bald eagle huntsman lake From: "Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87 AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:00:21 -0500 Yes, we are probably getting near to the end of Bald Eagle migration. Maybe another week... Kurt -----Original Message----- From: andrew armfield [mailto:soupdragon12345 AT yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 7:28 PM To: va-bird AT listserve.com Subject: [Va-bird] Bald eagle huntsman lake Hi all, There was one Bald eagle at Huntsman lake off the Fairfax county parkway, midmorning. There was something else big blocked behind a large tree limb also. Not sure what that was. Andrew _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: American Woodcocks "peenting" in Williamsburg From: Alyce Quinn <twoquinns AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:22:35 -0800 (PST) Shirley,   We've been hearing woodcocks here in Burnt Chimney for about a week.   Alyce Quinn   ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:58:59 -0500 From: Shirley Devan Subject: [Va-bird] American Woodcocks "peenting" in Williamsburg To: Bird VA Message-ID: <6BDC458E-4FBC-4AAC-A5DD-34717B8E7A0A AT cox.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Greetings, Two fellow birders alerted me to the fact that American Woodcocks are peenting and displaying in their mating ritual in Williamsburg. Thanks to Geoff Giles and Hugh Beard, I turned up at the Warhill Sports Complex tonight at 5:45 pm and heard the first peent at 5:55. I observed two woodcocks fly over the basketball court. Geoff showed up shortly after and we listened and watched for about 25 minutes. We think there are at least 3 woodcocks there. They were active despite car traffic and lots of road noise and barking dogs in the distance. Has anyone else heard woodcocks peenting around the state? Shirley Devan Williamsburg Bird Club http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ Board member, Virginia Society of Ornithology http://www.virginiabirds.net/index.html Ph: 757.813.1322 I'm now on facebook ... ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list va-bird AT listserve.com http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird End of va-bird Digest, Vol 58, Issue 3 ************************************** _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Unsuccessful search for shrike and rough-leg in Clarke County From: David Davis <daviszepp AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:47:01 -0500 Early this afternoon, my wife and I made a brief foray into Clarke County to look for the Rough-legged Hawk and the Loggerhead Shrike reported along Stone Bridge Road yesterday. We did not find either one, but we did not spend a lot of time looking--merely driving slowly and occasionally stopping for a minute or two along Stone Bridge Road and some of the other roads to which it connects. We did not see any buteos at all, so there was no question of identification. The only raptor we saw was a kestrel on Milldale Road between its junction with Stone Bridge and the country club. Birds in general were scarce despite the nice weather. Dave Davis Arlington _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: PEREGRINE FALCON Hanover County From: "Andrew Dolby (adolby)" <adolby AT umw.edu> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:40:40 -0500 I was driving west on Old Ridge Rd. in northern Hanover County this morning at 9:00AM when a PEREGRINE FALCON cruised over in front of my car. I was approximately 3 miles west of U.S. 1. Andrew Dolby Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences University of Mary Washington 1301 College Avenue Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Office: 327 Jepson Science Center Phone: 540-654-1420 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Palm Warbler in Eastern Loudoun From: "WILLIAM Brown" <billbr50 AT msn.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:50:33 -0500 An early Palm Warbler was the highlight of my short walk through the Eastgate subdivision in Loudoun County the morning. I also witnessed a little courtship behavior between a pair of Eastern Bluebirds. The full list of my sightings is as follows: Eastgate, Loudoun, US-VA Feb 3, 2012 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.25 mile(s) 25 species Canada Goose 8 Mallard 4 Turkey Vulture 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Killdeer 4 Ring-billed Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 10 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 4 Carolina Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 10 American Robin 15 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 30 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Song Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 15 Northern Cardinal 2 House Finch 2 American Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: American Woodcocks "peenting" in Williamsburg From: Shirley Devan <sedevan52 AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:58:59 -0500 Greetings, Two fellow birders alerted me to the fact that American Woodcocks are peenting and displaying in their mating ritual in Williamsburg. Thanks to Geoff Giles and Hugh Beard, I turned up at the Warhill Sports Complex tonight at 5:45 pm and heard the first peent at 5:55. I observed two woodcocks fly over the basketball court. Geoff showed up shortly after and we listened and watched for about 25 minutes. We think there are at least 3 woodcocks there. They were active despite car traffic and lots of road noise and barking dogs in the distance. Has anyone else heard woodcocks peenting around the state? Shirley Devan Williamsburg Bird Club http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ Board member, Virginia Society of Ornithology http://www.virginiabirds.net/index.html Ph: 757.813.1322 I'm now on facebook ... _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull, City Of Richmond From: Ellison Orcutt <mr.ellyo AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 18:10:48 -0500 Arun Bose reported that the Glaucous Gull had returned yesterday and I found it again this afternoon (Thursday). Like he said, it was easily seen from the overlook of the James River on Brown's Island. Good Birding, Ellison -- Ellison Orcutt RIchmond, Va (804) 339-6976 Mr.EllyO AT gmail.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: White-winged Dove From: G B Harris <gbhrlh AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:57:36 -0500 Birders, Starting at about 3:05 PM and continuing, a White-winged Dove was observed in our yard and a neighbor's yard. It's "different" flight call drew my attention when it flew and I determined it to be white winged. We were able to view the bird at close range with a scope. Nice! Happy trails, George & Rosemarie Harris Gloucester, Virginia _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Brown Pelican inland at Kerr Lake From: Brian Bockhahn <birdranger248 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:14:02 -0500 COE staff sent me a photo this morning of a juvenile Brown Pelican seen below the dam, perched by the camera where the LBBGull usually sits. New for the lake as far as my records show! -- Brian Bockhahn birdranger248 AT gmail.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Bonaparte's Gull and Rough-legged Hawk From: James Fox <jmsfox11 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:27:14 -0500 This morning I drove up to Lake Fredrick in Fredrick County. As I was driving there a torrential downpour started and I was beginning to wonder if going birding was such a good idea. Just as I got to lake Fredrick, however, the rain let up and I was surprised to see a small gull on the lake. A quick look with the binoculars revealed it to be a Bonaparte's Gull, certainly not I bird I would expect this far inland in February. After only a minute or so it flew off to the southeast so I'm guessing the heavy rain had forced it to land and it left as soon as the weather cleared up. A male Ring-necked Duck was the only waterfowl on the lake. At Eastham Park in Front Royal there were four Buffleheads and two Pied-billed Grebes on the river. Apparently this is the first record of Pied-billed Grebe and the second for Bufflehead in Warren County on ebird, which shows either how little this area has been birded or that Warren County is really terrible for waterfowl. There were n ine Common Mergansers on the river at campus but I didn't see the Hooded Mergansers that have been around. This afternoon I tried for the Loggerhead Shrike along Stone Bridge Rd. at the very southern edge of Clark County since I heard it was seen there again this morning. Just like the other four times I didn't see it but there was a Rough-legged Hawk near the silo. James Fox Front Royal _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: short eared owls Zion Crossroads From: c bear <c91bear AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:19:18 +0000 Where at Zion's Crossroads were the short eared owls spotted? We've been looking on some of the back roads near there with no luck. Thank you! > From: va-bird-request AT listserve.com > Subject: va-bird Digest, Vol 58, Issue 1 > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:51:03 -0500 > > Send va-bird mailing list submissions to > va-bird AT listserve.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > va-bird-request AT listserve.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > va-bird-owner AT listserve.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of va-bird digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. short eared owls Zion Crossroads (Sue Garvin) > 2. Glaucous Gull on Monday (Paul Lavrakas) > 3. Sunday Birding in Fishersville (Ashley Bradford) > 4. Brewers Sparrow Yes (James Fox) > 5. Canvasbacks at James River Bridge (Robert Ake) > 6. Re: Canvasbacks at James River Bridge (nicholas flanders) > 7. glaucous gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park - YES (Gwbirds37) > 8. Signs of spring in Gloucester (hjwilliams3 AT cox.net) > 9. 2nd Trip - Birding CBBT by Boat - 19 Feb 2012 (Shirley Devan) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:06:03 -0500 > From: Sue Garvin > Subject: [Va-bird] short eared owls Zion Crossroads > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > We were pleased to see 5-6 short eared owls at Zion Crossroads, Monday > evening (5:45 pm.) A very impressive number Northern harriers put on quite > a show when we first arrived. At sunset, the harriers settled and moments > later the owls appeared. > > Best, > > Ryan and Sue Garvin > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:46:32 -0500 > From: Paul Lavrakas > Subject: [Va-bird] Glaucous Gull on Monday > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > I got a good look at the first year Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park at about 2pm on Monday the 30th. It was paddling fairly close to shore at the far left end (facing the water) of the parking lot where apparently it has been usually spotted. In the bright light, it was easy to ID. > > Paul Lavrakas > Annandale, VA > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:04 -0600 > From: Ashley Bradford > Subject: [Va-bird] Sunday Birding in Fishersville > To: > Message-ID: <16084.1328029204 AT ashleybradford.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Sunday Mike and I had the pleasure of Gabriel Mapel as our tour guide, as well as > his mother's delightful company. What a great day of birding! Under his > direction, I picked up three life birds and Mike two. > > We started in the fields on Guthrie Rd., and it was only our second stop along > its length that found us 3 American Pipits. Also a couple of Horned Larks, which > I've seen so infrequently that they're still a big treat for me. > > >From there we moved on to the pond on Brennemans Lane where the LARK SPARROW has > been seen. It gave us a bit of a wait and teased us with singing, and finally we > spied it down on the ground through a tangle of brush. We got great views of it > in there, though obstructed by brambles, so I didn't have the chance for a photo. > I want to back up Gabriel's report of two Lark Sparrows at this location - I > didn't see both of them myself, but while looking square at the first one, I > distinctly heard its song coming from a different location. Very exciting! > > Then on to find the light morph Rough-legged Hawk, which gave us spectacular > views as it soared over fields and up into the sky. It was a great day for > raptors - here are our counts: > > Kestrel 7 > Turkey Vulture 56 > Black Vulture 20 > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 > Red-tailed Hawk 14 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 > Rough-legged Hawk 1 > Harrier 6 > > When we left Gabriel and his mom, he directed us to the SHORT-EARED OWLS, and we > proceeded on to that location, where we met other people gathering at the fences > on Rt. 640 to see them. While we waited we were treated to the sight of about > five Northern Harriers working the fields. One was a definite male, beautiful and > grey, while the other four had warm coloring. We waited... and waited... The sun > sank below the horizon and it got colder, and then the harriers left, winging > across the road near the intersection with 15. About ten minutes later, there was > a cry of "Owl!" and we all looked - there it was, a beautiful dark silhouette > against the fading light of the western sky, flying in the way the harriers had > left - the night shift finally arriving at 5:55. Five in total flew in and began > working the fields recently vacated by the Harriers. Though almost dark, we could > easily see their silhouettes when they were higher, and when they dropped below > the treeline, the fading light was still enough to illuminate their wing and tail > feathers against the dark ground and trees. What a treat! > > I'd like to again thank Gabriel and his mother, Mary, for an excellent and > enjoyable day of birding. They were both great company, and Gabriel is a very > bright and enthusiastic birder - a big asset to the birding community. > > Happy birding! > > Ashley Bradford > Alexandria, VA > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:09:39 -0500 > From: James Fox > Subject: [Va-bird] Brewers Sparrow Yes > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Message-ID: <53475099-B780-47D2-B57E-CBF2624A2D13 AT gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > I decided to give the Brewer's Sparrow a shot this morning since I didn't have any classes until 2:30 and the weather looked great. When I walked up to the corner of Charlie and Delta Roads at about 9:20 there were several Song Sparrows in the bushes and after searching for a few minutes the Brewers Sparrow popped up into a bush where I saw it briefly before it flew further south down the tree line. I was able to walk after it and spotted it one more time before it disappeared. I was in the area for the next 45 minutes or so and did not see it again. There were also two Common Yellowthroats along the wildlife drive. Apparently I used up all my luck on the Brewer's Sparrow, I missed the Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay and the Cackling Goose at the Belle Haven Picnic area. > > James Fox > Front Royal > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:07 -0500 > From: "Robert Ake" > Subject: [Va-bird] Canvasbacks at James River Bridge > To: "va-bird" > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > > Today around noon while scanning from the end of the boardwalk at Ragged Island, I spotted a large raft of ducks on the west side of the James River Bridge. After several tries at counting them, I made an estimate of about 350 birds, the largest group I've heard of in our area this year. Rivers like the Nansemond and Chuckatuck have traditionally held good numbers of Canvasbacks, but not this year. As an added note there were two male Surf Scoters on the east side of the bridge, raising the question whether this is the furthest upriver I've seen them. At Hog Island maybe? Are my notes good enough for me to find out? > > Robert L. Ake > 6603 Catherine Street > Norfolk VA 23505 > > I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:46:05 -0500 > From: nicholas flanders > Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Canvasbacks at James River Bridge > To: Robert Ake , > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > I wanted to chime in here, as I've made some similar observations as Bob. Looking at my eBird records, as for the Surf Scoters I detect them in the River east of the James River Bridge off Ragged Island WMA throughout the winter about every time I check, including 11 this past Sunday. Usually b/w 5-20 birds here, with some higher counts: 33 on 12/28/11, 44 on 3/19/11, 74 on 12/09/07, and 100 on 1/18/08. I've only seen them 3x upriver of this Bridge however, despite the fact that I have spent a considerably greater amount of time birding the River upstream of the JRB. These observations include 2 near Mulberry Island on 3/3/07, 2 near Lion's Bridge Beach on 2/14/11, and 3 that Elisa Enders and I had off Hog Island WMA on 11/22/09. As for the Canvasback, I just wanted to mention that they were noticeably absent from the James River off Lion's Bridge Beach when I checked it this past Saturday. Normally there is a raft or 2 in this vicinity by this late in the winter. Oth > er than at Ragged Island, the only other Canvasback sighting I've had this winter was 115 (rough count) in Hampton Roads (the waterbody..) in the vicinity of Craney Island back in early Jan. All the best, Nick FlandersRaleigh NC > From: rake AT cox.net > > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:07 -0500 > > Subject: [Va-bird] Canvasbacks at James River Bridge > > > > Today around noon while scanning from the end of the boardwalk at Ragged Island, I spotted a large raft of ducks on the west side of the James River Bridge. After several tries at counting them, I made an estimate of about 350 birds, the largest group I've heard of in our area this year. Rivers like the Nansemond and Chuckatuck have traditionally held good numbers of Canvasbacks, but not this year. As an added note there were two male Surf Scoters on the east side of the bridge, raising the question whether this is the furthest upriver I've seen them. At Hog Island maybe? Are my notes good enough for me to find out? > > > > Robert L. Ake > > 6603 Catherine Street > > Norfolk VA 23505 > > > > I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > > va-bird mailing list > > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > > > > Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. > > http://www.virginiabirds.net/ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:49 -0500 (EST) > From: Gwbirds37 > Subject: [Va-bird] glaucous gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park - YES > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Message-ID: <8CEAE94122AB4EE-D98-D766 AT webmail-d150.sysops.aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > got there at 10:15 and until noon not a sight - only two gulls the entire time, one Ring-Billed, and one Greater Black-back. Then, right about noon, in flew the Gull, all by it's lonesome. Flew over us, circled the Inlet, and landed in the water where it swam leisurely all by itself, affording wonderful looks. Interestingly, it kept looking up into the sky - checking out Eagles? Probably - there were many around. Also, more than 100 Great Blue Herons everywhere, huge raft of Coots, and between 30-50 Redheads. > > > So, if you go to see the Gull, be patient. > > > Gerry Weinberger > Doswell, VA > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:52:54 -0500 > From: > Subject: [Va-bird] Signs of spring in Gloucester > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Message-ID: <20120131235254.HHBOX.307260.imail AT eastrmwml205> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > "Our" Red-shouldered Hawks have been busy. About three weeks ago, a Red-tailed Hawk showed up. The red-shouldered pair made it their business to chase it away. They have been staying closer around the house lately which is normal when they are starting to build their nest. I have been trying to catch one carrying a stick so I could find the nest site (without success). Saturday, Jan. 28, I saw them mating high in a tree close to the house. Yesterday I saw one of them try to pull a stick from a tree about 300 feet from the house. This morning I realized I had seen them in that area several times and decided to check for a nest there. When I went outside, I looked up in the clear blue sky and there were two adult Bald Eagles and two Red-tailed Hawks soaring in circles together. Then I noticed fresh Sapsucker workings on a Holly tree beside the garage, just above last year's healed over workings. On the way to check on the hawks, I saw a Titmouse and then a Chickadee c > hecking out one of our Bluebird houses. A Bluebird pair has been going in another of their houses for about a week. Back to looking for the hawk nest! The area I had seen the Red-shouldered activity is on the edge of an opening in our mixed hardwood forest where we had an orchard years ago. They had a nest in a large Beech tree there four or five years ago. And there it was, in the same crotch of the same tree. It looked like a complete nest, not just the beginning I expected this early in the year. When I looked with my binoculars, I saw the green, Short-needled Pine sprigs on the nest edge signifying it was complete. It is usually well into February when they complete a nest. Then I heard the scream of the hawks some diatance away. I was just barely able to see through the woods enough to see the pair chasing away the third Red-shouldered Hawk. It could be one of their young from last year. They won't tolerate any others around when it is nesting time. > > Hayes Williams > White Marsh in Gloucester County, VA > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:44:14 -0500 > From: Shirley Devan > Subject: [Va-bird] 2nd Trip - Birding CBBT by Boat - 19 Feb 2012 > To: Bird VA > Message-ID: <060AB719-A2A1-456D-AEC8-C29579E0E679 AT cox.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > Birding CBBT BY BOAT -- 19 February 2012 Boat Trip > > After the successful January 21 boat trip, the Williamsburg Bird Club is sponsoring a second birding boat trip to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands Sunday, February 19, 2012. > > Once again the Bird Club's Field Trip Coordinator, Geoff Giles, has chartered the Bay Princess, a large comfortable boat, for this eye-level look at the bay ducks, scoters, shore birds and seabirds (Parasitic Jaeger on Jan 21) plus other wonderful species such as the harbor seals, dolphins, and whales (which we saw Jan 21). Photo opportunities should be very good from the boat. We will work with the captain and our trip leader to go where the birds and wildlife are -- around the tunnel islands and perhaps south to the Ft. Story area. As you know, there are no guarantees, but the possibilities are endless. > > The CBBT area tends to have smoother water than ocean trips with many of the same exciting views of birds and wildlife. It will be possible to do some birding from the warm, dry cabin, but the best views and photos will be from outside on deck, so clothing that protects against wind and weather is recommended. > > Don't miss this rare opportunity to observe sea ducks, shorebirds, raptors and more from a large, comfortable boat with ample heated cabin space, rest rooms, tables and indoor seating. CVWO President and Williamsburg Bird Club member Brian Taber will be our trip leader and help us identify the birds. > > We will depart from Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach on Sunday, February 19, at 9 am and return to the dock at about 1 pm. There is a very good seafood restaurant dockside for those inclined to have lunch on return. If the trip gets weathered out, we'll return your check, of course. Should that happen, we will try for a rain date one week later. Note that we will not cash your check until after the trip. > > Cost is $25 per person. Your check is your reservation. Sign up early so we can be sure to have enough people for the trip to go -- we need 30. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis until the trip is filled. > > Please make checks ($25.00 per person) payable to ?Williamsburg Bird Club? and mail to Geoff Giles, PO Box 133, Lightfoot, VA 23090. Include your email address and cell phone # so we can get back to you to confirm departure location and contact you if plans change. > > The week before the trip, Geoff will communicate detailed directions/logistics to those who have registered. > > For additional info, contact Geoff Giles at Tylerandal2 AT aol.com Phone: 757-645-8716 > > More info at Williamsburg Bird Club web site: http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ > > Hope to see you onboard! > > Shirley Devan, President > Williamsburg Bird Club > http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ > > Board member, Virginia Society of Ornithology > http://www.virginiabirds.net/index.html > > Ph: 757.813.1322 > I'm now on facebook ... > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > va-bird mailing list > va-bird AT listserve.com > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > > > End of va-bird Digest, Vol 58, Issue 1 > ************************************** _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: The Great Dismal Swamp - Jericho Ditch - Feb 2, 2012 From: "Robert Ake" <rake AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:18:26 -0500 What looked like it would be a nasty day turned out pretty well. The rain stopped by the time I got to the parking lot at the end of Jericho Ditch Lane. I was met there by Rexanne Bruno and Anne Gockel. The three of us went north on Jericho Ditch. We wished for a little more light, but we were happy there was no rain. Except for White-throated Sparrows, the numbers today were a little on the low side, particularly the woodpeckers who usually make their presence known every step of the way. We ventured to the second power line cut and back. The highlight for me was the flock of about 50 Rusty Blackbirds that flew into nearby trees and sat there squeaking away for several minutes, giving us as good looks as the low light would allow. We also had a Blue-headed Vireo, several Brown Creepers (seems to be a good year for them), and a Pine Warbler way up in the trees that gave us fits. There were quite a few Spring Peepers sounding off as well as a few Brimley's Chorus Frogs. The next walk will be Friday, February 10 at 7:30am. If you're interested in going, meet me in the refuge headquarters parking lot at the head of Railroad Ditch. We will walk the Railroad Dich entry road which was just reopened. No reservation is necessary; just show up. Hope to see you there. The complete ebird list from today's walk follows. Dismal Swamp NWR Jericho Ditch, Suffolk, US-VA Feb 2, 2012 7:30 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.8 mile(s) 34 species Wood Duck 2 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 8 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 6 Pileated Woodpecker 5 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Carolina Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Brown Creeper 4 Carolina Wren 6 Winter Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Hermit Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Pine Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 6 Swamp Sparrow 12 White-throated Sparrow 76 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Rusty Blackbird 50 Common Grackle 6 American Goldfinch 5 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Robert L. Ake 6603 Catherine Street Norfolk VA 23505 I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Good news on Sunday hunting bills From: "Lynda Blair" <tomlyn AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:33:32 -0500 Breaking news:) http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/304291 This is what people can accomplish.. Good work and much appreciation to all who wrote, called and sent emails. We need to thank some environmental lobbyists as well:) Congrats and many thanks to all who made the effort! Lynda Blair New Kent County _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Loggerhead Shrike in Clarke County From: "David E. Carr" <dec5z AT cms.mail.virginia.edu> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:28:03 -0500 After a couple of unsuccessful attempts in January, I found a Loggerhead Shrike on Stone Bridge Rd. in Clarke County (just south of White Post). The bird was perched in a small osage orange tree on the north side of the road near the large silo. I mistakenly reported this location as being in Warren County in December. It is actually several hundred yards on the Clarke County side of the line. David Carr _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Update: New photos posted-Trip to Ashville Park Dev, Mackay I NWR & Belmont At York pond From: Les Brooks <ubrooks AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 01:53:53 -0800 (PST) Hello again everyone, I have posted some bird photos, from this trip, to my site.  Listed below are photo links with ID's so that you can choose which, if any, images you want to view. First, is the Loggerhead Shrike from Ashville Park Dev http://natures-finest-photography.com/2/b6ecd/43a6b29/#/gallery/song-birds-1a/loggerhead-shrike-on-morning-stakeout-nfp-s/ A Redhead Duck from Belmont At York lake http://natures-finest-photography.com/2/7e71/43a6dbe/#/gallery/ducks-and-geese/redheads-winter-morning-nfp-s/ A Great Egret with a fish from Mackay Island NWR http://natures-finest-photography.com/2/7e6b/43a6b28/#/gallery/wading-birds/last-look-nfp-s/ I am still working on images from this trip but will post more during next week.  Best birding! Les Brooks Glen Allen http://www.natures-finest-photography.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Interesting Geese ID Help; Fwd: eBird Report - Dutch Gap Conservation Area/Henricus Park - CAP03, Feb 1, 2012 From: Ellison Orcutt <mr.ellyo AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 01:36:07 -0500 Spent yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon taking in the warm weather at the Dutch Gap complex. The majority of the birds were as expected but at the end of the day I located 2 interesting geese at the first overlook on the entrance road. They were amongst a flock that was cleaning up the food someone had just dumped. Pictures are below. The first I'm calling a Cackling Goose but I dont have much field experience with these guys. The second seems more challenging. It was slightly bigger than the first "Cackling Goose" and maybe only a quarter smaller than the Canada's. But the the bill, it was so short! Could it be the Taverner's subspecies? I would love some feedback on these birds. Particularly the subspecies, which Im trying to teach myself. What do you guys think? Im calling this one a Cackling Goose. Was pretty secretive, hanging loosely with a flock of Canadas. Good call? http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/6804507847/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/6804507941/ Then the second bird (was actively taking handouts I should note) had a very small bill and a bit smaller stature than nearby birds. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/6804584923/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/6804585083/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/6804585199/ The full list is below. Thanks Ellison ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 12:37 AM Subject: eBird Report - Dutch Gap Conservation Area/Henricus Park - CAP03, Feb 1, 2012 To: mr.ellyo AT gmail.com Dutch Gap Conservation Area/Henricus Park - CAP03, Chesterfield, US-VA Feb 1, 2012 2:10 PM - 5:50 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 mile(s) Comments: Checked the overlooks on the entrance road on the way in and out. Then walked straight out to the main water body and back in Dutch Gap (did not do the loop). Also, walked out to the point at Henricus and back. Warm and sunny today, ~70'. 36 species (+1 other taxa) Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) 1 Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 125 Cackling/Canada Goose (Branta hutchinsii/canadensis) 1 Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 31 Gadwall (Anas strepera) 27 American Wigeon (Anas americana) 28 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 43 Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 64 Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 72 Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 12 Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 30 Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 5 Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 9 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 6 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2 American Coot (Fulica americana) 55 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 2 Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 450 Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) 1 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 7 Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 3 Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 5 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1 Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 11 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1 Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 18 Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 2 Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 6 Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 4 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 19 White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 11 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 46 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 16 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) -- Ellison Orcutt Richmond, Va (804) 339-6976 Mr.EllyO AT gmail.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Fw: [vbspcawildlife] Senate Bill 176 and Senate Bill 59 From: Keith and Karen Roberts <kroberts38 AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:43:36 -0800 (PST) ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "executivedirector AT vbspca.com" To: vbspcawildlife AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:04 AM Subject: [vbspcawildlife] Senate Bill 176 and Senate Bill 59   Good morning! This is an excellent letter from Mary Tilton of Back Bay Foundation.  Please write Senator Jeff McWaters at district08 AT senate.virginia.gov  and Senator Frank Wagner at district07 AT senate.virginia.gov. to express your strong opposition to this bill.  Calling is also good, phone is (804) 698 and Mcwaters is 7508, Wagner is 7507.   Also effecting songbirds is the Trap Neuter Release bill a  SB359, as well.           Dear Senator *:   I am writing on behalf of Back Bay Restoration Foundation (BBRF).  BBRF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in southern Virginia Beach .  We have 400 members and 1,000 supporters.  Our mission is to preserve, protect, and improve Back Bay and its watershed.  Our organization is extremely concerned about Senate Bill #176 deleting the jurisdiction of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) to enforce regulations in Back Bay and other brackish waters.  This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Agriculture committee tomorrow, February 2nd.   VDGIF has quite an investment in Back Bay given its ownership and management of Princess Anne Wildlife Management area and related tracts.  These tracts and their prudent management provide substantial hunting, bird watching, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities to all Virginians.  VDGIF has also conducted fish stockings in Back Bay and has recently received funding to stock approximately 125,000 fingerling largemouth bass in 2012. We question the impact of Senator Stuart’s Bill on these areas, as well as the budgetary and regulatory issues that would be involved.  We believe that the Bill as drafted would also decrease the incentive/ability/finances of VDGIF to manage its properties and Back Bay for the benefit of wildlife and the great number of Virginians who enjoy the popular recreational activities that VDGIF provides.   While federal game wardens patrol Back Bay, their primary concern is with federal game laws and not with duck blind regulations, boating safety regulations, fishing laws and other important areas that are enforced by VDGIF.  The Virginia Marine Resources Commission enforces regulations involving marine species in Back Bay but has no jurisdiction to enforce regulations aimed at protecting the freshwater species that inhabit in this area.  Elimination of VDGIF enforcement will cause friction between hunters over duck blind rights, decrease safe boating practices, minimize the incentive of hunters and fishermen to comply with game and fish regulations as a result of the decreased probability of being caught, and generally be detrimental to the wildlife populations of Back Bay and the people who lawfully enjoy its use.  VDGIF has a long-standing positive relationship/investment with Back Bay that should not be disturbed.    If you need any further information on the foregoing, we would be happy to discuss it with you.  Thank you for your consideration.     Mary Tilton Executive Director Back BayRestoration Foundation 3022 New Bridge Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (757) 619-6429 Mary.Tilton AT bbrf.org www.bbrf.org       From:outreach AT vbspca.com [mailto:outreach AT vbspca.com] Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:54 PM To: Teresa Lamarche Subject: Legislative Alert - Very Important Wildlife Bill - Act Today   Good afternoon friends, There is a very serious bill that abolishes the protections in Back Bay by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This bill has been introduced not by a local legislator but by Senator Stuart who lives in Montross , Virginia hunderds of miles away from Back Bay . There is no basis for this legislation, it is an assault on Back Bay by removing the authority from DGIF and giving it to no one else. Senator Stuart introduced a number of bills undermining or attacking the Department of Game and Inland Fisehries, some others are, Sentate Bill 25 and Senate Bill 26 which you can also read and respond to. There are theories about why the Senator would involve himself in this local refuge and I will talk to any of you privately. Nonetheless, the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee must be contacted as well as the Senators from Virginia Beach , Chesapeake and Norfolk . These Senators must be advised that Back Bay is a gift to those of us who live in this region and those who visit, and we insist that its wildlife and its waters continue to be fully protected by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Please push this out to your birding friends, your environmental friends and clubs and all those who visit and love Back Bay . You can read the bill in its entireity by clicking on the link just below: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB176 You can click on this link below and get the emails and phone numbers of the members of the Sentate Agriculture Ccommittee, please write or call all of them. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+com+S01 Also please write or call: Senator Jeff McWaters, district08 AT senate.virginia.gov 1 (804) 698-7508 VA BEACH*********** Senator Frank Wagner, district07 AT senate.virginia.gov 1 (804) 698-7507 VA BEACH*********** Senator Harry Blevins, district14 AT senate.virginia.gov 1 (804) 698-7514 Senator Ralph Northam, district06 AT senate.virginia.gov 1 (804) 698-7506 Please let me know who you contact and what they say. Regards, Sharon Quillen Adams, MPA Executive Director, VA Beach SPCA __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: * New Photos 5 Visit Your Group All correspondence is the property of the VBSPCA Wildlife Program and is considered confidential in nature.  Distribution or forwarding of messages is prohibited, and will result in removal from this group.  Thank you for your cooperation. Volunteer Information: http://www.vbspcawildlife.com Visit our group home page at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vbspcawildlife/ See what wildlife needs to be picked up at the shelter: http://vbspca.com/modules/pageworks/index.php?page=14 Map to rehabbers: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117622211045863931525.00044a7411449082c8aed&ll=36.799389,-76.087189&spn=0.491538,0.928345&z=10 Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Animal Welfare AVMA policy - Free-roaming Abandoned and Feral Cats From: Keith and Karen Roberts <kroberts38 AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:40:30 -0800 (PST) Please protect songbirds by opposing this bill.  The Virginia Beach SPCA and many veterinarians also oppose it.    ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sharon Q. Adams  Subject: [vbspcawildlife] FW: Animal Welfare AVMA policy - Free-roaming Abandoned and Feral Cats   Please read this and write in opposition to Senate Bill 359, the Trap Neuter Release bill. http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_welfare/feral_cats.asp Here is committee list, click on names and you will email addy's and phone numbers.  http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+com+S1 __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: * New Photos 5 Visit Your Group All correspondence is the property of the VBSPCA Wildlife Program and is considered confidential in nature.  Distribution or forwarding of messages is prohibited, and will result in removal from this group.  Thank you for your cooperation. Volunteer Information: http://www.vbspcawildlife.com Visit our group home page at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vbspcawildlife/ See what wildlife needs to be picked up at the shelter: http://vbspca.com/modules/pageworks/index.php?page=14 Map to rehabbers: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117622211045863931525.00044a7411449082c8aed&ll=36.799389,-76.087189&spn=0.491538,0.928345&z=10 Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull, City of Richmond, 1/2 From: akb <arun1bose AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 21:17:16 -0500 After not seeing it for over 2 weeks the 1st year Glaucous Gull was present this evening. I observed it from the floodwall, but it was much closer to Brown's Island around the old bridge trestles. Arun Bose Richmond _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Bald eagle huntsman lake From: andrew armfield <soupdragon12345 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:28:27 -0800 (PST) Hi all, There was one Bald eagle at Huntsman lake off the Fairfax county parkway, midmorning. There was something else big blocked behind a large tree limb also. Not sure what that was. Andrew _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Golden Eagle-Gladys, VA From: Melissa Roach <roach.mc1 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:27:41 -0500 There was an immature Golden Eagle seen on Pigeon Run Rd, Brookneal, Va today around 1:50pm. The bird was soaring low over a field near the Bass Sod Farm near Gladys then drifted over the road. Melissa Roach _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Riverbend Park Waterfowl 2/1/12 (Fairfax) From: Dendroica AT aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:02:01 -0500 (EST) A walk along the Potomac this afternoon provided an abundance of waterfowl, but mostly of two species. There were 350 RING-NECK DUCKS on the far shore across from the boat launch and another 100 or so along the banks of Conn Island. There were also at least 150 RING-BILLED GULLS along this section of the river. Amidst the 350 ring-necks was a sole drake REDHEAD. Twelve BUFFLEHEADS and 3 COMMON MERGANSERS were also seen. Two adult BALD EAGLES perched side by side across the river (midway between the Riverbend visitors' center and the north tip of Conn Island) was a nice finale. Ralph Wall Great Falls,VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Late report- 1/31/12 Trip to Ashville Park Developement, Mackay Island NWR and Belmont At York Apartment Complex From: Les Brooks <ubrooks AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:06:04 -0800 (PST) Hello everyone, First, a thanks to Elisa Enders for her help! I departed home at 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning and arrived near the Ashville development, off Princess Anne Road, VA Beach, just before sunrise.  I saw the Loggerhead Shrike, for the first time, at 8:10 a.m.  It perched near the top of a tree at the same location given by Elisa, third roundabout along Ashville Park Blvd.  It moved to several trees over a period of 5 minutes, then I lost sight of it. I spotted it again, in a tree closer to the water's edge, about 30 minutes later.  The Shrike moved about quite a bit, in the same general area and I felt I had bother it enough, so I departed.  Other birds seen along Ashville Park Blvd were American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Great Blue Heron and my nemesis, without a photo, Northern Harrier.  (I think they have passed my name around so that each time I see one, it heads in the opposite direction!) I got back home about 6 p.m. so I have not edited or posted any photos from this trip yet.  I will send out another email when they are posted.  (Hopefully, I have some to post.) I next visited the lake at the housing area just to the north from the Ashville development, along Princess Anne Road.  (Sorry but I forgot the name.)  I saw the following birds. Canada Geese American Coot Pied-Billed Grebe Double-Crested Cormorant Mallard Ring-Necked Duck (mostly females) Female Common Goldeneye  Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Great Egret Normal assortment of Gulls I then visited Mackay Island NWR and saw the following. Snow Geese (In the marsh across from the Kuralt Trail Overlook) Great Egret Great Blue Heron American Coot  (Must have had a grand breeding year) Hooded Merganser Belted Kingfisher Tundra Swan (Heard not seen) I then visited Belmont At York apartment complex pond and saw the following. Great Egret American Coot Redhead Duck (They are back!) Pied-Billed Grebe Ruddy Duck (some in breeding plumage) Mallard Normal assortment of Gulls Best birding! Les Brooks Glen Allen http://www.natures-finest-photography.com _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: 2nd Trip - Birding CBBT by Boat - 19 Feb 2012 From: Shirley Devan <sedevan52 AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:44:14 -0500 Birding CBBT BY BOAT -- 19 February 2012 Boat Trip After the successful January 21 boat trip, the Williamsburg Bird Club is sponsoring a second birding boat trip to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands Sunday, February 19, 2012. Once again the Bird Club's Field Trip Coordinator, Geoff Giles, has chartered the Bay Princess, a large comfortable boat, for this eye-level look at the bay ducks, scoters, shore birds and seabirds (Parasitic Jaeger on Jan 21) plus other wonderful species such as the harbor seals, dolphins, and whales (which we saw Jan 21). Photo opportunities should be very good from the boat. We will work with the captain and our trip leader to go where the birds and wildlife are -- around the tunnel islands and perhaps south to the Ft. Story area. As you know, there are no guarantees, but the possibilities are endless. The CBBT area tends to have smoother water than ocean trips with many of the same exciting views of birds and wildlife. It will be possible to do some birding from the warm, dry cabin, but the best views and photos will be from outside on deck, so clothing that protects against wind and weather is recommended. Don't miss this rare opportunity to observe sea ducks, shorebirds, raptors and more from a large, comfortable boat with ample heated cabin space, rest rooms, tables and indoor seating. CVWO President and Williamsburg Bird Club member Brian Taber will be our trip leader and help us identify the birds. We will depart from Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach on Sunday, February 19, at 9 am and return to the dock at about 1 pm. There is a very good seafood restaurant dockside for those inclined to have lunch on return. If the trip gets weathered out, we'll return your check, of course. Should that happen, we will try for a rain date one week later. Note that we will not cash your check until after the trip. Cost is $25 per person. Your check is your reservation. Sign up early so we can be sure to have enough people for the trip to go -- we need 30. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis until the trip is filled. Please make checks ($25.00 per person) payable to “Williamsburg Bird Club” and mail to Geoff Giles, PO Box 133, Lightfoot, VA 23090. Include your email address and cell phone # so we can get back to you to confirm departure location and contact you if plans change. The week before the trip, Geoff will communicate detailed directions/logistics to those who have registered. For additional info, contact Geoff Giles at Tylerandal2 AT aol.com Phone: 757-645-8716 More info at Williamsburg Bird Club web site: http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ Hope to see you onboard! Shirley Devan, President Williamsburg Bird Club http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/ Board member, Virginia Society of Ornithology http://www.virginiabirds.net/index.html Ph: 757.813.1322 I'm now on facebook ... _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Signs of spring in Gloucester From: <hjwilliams3 AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:52:54 -0500 "Our" Red-shouldered Hawks have been busy. About three weeks ago, a Red-tailed Hawk showed up. The red-shouldered pair made it their business to chase it away. They have been staying closer around the house lately which is normal when they are starting to build their nest. I have been trying to catch one carrying a stick so I could find the nest site (without success). Saturday, Jan. 28, I saw them mating high in a tree close to the house. Yesterday I saw one of them try to pull a stick from a tree about 300 feet from the house. This morning I realized I had seen them in that area several times and decided to check for a nest there. When I went outside, I looked up in the clear blue sky and there were two adult Bald Eagles and two Red-tailed Hawks soaring in circles together. Then I noticed fresh Sapsucker workings on a Holly tree beside the garage, just above last year's healed over workings. On the way to check on the hawks, I saw a Titmouse and then a Chickadee c hecking out one of our Bluebird houses. A Bluebird pair has been going in another of their houses for about a week. Back to looking for the hawk nest! The area I had seen the Red-shouldered activity is on the edge of an opening in our mixed hardwood forest where we had an orchard years ago. They had a nest in a large Beech tree there four or five years ago. And there it was, in the same crotch of the same tree. It looked like a complete nest, not just the beginning I expected this early in the year. When I looked with my binoculars, I saw the green, Short-needled Pine sprigs on the nest edge signifying it was complete. It is usually well into February when they complete a nest. Then I heard the scream of the hawks some diatance away. I was just barely able to see through the woods enough to see the pair chasing away the third Red-shouldered Hawk. It could be one of their young from last year. They won't tolerate any others around when it is nesting time. Hayes Williams White Marsh in Gloucester County, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: glaucous gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park - YES From: Gwbirds37 <gwbirds37 AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:49 -0500 (EST) got there at 10:15 and until noon not a sight - only two gulls the entire time, one Ring-Billed, and one Greater Black-back. Then, right about noon, in flew the Gull, all by it's lonesome. Flew over us, circled the Inlet, and landed in the water where it swam leisurely all by itself, affording wonderful looks. Interestingly, it kept looking up into the sky - checking out Eagles? Probably - there were many around. Also, more than 100 Great Blue Herons everywhere, huge raft of Coots, and between 30-50 Redheads. So, if you go to see the Gull, be patient. Gerry Weinberger Doswell, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: Canvasbacks at James River Bridge From: nicholas flanders <flicknanders AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:46:05 -0500 I wanted to chime in here, as I've made some similar observations as Bob. Looking at my eBird records, as for the Surf Scoters I detect them in the River east of the James River Bridge off Ragged Island WMA throughout the winter about every time I check, including 11 this past Sunday. Usually b/w 5-20 birds here, with some higher counts: 33 on 12/28/11, 44 on 3/19/11, 74 on 12/09/07, and 100 on 1/18/08. I've only seen them 3x upriver of this Bridge however, despite the fact that I have spent a considerably greater amount of time birding the River upstream of the JRB. These observations include 2 near Mulberry Island on 3/3/07, 2 near Lion's Bridge Beach on 2/14/11, and 3 that Elisa Enders and I had off Hog Island WMA on 11/22/09. As for the Canvasback, I just wanted to mention that they were noticeably absent from the James River off Lion's Bridge Beach when I checked it this past Saturday. Normally there is a raft or 2 in this vicinity by this late in the winter. Oth er than at Ragged Island, the only other Canvasback sighting I've had this winter was 115 (rough count) in Hampton Roads (the waterbody..) in the vicinity of Craney Island back in early Jan. All the best, Nick FlandersRaleigh NC > From: rake AT cox.net > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:07 -0500 > Subject: [Va-bird] Canvasbacks at James River Bridge > > Today around noon while scanning from the end of the boardwalk at Ragged Island, I spotted a large raft of ducks on the west side of the James River Bridge. After several tries at counting them, I made an estimate of about 350 birds, the largest group I've heard of in our area this year. Rivers like the Nansemond and Chuckatuck have traditionally held good numbers of Canvasbacks, but not this year. As an added note there were two male Surf Scoters on the east side of the bridge, raising the question whether this is the furthest upriver I've seen them. At Hog Island maybe? Are my notes good enough for me to find out? > > Robert L. Ake > 6603 Catherine Street > Norfolk VA 23505 > > I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ > _______________________________________________ > va-bird mailing list > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > > Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. > http://www.virginiabirds.net/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Canvasbacks at James River Bridge From: "Robert Ake" <rake AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:07 -0500 Today around noon while scanning from the end of the boardwalk at Ragged Island, I spotted a large raft of ducks on the west side of the James River Bridge. After several tries at counting them, I made an estimate of about 350 birds, the largest group I've heard of in our area this year. Rivers like the Nansemond and Chuckatuck have traditionally held good numbers of Canvasbacks, but not this year. As an added note there were two male Surf Scoters on the east side of the bridge, raising the question whether this is the furthest upriver I've seen them. At Hog Island maybe? Are my notes good enough for me to find out? Robert L. Ake 6603 Catherine Street Norfolk VA 23505 I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Brewers Sparrow Yes From: James Fox <jmsfox11 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:09:39 -0500 I decided to give the Brewer's Sparrow a shot this morning since I didn't have any classes until 2:30 and the weather looked great. When I walked up to the corner of Charlie and Delta Roads at about 9:20 there were several Song Sparrows in the bushes and after searching for a few minutes the Brewers Sparrow popped up into a bush where I saw it briefly before it flew further south down the tree line. I was able to walk after it and spotted it one more time before it disappeared. I was in the area for the next 45 minutes or so and did not see it again. There were also two Common Yellowthroats along the wildlife drive. Apparently I used up all my luck on the Brewer's Sparrow, I missed the Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay and the Cackling Goose at the Belle Haven Picnic area. James Fox Front Royal _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Sunday Birding in Fishersville From: Ashley Bradford <ashley AT ashleybradford.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:04 -0600 Sunday Mike and I had the pleasure of Gabriel Mapel as our tour guide, as well as his mother's delightful company. What a great day of birding! Under his direction, I picked up three life birds and Mike two. We started in the fields on Guthrie Rd., and it was only our second stop along its length that found us 3 American Pipits. Also a couple of Horned Larks, which I've seen so infrequently that they're still a big treat for me. >From there we moved on to the pond on Brennemans Lane where the LARK SPARROW has been seen. It gave us a bit of a wait and teased us with singing, and finally we spied it down on the ground through a tangle of brush. We got great views of it in there, though obstructed by brambles, so I didn't have the chance for a photo. I want to back up Gabriel's report of two Lark Sparrows at this location - I didn't see both of them myself, but while looking square at the first one, I distinctly heard its song coming from a different location. Very exciting! Then on to find the light morph Rough-legged Hawk, which gave us spectacular views as it soared over fields and up into the sky. It was a great day for raptors - here are our counts: Kestrel 7 Turkey Vulture 56 Black Vulture 20 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 14 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Harrier 6 When we left Gabriel and his mom, he directed us to the SHORT-EARED OWLS, and we proceeded on to that location, where we met other people gathering at the fences on Rt. 640 to see them. While we waited we were treated to the sight of about five Northern Harriers working the fields. One was a definite male, beautiful and grey, while the other four had warm coloring. We waited... and waited... The sun sank below the horizon and it got colder, and then the harriers left, winging across the road near the intersection with 15. About ten minutes later, there was a cry of "Owl!" and we all looked - there it was, a beautiful dark silhouette against the fading light of the western sky, flying in the way the harriers had left - the night shift finally arriving at 5:55. Five in total flew in and began working the fields recently vacated by the Harriers. Though almost dark, we could easily see their silhouettes when they were higher, and when they dropped below the treeline, the fading light was still enough to illuminate their wing and tail feathers against the dark ground and trees. What a treat! I'd like to again thank Gabriel and his mother, Mary, for an excellent and enjoyable day of birding. They were both great company, and Gabriel is a very bright and enthusiastic birder - a big asset to the birding community. Happy birding! Ashley Bradford Alexandria, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull on Monday From: Paul Lavrakas <plavrakas AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:46:32 -0500 I got a good look at the first year Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park at about 2pm on Monday the 30th. It was paddling fairly close to shore at the far left end (facing the water) of the parking lot where apparently it has been usually spotted. In the bright light, it was easy to ID. Paul Lavrakas Annandale, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: short eared owls Zion Crossroads From: Sue Garvin <garvin.sue AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:06:03 -0500 We were pleased to see 5-6 short eared owls at Zion Crossroads, Monday evening (5:45 pm.) A very impressive number Northern harriers put on quite a show when we first arrived. At sunset, the harriers settled and moments later the owls appeared. Best, Ryan and Sue Garvin _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: interesting Mecklenburg County birds From: "C. Michael Stinson" <myrmecocichla AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:26:22 -0500 Hi everyone - I made a few quick stops in Mecklenburg County this afternoon and thought I'd mention a few birds I saw. A Loggerhead Shrike was perched near SR 713 east of Palmer Springs, the area where one has been reported several times in recent months. At Tailrace Park, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (reported there previously) was easy to spot among >200 Ring-billed Gulls, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was hanging around in the trees along the river bank near the parking area. Clyde's Pond, in Dick Cross WMA, had a nice assortment of ducks. The majority, well over 200, were Ring-necked Ducks, but there were also several Redhead, N. Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and other species. On the other hand, Kerr Reservoir above the dam was about as quiet as I've ever seen it.... Mike Stinson Dillwyn, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk From: Harry Glasgow <harry.glasgow AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:05:12 -0800 (PST) It was a chilly one this morning on the weekly Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk as 17 heavily bundled birders were able to spot 42 species.  Our highlights included a pretty good showing of ducks, 2 Purple Finches seen in the trees at the intersection of the informal trail and the regular trail, the Barred owl which is becoming a fixture in the trees along the entry road to the Park, and one lone Killdeer.   Canada Goose 170 American Wigeon 2 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 58 Northern Shoveler 10 Northern Pintail 48 Green-winged Teal 25 Hooded Merganser 12 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret  1 Black Vulture 8 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Killdeer 1 Ring-billed Gull 17 Mourning Dove 2 Barred Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 7 Downy Woodpecker 12 Hairy Woodpecker 4 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 76 Fish Crow 5 Carolina Chickadee 16 Tufted Titmouse 13 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 3 Eastern Bluebird 5 Hermit Thrush 1 Song Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 12 Northern Cardinal 6 Red-winged Blackbird 35 Purple Finch 2 House Finch 1 American Goldfinch 1   The Monday Morning Birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since 1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7AM (8AM during November, December, January and February), is free of charge, requires no reservation, and is open to all. Birders meet in the parking lot at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA. During winter mponths unsafe conditions on the trails and boardwalks may cause a last minute cancellation of the Walk. Questions should be directed to Park staff during normal business hours at (703)768-2525. Harry Glasgow Friends of Huntley Meadows Park _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Osprey arrival in Norfolk From: "Robert Ake" <rake AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:26:02 -0500 Last fall I had my latest Osprey record (Nov 24) at our house in Norfolk and today I beat my early spring record by a month. I've never had either a December or January record for Osprey from our yard before today. While it certainly is true that here in Tidewater we have a few Ospreys that spend the winter with us, I've never had one at the house. This bird appeared to be a young bird, certainly not a spiffy adult ready to tackle the rigors of nest building. For fifteen years we've had an Osprey pair build a nest on the channel marker in the Lafayette River behind our house and successfully raise two chicks each year. After the Ospreys leave in the fall, either the storms or our nearvy nesting pair of eagles remove all the sticks from the platform. So the returning Ospreys have to start from scratch. It takes them an amazingly short period of time to reconstruct a workable nest. Robert L. Ake 6603 Catherine Street Norfolk VA 23505 I did an ABA Big Year in 2010 - If you'd like to review it, my blog is at http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull @ Pohick Bay, 1/28 From: Ashley Bradford <ashley AT ashleybradford.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:07:27 -0600 Saturday Mike and I decided to go to Pohick Bay and try to find the Glaucous Gull that has recently been reported there. We arrived at 1:25 and were told by the two people there that it had shown up earlier but was gone now. We decided, what with our recent practice waiting for the Brewer's Sparrow, that we'd wait again. Bob (Sharp?) kept us company for a while but finally left, though meanwhile other people were showing up. Eagles were putting on good shows and keeping us entertained until, right around 2:27, the Glaucous Gull finally came winging in from across the bay and settled on the water not too far offshore. It gave us all great views and stayed even longer than we did - we finally left at 3:45. It spent most of its time in the "cove" at the NW tip of the parking lot, where it found several fish to pick at when not being attacked by eagles. One eagle stole its fish, but it came back and found another. Eventually it seemed to get tired of being picked on and started chasing the eagles. It also chased off a GBB Gull that came in to harass it. Quite good at holding its own, and not shy of people paddling by in kayaks. I weeded through the bunch of photos I shot and posted the better ones on Picasa here: https://picasaweb.google.com/109741461563251778436/PohickBayGlaucousGull?authuser=0&feat=directlink My eBird list can be viewed here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9722898 I also wanted to express many thanks to Bob for telling us how to look for owls - photos of the pair we found at Huntley Meadows are also in the album linked above. That was only the second time I've ever seen Barred Owls. My report on Sunday's birding adventures to follow later. - Ashley Bradford Alexandria, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Virginia Beach Trip From: "Ray " <bluebird58 AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:39:52 -0500 24 members of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia took a weekend trip to the Virginia Beach area this past weekend, Jan. 27-29. On Friday afternoon we went to Craney Island in Portsmouth. This is not normally open to the public but an opportunity presented itself and we took it. On Saturday morning we went to all four Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel Islands with the helpful police and then traveled up the peninsula stopping at many of the best spots, with Willis Wharf being our farthest north stop . We had lunch at Stingray's and then a terrific lecture from The Nature Conservancy on their American Oystercatcher research. On Sunday morning we stopped at Rudee Inlet and then went on a Tram ride provided by the Virginia Beach Wildlife Festival through Back Bay NWR and False Cape State Park. We saw 84 bird species, 2 Humpback Whales, 14 Bottlenose Dolphins, 9 Harbor Seals, 1 Raccoon, and 2 Sleepy Sulpher Butterflies. All in all it was a great weekend with many highlights and the weather was wonderful. We stayed at the Chesapeake Beach Resort Hotel on Shore Drive near the Bridge in Va. Beach. It was very nice. I want to thank Bill Williams, Ruth Beck, Harry Armistead, Bob Ake, for their help, and Barry Truitt, Steve Parker, Alexandra Wilke and Nicole Dewberry of The Nature Conservancy for the very informative lecture on the American Oystercatcher. The birds we saw and where follows: Friday January 27, Craney Island, and River Shore Road; Canada Goose 11 Gadwall 44 American Wigeon 18 American Black Duck 8 Mallard 10 Northern Shoveler 687 Northern Pintail 24 Green-winged Teal 46 Canvasback 50 Bufflehead 34 Hooded Merganser 3 Red-breasted Merganser 83 Ruddy Duck 605 Red-throated Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 6 Horned Grebe 6 DC Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 4 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 3 Black-bellied Plover 2 Killdeer 6 American Avocet 8 Sanderling 20 Least Sandpiper 20 Dunlin 48 Ring-billed Gull 36 Herring Gull 345 Great-black Backed Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 50 Mourning Dove 6 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 3 Carolina Wren 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling 218 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Pine Warbler 4 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sp. 4 Northern Cardinal 1 Red-winged Blackbird 235 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 House Finch 2 Saturday Jan. 28, CBBT Islands, ESNWR, Kiptopeke SP, TNC Brownsville, Willis Wharf, and Oyster; Canada Goose 55 American Black Duck 8 Surf Scoter 25 White-winged Scoter 1 Black Scoter 12 Long-tailed Duck 15 Bufflehead 15 Hooded Merganser 8 Red-breasted Merganser 20 Ruddy Duck 4 Common Loon 30 Horned Grebe 6 Red-necked Grebe 1 Northern Gannet 3403 Brown Pelican 15 DC Cormorant 80 Great Blue Heron 8 Great Egret 1 Black Vulture 12 Turkey Vulture 43 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 6 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 2 Black-bellied Plover 40 Killdeer 1 American Oystercatcher 42 Greater Yellowlegs 6 Willet 50 Marbled Godwit 34 Ruddy Turnstone 10 Sanderling 3 Western Sandpiper 25 Least Sandpiper 18 Purple Sandpiper 9 Dunlin 302 Short-billed Dowitcher 80 Ring-billed Gull 20 Herring Gull 215 Great Black-backed Gull 60 Forster's Tern 2 Rock Pigeon 60 Mourning Dove 10 Belted Kingfisher 1 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 12 Fish Crow 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 2 Eastern Bluebird 4 American Robin 10 Northern Mockingbird 6 European Starling 83 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Savannah Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 8 American Goldfinch 6 Sunday Jan. 29, Rudee Inlet, Back Bay NWR, and False Cape SP. Canada Goose 25 Tundra Swan 206 Gadwall 70 American Wigeon 20 American Black Duck 10 Mallard 16 Northern Shoveler 2 Canvasback 50 Bufflehead 10 Hooded Merganser 10 Red-breasted Merganser 8 Common Loon 1 Pied-billed Grebe 4 Brown Pelican 5 DC Cormorant 26 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 1 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 6 Bald Eagle 2 Northern Harrier 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 311 Sanderling 20 Ring-billed Gull 8 Herring Gull 40 Great Black-backed Gull 20 Forster's Tern 3 Rock Pigeon 20 Mourning Dove 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Carolina Chickadee 3 Carolina Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Hermit Thrush 2 American Robin 30 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Boat-tailed Grackle 2 When I asked the group at the end what their favorite experience was, they unanimously said " the Gannets feeding in the Bay from the CBBT Islands". Ray Smith Trip Leader Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: James R. waterfowl, Newport News, 1/28/12 From: nicholas flanders <flicknanders AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:35:31 -0500 Hey all, sorry for the late report, another whirl-wind weekend trip back to VA but I was able to spend about 45 minutes Saturday morning scoping the James River from the Lion's Bridge area of Mariner's Museum Park in Newport News. The River was very calm making for good viewing conditions, and I was pleased with the number of Common Goldeneye present. Most of the ducks were far out in the River, and while the Goldeneye were readily identifiable at 60x many of the Scaup were out of range. Below are careful estimates of the birds of note, likely conservative as there was alot of diving going on. Tide was on the low side. Bufflehead - 220Common Loon - 4Horned Grebe - 26Common Goldeneye - 123Lesser/Greater Scaup - 63Lesser Scaup - 42Forster's Tern - 1 Nick FlandersRaleigh, NC _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: FW: Glaucous Gull From: William Hohenstein <elliety AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:16:32 -0500 FYI -- for the good of the group. From: elliety AT msn.com To: dhmbowen AT yahoo.com; wbarrows AT gmail.com Subject: RE: [Va-bird] Glaucous Gull Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:55 -0500 Yes, I believe you are correct (1st winter). Marc Ribaudo sent me a similar post. Here is a portion of his e-mail, which is helpful in aging the gull. "Its dark eye and white back (as opposed to light eye and grey back), plus buffy underparts, are the field marks." I did pick up the dark eye in the field and in my pictures -- but didn't make the connection. Sorry for the confusion. Bill > Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:13:58 -0500 > To: wbarrows AT gmail.com > From: dhmbowen AT yahoo.com > Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Glaucous Gull > CC: elliety AT msn.com > > Hi Walt and Bill (copied on this): > > I was interested to see both of you refer to a "2nd year Glaucous > Gull" at Pohick Bay Regional Park. > > Gerry Hawkins, Lou Demouy, and I saw what was presumably this same > gull last Thursday morning -- I think we were the first to report it > to VA-Bird. We all thought it was a 1st winter bird, largely on the > strength of its dark eye, very white primaries and considerable light > brown flecking on the body plumage. > > Walt's photos also show this bird with a dark eye. According to > Howell and Dunn, 2nd cycle birds have light colored eyes and may > start to show signs of grey feathers on back and scapulars. > > I don't claim to be very familiar with Glaucous Gulls. Like most of > us birders round here, I'm lucky to see one or two a winter. > > If you're willing to share your thoughts, what told you this was a > 2nd year bird, I wonder! > > I'm attaching one of my own photos of the bird -- I managed to get > very close to it. > > Good Birding! > > Mike Bowen > Montgomery Bird Club and No. Va. Bird Club > Bethesda, MD > > > > > > > D.H. Michael Bowen > 8609 Ewing Drive > Bethesda, MD 20817 > Telephone: (301) 530-5764 > e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom > _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Clapper Rail activity at Ragged Island WMA (Isle of Wight Co.) From: Elisa Enders <elisaenders AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:32:22 -0500 Yesterday morning, I met Nick Flanders at Ragged Island WMA to see what birds were out. We saw two Clapper Rails actively feeding on minnows for quite some time. They were behaving similar to American Coots or dabbling ducks. While swimming, the rails were tipping (kicking their feet into the air) and very successfully catching minnows. Most of the time, the rails returned to the shore to actually eat the minnows. I had never seen any species of rail feeding in this manner. The tide was on the low side. It was a very neat experience to watch the Clappers. Below is a list of other noted species. Canvasback Greater/Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Bald Eagle Clapper Rail Ring-billed Gull Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Horned Lark Brown-headed Nuthatch Carolina Wren Northern Mockingbird European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Elisa Enders Portsmouth, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Upper Middlesex Co(Middle Peninsula), Jan 29, 2012 From: Frederick Atwood <fredatwood AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:00:48 -0800 (PST) Lured by the potential of seeing a male Painted Bunting, and encouraged by the eBird message urging us to bird some of the underbirded spots in the state, I decided to head down to Middlesex Co on the Middle Peninsula after seeing the Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay.  I was expecting to quickly stop at a few spots looking into the Rappahannock where there usually has not been very much in the past, get to the painted bunting before noon, and then have the afternoon to leisurely visit Windmill Point, Hughlett Point and Dameron Marsh on the Northern Neck.  However, there were TONS of birds in the Rappahannock R which slowed me down by about 3 hours. I think I have never seen so many Ruddy Ducks.  From Canoe House Beach (rte 605) I carefully estimated 13,600 with relatively few females (1-20% at various spots in the flocks).  The total for the day was 18,700 from 5 viewpoints between Canoe House and the route 3 bridge over to the NNK. I  also found more goldeneyes, loons and horned grebes than I had expected. The viewpoints I looked from were Canoe House Beach, Montague Island (got permission from a landowner), Water View (2 locations) and next to the route 3 bridge. In Topping the homeowner with the bird feeder with the Painted Bunting graciously let me watch from inside the screened in porch, so the bird did not hesitate to visit the feeder within 15 minutes of my arrival, giving me my best views ever. A gorgeous bird. It was a great day.  I will try to report on the Northern Neck spots and a couple spots along route 17 in Caroline and Essex counties tomorrow. Those were nice too, but nothing terribly exciting in the short time I was able to visit them Here are the totals for the 54 species I had in Middlesex Co today. The number in () is the number of eBird lists (out of 6) that species was found in. Canada Goose 45 Tundra Swan 77 Canvasback 25 Long-tailed Duck 2 (Water View) Bufflehead 211 (5) Common Goldeneye 125 (3) Red-breasted Merganser 266 (2) Ruddy Duck 18,700 (2) Red-throated Loon 44 (4) Common Loon 39 (3) Horned Grebe 21 (3) Double-crested Cormorant 51 (3) Great Blue Heron 3 (3) Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 20 (4) Bald Eagle 3 (3) Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 (2) American Kestrel 1 Ring-billed Gull 262 (3) Herring Gull 121 (4) Great Black-backed Gull 36 (4) Forster's Tern 4 Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove 5 (3) Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 (3) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 (2) Downy Woodpecker 2 (2) Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 7 (2) American Crow 65 (4) Carolina Chickadee 8 (3) Tufted Titmouse 3 (2) White-breasted Nuthatch 2 (2) Carolina Wren 8 (3) Eastern Bluebird 29 (2) Hermit Thrush 2 (2) American Robin 8 (2) Northern Mockingbird 3 (2) European Starling 27 (2) Cedar Waxwing 55 (2) Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 (2) Chipping Sparrow 3 (1) Song Sparrow 16 (4) White-throated Sparrow 50 (4) Dark-eyed Junco 37 (3) Northern Cardinal 14 (3) Painted Bunting 1  Red-winged Blackbird 35 House Finch 6 (3) American Goldfinch 8 (3) House Sparrow Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood AT yahoo.com Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124 703-242-1675 http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood http://www.flinthill.org http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Prince William Conservation Alliance Birdwalk From: Harry Glasgow <harry.glasgow AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:02:00 -0800 (PST) Seven birders came together this morning on the monthly Prince William Conservation Alliance Birdwalk at Merrimac Farm in Nokesville.  We spotted 27 species, with the highlights being 6 of the 7 woodpeckeer species found in Northern Virginia, with great looks at 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.  One Wild Turkey, a lone Cedar Waxwing, and some beautifully lighted Eastern Bluebirds  made for a beautiful walk in the woods.  The Prince William Conservation Alliance sponsors these walks on the last Sunday of each month.  For more information, visit the Alliance website at http://www.pwconserve.org/.  Canada Goose 3 Mallard 2 Wild Turkey 1 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 15 American Crow 1 crow sp. 1 Carolina Chickadee 17 Tufted Titmouse 15 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Carolina Wren 4 Eastern Bluebird 11 Cedar Waxwing 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Eastern Towhee 2 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 22 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 14 American Goldfinch 5 Harry Glasgow Prince William Conservation Alliance _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Huntley Sunday 1/29 -- Rusty, thrasher, and tree sparrows From: "Pam and Ben" <breep AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:50:03 -0500 Best bird off of the Hike/Bike Trail was a single singing rusty. At least this week I didn't have to rescue any lost dogs. The other highlight of last weekend was that the minor ice storm forced an even dozen FOX SPARROWS into foraging in the open on the side of the path. Ben Jesup Alexandria, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Red-Shouldered Hawk pair Ridgeview Park & other sightings From: Victor Laubach <laubach AT virginia.edu> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:11:29 -0500 I'd like to reiterate what Gabriel noted earlier about the pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks we sighted yesterday in Ridgeview Park, Waynesboro. They were an obvious pair ... taking turns flying off and on a nest, calling a few times but mostly silent. In addition, we spotted them mating in a tree near the nest. The nest seems a little small, about 30 ft high, but perhaps it's still under construction (however, we did not see either of them bringing nesting material to the nest). We watched them from about 8-9:30am, and the two stayed close to one another the whole time, flying from tree to tree. If you'd like directions to the nest please email me separately. A summary of our day's sightings is below (I may be missing a couple). Vic Laubach Ridgeview Park, Waynesboro: 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 12 Canada Geese 27 Mallard 2 Hooded Merganser (1M, 1F) 2 Mourning Dove 1 Belted Kingfisher 4 Red-Bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 4 Blue Jay X American Crow 3 Fish Crow 14 Carolina Chickadee 10 Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 5 Carolina Wren 1 Robin 7 Starling 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Song Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 49 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Cardinal 10 Goldfinch 5 House Finch Augusta County: 2 Black Crowned Night Heron (In Vista pond, Waynesboro) 3 American Coot (In Vista pond, Waynesboro) 1 Pileated Woodpecker (exit 96 rt 64) 1 Northern Harrier (Lipscomb Rd) 1 Meadowlark (Hall School Rd) 1 Lark Sparrow (Brennemans Ln) 3 Savannah Sparrow (Brennemans Ln) 2 Song Sparrow (Brennemans Ln) ~6 Kestrels (various locations) ~8 Red-tailed Hawks (various locations) 3 Red-shouldered Hawks (various locations) 4 American Pipets (Patterson Mill Rd) 4 Horned Larks (Guthrie Rd) 30 Cedar Waxwing (Huntington Ct, Waynesboro) 15 Northern Shovelers (Bells Ln) 2 Ruddy Ducks (Bells Ln) X Turkey Vulture X Black Vulture Albemarle County: 2 Pied-billed Grebe (Beaver Creek reservior, Crozet) 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Beaver Creek reservior, Crozet) 3 Eastern Bluebird (Beaver Creek reservior, Crozet) 2 Red-shouldered Hawks (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 1 Belted Kingfisher (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 1 Winter Wren (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 2 Mockingbird (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 4 Field Sparrow (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 1 E Towhee (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 3 Killdeer (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 1 Hairy Woodpecker (Lickinghole Creek, Crozet) 3 Ruddy Duck (Old Trail pond, Crozet) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull From: "Walter L. Barrows" <wbarrows AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:00:06 -0500 Here are additional pix of the 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park, Alexandria. http://wlb3.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=21243472&AlbumKey=wdGTnv. In addition to the gull this afternoon, there were about a dozen Bald Eagles, sometimes almost kettling over the bay, and 16 Great Blue Herons gathered in a small area, plus an impressive raft of American Coots. Across the bay, scoping revealed with medium confidence a group of Redheads. Bufflehead patrolled the edges of the Coot raft. Walt Barrows Alexandria * * _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: Common Redpoll - Virginia Beach From: "Jim Nelson" <kingfishers2 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:34:32 -0500 They may be moving down the coast. One was reported this morning on the Maryland listserv seen and photographed on the Maryland part of Assateague Island. Jim Nelson Bethesda, Maryland -----Original Message----- From: Jim Marcum Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:35 PM To: va-bird AT listserve.com Subject: [Va-bird] Common Redpoll - Virginia Beach Greetings: Just a note to let you Virginia Birders know that I observed a Common Redpoll at my sunflower feeder on Kerr Drive in Virginia Beach this afternoon. I don't recall seeing any other reports so this is just a "heads-up and eyes-open." Jim Marcum Virginia Beach, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Great Falls National Park Walk on January 29, 2012 From: mnr2 AT aol.com Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:59:05 -0500 (EST) Our group of nine tallied 36 species. Highlight of the day was a red-shouldered hawk eating what appeared to be a snake. Some were dubious it was a snake in January until later we came across a very sluggish garter snake near the clay pond. It has been a while since we have seen a grebe on the river. No activity was noted on the eagle's nest. The barred owl continues to hold court in a sycamore. Surprisingly not a cardinal was to be heard or seen while two pairs of pileateds seemed to have some courting moves. If you would like to join the walk, it meets in the visitors center courtyard, rain or shine, at 8:00am. The walk lasts about two-three dependent upon the birds. Birders of every level are welcome to join our group. -- Marshall Rawson, McLean VA Canada Goose 24 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 8 Ring-necked Duck 25 Bufflehead 20 Common Merganser 5 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Black Vulture 3 Turkey Vulture 7 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Ring-billed Gull 16 Mourning Dove 3 Barred Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 5 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Carolina Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 24 White-breasted Nuthatch 10 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 4 Winter Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 1 Cedar Waxwing 24 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 10 American Goldfinch 8 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Weekend birding - Augusta and Albemarle Co.s From: Gabriel Mapel <redtailbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:30:50 -0800 (PST) Hello all, I spent the weekend birding, yesterday in Augusta and some in Albemarle Co. with Vic Laubach and today with Ashley Bradford and Mike O'Brien from Northern Va around Augusta County. Saturday was a good day.  We had 54 species.  My personal highlight was seeing 7 Red-shouldered Hawks, all beautiful adults (3 in Augusta, 4 in Albemarle).  2 of them were a pair at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro, at the start of a nest and mating. Amazing.   Other highlights included the continuing Lark Sparrow on Brennemans Lane (Augusta co.), an adult male No. Harrier on Lipscomb Road (Augusta co.), Winter Wren at Lickinghole Creek (Albemarle co.), and 4 American Pipits along Patterson Mill Road (Augusta co.).   Some very interesting (and out-of-season!) non-birds included several frogs singing at Lickinghole Creek, and a turtle sunning itself at the pond where the Lark Sparrow is on Brennemans Lane.  Just not a typical January...! Surprising misses for the day included kinglets, accipiters, the Rough-legged Hawk, and of all things White-crowned Sparrow(!).   As for today, it was another good day.  We had more specific targets, life birds for Ashley B. and Mike O.  The ones that had been reported in the area that they needed were pipits, Lark Sparrow, and they had only seen one Rough-legged Hawk ever.   Our first stop was Guthrie Road where we were able to find several Am. Pipits and several Horned Larks.  From there we went over to Brennemans Lane where we enjoyed at least 6 Savannah and lots of Song Sparrows while waiting for the Lark Sparrow to make an appearance.  We eventually found not one but TWO Lark Sparrows (see previous post).  On Hall School Road the Rough-legged Hawk gave great looks.  To round out the good birds for the day we found a No. Harrier along Kiddsville Road, near the pond where the immature Tundra Swans continue.   Thanks to Vic Laubach, Ashley Bradford, and Mike O'Brien for contributing to this fine weekend of birding. Good birding, Gabriel Mapel New Hope, Va _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Kerr Reservoir 1/29/Hummingbird Update From: Adam D'Onofrio <bigadfromlb AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:08:11 +0000 (UTC) I birded Kerr Reservoir in Mecklenburg Co. today with Paul Glass. We also ran into Wendy Ealding and a friend of hers. Not a whole lot to report but our first RED-THROATED LOON of the season, an adult near Palmer Point, was nice. The lake held a few waterfowl that included a group of REDHEAD, 5 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 4 GADWALL, BUFFLEHEAD, 2 RUDDY DUCKS and a single AMERICAN BLACK DUCK. The adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was present at Tailrace Park sitting around with a bunch of Ring-billed Gulls. The most waterfowl we saw was at Dick Cross WMA. Clyde's Pond had good numbers of Redhead and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a few Northern Pintails and RING-NECKED DUCKS and a pair of AMERICAN COOTS. At the wetlands behind the dog kennels there were approximately 750 Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, MALLARDS, 2 male NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 3 Northern Pintail and 4 AMERICAN WIGEON. Here at home, the female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that showed up on 12/10 and was banded on 12/19 continues to brighten up the yard. Good birding. Adam D'Onofrio Dinwiddie Co. _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Second Lark Sparrow - Augusta Co. From: Gabriel Mapel <redtailbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:55:14 -0800 (PST) Hello birders, I've had an excellent weekend of birding and I'll post a full summary later but wanted to get the news out on this sighting right away. While looking for the Lark Sparrow with Ashley Bradford and Mike O'Brien from Northern Virginia we found not one but TWO Lark Sparrows at the Lark Sparrow regular location along Brennemans Lane.  David and Tom visiting from Southern Virginia (sorry David and Tom, I didn't catch your last names) were also there looking for the sparrow.  We kept hearing a Lark Sparrow sing but we couldn't get on the bird.  At one point an LS was singing from up on the "hill" (which is not really a hill, but a slight elevation gain on the hedgerow).  While it was singing from near the top of the "hill" one of the two men from southern va said that he had the Lark Sparrow, near us and not from where the Lark Sparrow was singing.  At first we all thought he must have a different type of sparrow but once the other birders got on it, he DID have a Lark Sparrow.  I had already seen the Lark Sparrow several times, so I took one look and then went to try and find what I figured had to be ANOTHER Lark Sparrow singing up the hill.  Without too much trouble, I found a Lark Sparrow singing away atop the hill.  I yelled down to the other birders "is the original Lark Sparrow still there?" and they answered yes.  Confirmed, there were TWO Lark Sparrows!   Good birding, Gabriel Mapel  New Hope, Va _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Common Redpoll - Virginia Beach From: Jim Marcum <marcums AT cns.umass.edu> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:35:09 -0500 Greetings: Just a note to let you Virginia Birders know that I observed a Common Redpoll at my sunflower feeder on Kerr Drive in Virginia Beach this afternoon. I don't recall seeing any other reports so this is just a "heads-up and eyes-open." Jim Marcum Virginia Beach, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Dyke Marsh for Sunday, 29 January From: "prowarbler" <prowarbler AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:27:47 -0500 Six birders joined me for the weekly Sunday morning bird walk, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to everyone. The highlight was two Horned Grebes off the boardwalk platform, but the overall diversity and numbers of aquatic birds remains low. We found a single coot hanging out with Mallards at the marina, for example. Chickadees, titmice, and Carolina Wrens were active and quite vocal, but kinglets and Winter Wrens were nowhere to be found. Anyway, it was delightful company and a beautiful day. Today's List Canada Goose 270 Tundra Swan 2 American Black Duck 7 Mallard 160 Bufflehead 3 Common Merganser 4 Bald Eagle 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Horned Grebe 2 Great Blue Heron 8 American Coot 1 Ring-billed Gull 350 Herring Gull 15 Great Black-backed Gull 32 Mourning Dove 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 9 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 1 Blue jay 10 Fish Crow 14 Crow, sp 1 Carolina Chickadee 24 Tufted Titmouse 22 Carolina Wren 9 American Robin 13 European Starling 20 Song Sparrow 24 Swamp Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 35 Northern Cardinal 16 Red-winged Blackbird 3 American Goldfinch 3 House Sparrow 2 Larry Cartwright prowarbler AT verizon.net _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - The Pocket, Jan 29, 2012 From: G B Harris <gbhrlh AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:15:39 -0500 Birders, Spur of the moment decision to bird "The Pocket" in King William County. Pretty nice day, especially watching 14 Bald Eagles interact with each other and chase Great Blue Herons. Waterfowl a bit skimpy, maybe an earlier arrival would be better. Happy trails, George & Rosemarie Harris Gloucester, VA > > The Pocket, King William, US-VA > Jan 29, 2012 11:10 AM - 12:45 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 1.0 mile(s) > Comments: George & Rosemarie Harris. > 31 species > > Canada Goose 310 > Tundra Swan 18 > Mallard 4 > Green-winged Teal (American) 2 > Greater Scaup 1 > Bufflehead 16 > Pied-billed Grebe 3 > Double-crested Cormorant 4 > Great Blue Heron 10 > Great Egret 4 > Black Vulture 4 > Turkey Vulture 16 > Bald Eagle 14 > American Kestrel 1 > American Coot 10 > Killdeer 2 > Greater Yellowlegs 11 > Ring-billed Gull 155 > Mourning Dove 9 > Belted Kingfisher 1 > Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 > American Crow 11 > Horned Lark 2 > Carolina Chickadee 2 > Tufted Titmouse 1 > Eastern Bluebird 6 > American Robin 10 > Song Sparrow 3 > White-throated Sparrow 5 > Dark-eyed Junco 10 > Northern Cardinal 1 > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/VA) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous yes, Brewer's sparrow no From: "Marc Ribaudo" <moribaudo AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:58:22 -0500 I started at Occoquan Bay NWR this morning a full 40 minutes before the gate opened to observe the woodcock show. I was not disappointed. At least 5 woodcock were calling and displaying near the entrance gate for a almost half an hour. Elton Morel also arrived early to enjoy the show. A great horned owl provided a nice background to the twittering. We walked the refuge after the gate opened. We could not find the Brewer’s sparrow, but did put together a decent list. Notables were tree and fox sparrows, common goldeneye, great egret, 2 more hooting great horned owls,sapsucker, brown thrasher, and eastern phoebe. After the refuge I went to Pohick Bay for the gull. At around 11:30 it was sitting on the small dock at the boat launch, providing an excellent photo op. Also seen were the waterfowl noted by Kurt. Marc Ribaudo Woodbridge _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Yellow-breasted Chat, Nashville Warbler Hopewell 1/29 From: akb <arun1bose AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:54:59 -0500 Hello Birders, Did the Hopewell circuit this morning and found a Yellow-breasted Chat on Station Rd. The Nashville was in the same spot at city point (along edge near Grant's HQ cabin) as when I saw it on the CBC. Also saw an Orange-crowned Warbler on Water St. Arun Bose Richmond _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Re: Glaucous Gull, Pohick Park, Frfx Co, 29 Jan 12 From: William Hohenstein <elliety AT msn.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:38:51 -0500 I was able to observe the 2nd year Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park yesterday afternoon. There was a good group of birders there. It flew in and rested in a small cove just south of the last parkinglot, about 50 yards from shore. It found a fish and tried to swallow it a few times, without luck. An eagle came along and chased the gull off -- taking the fish. The gull circled around and came back to the same spot, putting on a good show. On the way out, I stopped by Meadowood Recreation Area, I found 2 eastern meadowlarks, a beautiful eastern blue bird and a couple of song sparrows. Meadowood is one of the better spots in Fairfax County to see eastern meadowlarks. They were in some trees on the edge of the woods surrounding enchanted pond (yes -- that is what it is called). If you like meadowlarks it is worth a stop. This morning I checked out Huntley Meadows. It was cold but the light was great. I showed up just before 7:00 and found frost on the geese that had not woken yet -- literally. Highlights from Huntley Meadows included, 2 brown creepers, 2 hairy woodpeckers, a wood duck, good numbers of hooded mergansers, wigeon, lots of pintails, GW teal, a kingfisher, killdeer, turkey, and other stuff. The great egret is still hanging out. No raptors (hmm). Bill http://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614 AT N00/sets/72157629076628049/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/73831614 AT N00/sets/72157629084405815/ > From: KurtCapt87 AT verizon.net > To: va-bird AT listserve.com > Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:02:48 -0500 > Subject: [Va-bird] Glaucous Gull, Pohick Park, Frfx Co, 29 Jan 12 > > VA BIRDers, > > > > The Glaucous Gull continues to hold court today (930-1030) near the end of > the parking lot at Pohick Regional Park. There was also a good waterfowl > assortment - including many Redheads - in the bay stretching east to the Ft > Belvoir shoreline; the tide was low. The tally below are from the front > page. > > Kurt Gaskill > > > > C. Goose 80 > > T. Swan 18 > > Gadwall 3 > > Am. Black Duck 9 > > Mallard 41 > > No. Pintail 45 > > Canvasback 28 > > Redhead 88 > > Ring- necked Duck 116 > > Lesser Scaup 949 > > Bufflehead 20 > > Common Merganser 1 > > Ruddy Duck 28 > > Pied-billed Grebe 5 > > Great Blue Heron 27 > > Black Vulture 1 > > Turkey Vulture 7 > > Bald Eagle 2 > > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 > > Am. Coot 1170 > > Ring-billed Gull 10 > > Glaucous Gull 1 > > Belted Kingfisher 1 > > _______________________________________________ > va-bird mailing list > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird > > Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. > http://www.virginiabirds.net/ _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull, Pohick Park, Frfx Co, 29 Jan 12 From: "Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:02:48 -0500 VA BIRDers, The Glaucous Gull continues to hold court today (930-1030) near the end of the parking lot at Pohick Regional Park. There was also a good waterfowl assortment - including many Redheads - in the bay stretching east to the Ft Belvoir shoreline; the tide was low. The tally below are from the front page. Kurt Gaskill C. Goose 80 T. Swan 18 Gadwall 3 Am. Black Duck 9 Mallard 41 No. Pintail 45 Canvasback 28 Redhead 88 Ring- necked Duck 116 Lesser Scaup 949 Bufflehead 20 Common Merganser 1 Ruddy Duck 28 Pied-billed Grebe 5 Great Blue Heron 27 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 7 Bald Eagle 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Am. Coot 1170 Ring-billed Gull 10 Glaucous Gull 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: For people attending VSO Outer Banks trip Feb 3-5 From: Meredith Bell <merandlee AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:54:22 -0500 Hi VA-Birders, We've got a great week-end planned for the VSO field trip to the Outer Banks Feb 3-5! Details are at: http://vabirds.net/f_trips.html If you plan to come but haven't registered with me yet, please shoot me an email with your email and phone number. I've got a few details and reminders to send participants. Thanks! Meredith Bell VSO Field Trip Co-chair merandlee AT gmail.com 804-824-4958 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Lark Sparrow at Stuarts Draft From: Jim Elder <jim_elder AT msn.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:47:13 -0500 http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovoter/6781736009/in/photostream Yesterday, Mark Johnson took several Lynchburg Bird Club members to see the Lark Sparrow at Stuarts Draft. We arrived about 1:30pm. After a 20 minute wait, the bird showed up with a small group of Savannah and Song Sparrows. They all wanted to pose and I got several decent photos of the beautiful bird on brambles about 30 feet away. See the Flickr link above. Others present were Sandra Elder, Glennys Sheppard, and Mary Foster. Jim Elder _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: 2 Razorbills off beach @ Back Bay NWR From: Elisa Enders <elisaenders AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:34:19 -0500 I joined a Cape Henry Audubon Society trip to Back Bay NWR this morning. The water by the visitor's center held a good number of waterfowl, including Canvasbacks, American Coots, American Wigeons, Gadwalls, and Tundra Swans. Two flyby American Bitterns were also seen during the walk, and Sedge Wrens were heard. The observation blind south of the visitor's center was useful in seeing waterfowl as well. Northern Pintails and Green-winged Teals were here, among the other waterfowl. Off the beach, from the boardwalk (south of the split in the dike trails) to the beach, and actively diving, were 2 Razorbills. They were perhaps 1/3 of the distance to the horizon. Northern Gannets and Red-throated and Common Loons were seen in fair numbers. A pod of dolphins were frolicking in the waves too. I also learned that Blue Jays can imitate the calls of the Osprey impeccably! The Loggerhead Shrike is still present at the Ashville Park development. It was a nice morning. Elisa Enders Portsmouth, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Saturday birds From: akb <arun1bose AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:19:10 -0500 Hello Birders, I birded the Floodwall this morning with Richmond Audubon. Highlights included Common Merganser, Peregrine, Bald Eagle, Winter Wren and 7 Lesser Black-back Gulls. Later in the afternoon Ellison Orcutt and myself went to Augusta Co. and easily saw the previously reported Lark Sparrow, and Rough-legged Hawk. On the return to Richmond we stopped in the Green Springs area in Louisa Co. to look for the Short-eared Owls. We arrived at around 5:00 pm and saw a number of Northern Harriers immediately. At around 5:40 I observed 18 in the air at once. A conservative estimate of total Harriers is 23. At about 5:50 Ellison noticed a single Short-eared Owl and 5 minutes later 3 others appeared. Good Birding, Arun Bose Richmond _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Brewer's Sparrow - NO From: Paul Glass <Pag AT GCRCompany.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:13:19 -0500 Hannah and I made a run for the Brewer's Sparrow today. We worked the refuge from 8:30 to 3:00 with no luck. We never ran across any flocks of Field Sparrows (only saw 2 all day). The only interesting find was a single American Tree Sparrow working a road edge with several White-throats. Paul Glass South Boston, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Lark Sparrow-Yes From: Mark Johnson <birdmanj AT deconnex.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:13:21 -0500 Hello all, This afternoon Mary Foster, Glennys Sheppard, Jim and Sandra Elder and myself went to Stuarts Draft to see the Lark Sparrow. When we arrived it was windy and quiet. We waited for about 15 minutes and finally the Sparrow went to its favorite spot. It sat there for about 4 minutes just enough time for photos. It then started to chase Savannah Sparrows. Then we went to look for the RL Hawk on Hall School Rd. We missed the Hawk. A gentleman arrived on his way home from Highland Co.and got a photo. Mark Johnson Madison Heights, Va _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: MacKay Island From: Jane Beavers <pjbeavers AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:34:14 -0800 (PST) Hi All, Today we were treated to thousands of Snow Geese, one Glossy Ibis, many Great Egrets, many Coots, two Kingfishers, several Pie-billed, one Moorhen hanging out with the Coots, probably 100 Red-wing Blackbirds, several Wigeons, 1 Kestrel, 1 Red-tail, many Yellow Rumps, several Savannah Sparrows, several Song Sparrows, 1 Mockingbird, several Robins, Titmouse, two Downy Woodpeckers, Harrier and several Mourning Doves. Back home we saw the two Peregrine Falcons on the water tower, Cardinals, House Finches, House Sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Robins, Yellow Rumps and Pigeons in my yard. Not bad for approximately two and a half hours of birding. Beautiful day! Happy Birding! Jane Beavers Va. Beach _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Birds at the Blue Ridge Center, Loudoun From: "Joe Coleman" <joecoleman AT rstarmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:45:25 -0500 This morning 14 of us found 30 species on the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's regular bird walk (every 4th Sat except Dec) at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun County near Harper's Ferry. It was around freezing when we started and warmed up to the low 40's by the time we finished. We spent most of our time on the power cut with brief forays into the forest edge. We got nice looks at two Hermit Thrushes, a Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a Red-bellied WP & Hairy WP fighting over a cavity. Other highlights included two Fox Sparrows, at least 6 Field Sparrows, no Juncos, a handful of hawks, and two flyover Ravens as we were tallying,. Surprising misses were the lack of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Pileated WPs. Nonetheless all in all a nice walk on a pleasant winter day Information on the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship can be found at http://www.blueridgecenter.org. Information on the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and its many free activities can be found at www.loudounwildlife.org. Joe Coleman, near Bluemont, Loudoun Co See below for complete list of bird species seen as reported to eBird: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship - MFF01, Loudoun, US-VA Jan 28, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) 30 species Canada Goose 30 Mallard 18 Hooded Merganser 3 Turkey Vulture 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker X Downy Woodpecker X Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay X American Crow X Common Raven 2 Carolina Chickadee X Tufted Titmouse X White-breasted Nuthatch X Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren X Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Eastern Bluebird X Hermit Thrush 1 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling X Field Sparrow 6 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow X White-throated Sparrow X Northern Cardinal 12 American Goldfinch X This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/VA) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: NVBC field trip to Black Hill RP, Maryland, 1/28 From: Michael Bowen <dhmbowen AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:45:51 -0500 This morning, January 28, I led a group of 17 birders from the Northern Virginia Bird Club to the Black Hill Regional Park, Montgomery County, Maryland, which quite a few participants had never visited before. The eBird list is given below. Probably the best highlight was having great scope views of 2 pairs of Common Goldeneye and of a single Horned Grebe. Waterfowl numbers were exceptionally low for this stage in the winter, but fortunately we had plenty of diversity and a very pleasant morning, weather wise. Michael Bowen Montgomery and Northern Virginia Bird Clubs Black Hill Regional Park, Montgomery, US-MD Jan 28, 2012 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.5 mile(s) Comments: Northern Virginia Bird Club field trip with Michael Bowen as leader 50 species Canada Goose 120 Gadwall 2 pair near boat ramp American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 6 Canvasback 14 Ring-necked Duck 3 exceptionally low number Bufflehead 25 Common Goldeneye 4 very good scope views Hooded Merganser 15 Common Merganser 35 Ruddy Duck 6 extremely low number Pied-billed Grebe 12 Horned Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Black Vulture 4 Turkey Vulture 2 Bald Eagle 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 American Coot 50 Ring-billed Gull 2 Rock Pigeon 3 Mourning Dove 12 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 20 Fish Crow 6 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Brown Creeper 1 river birch trees by visitor. center Carolina Wren 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 10 Northern Mockingbird 2 European Starling 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 Song Sparrow 6 White-throated Sparrow 12 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 6 Northern Cardinal 6 Red-winged Blackbird 5 House Finch 12 American Goldfinch 6 House Sparrow 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) D.H. Michael Bowen 8609 Ewing Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Telephone: (301) 530-5764 e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull present From: Will McPhail <willmcphail AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:45:02 -0800 (PST) Currently being see at rather close range from previously mentioned area (end of the parking lot). Will McPhail Burke, va Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Beginner Bird Banding Class, Warrenton VA From: <catbirds AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:56:29 -0500 A beginner banding class will be offered by The Institute for Bird Populations (www.birdpop.org) at the Environmental Studies on the Piedmont (http://www.envstudies.org) near near Warrenton, Virginia from September 22 - 29, 2012. Please contact the class host, Cindy Shea for class costs, registration information, and class availability. Bev Smith Lead Bander Environmental Studies on the Piedmont Warrenton, VA catbirds AT verizon.net 703-915-0567 _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull continues Pohick Bay From: Steve Hersey <sherseydc AT mac.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:50:32 -0500 Beautiful views of the gull in the water just after sunrise. Right off the parking lot with cannons going off in the background. Clearly celebrating the gull. Strangely very few ducks around (smart ducks). _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: "Going Wild in Your Backyard": Wildlife Habitat Open House in Culpeper Feb. 4 From: Pam Owen <nighthawkcomm AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:47 -0500 * "Going Wild in Your Backyard" * CULPEPER-Do you want to attract more wildlife to your yard, care about the environment and want to help protect it, or want your children to have more opportunities to learn about wildlife close at hand? Do you think your yard is too small for a habitat project, or so big you don't know where to start? Find answers to these and other wildlife habitat questions on Feb. 4, when Old Rag Master Naturalists (ORMN) presents "Going Wild in Your Backyard" at Eastern View High School in Culpeper. Admission is free. Throughout the day, visitors can meet with experts and enjoy wildlife exhibits from more than 20 conservation organizations-from the Va. Dept. of Forestry to the Virginia Herpetological Society-and watch a video featuring Doug Tallamy and based on his well-received book about the importance of biodiversity, "Bringing Nature Home" For those interested in learning more on their own, the Shenandoah National Park Association will also be offering nature books for sale. Starting at 10:30, certified Virginia Master Naturalists from the Old Rag chapter will give presentations on how to create habitat on properties large and small, which native plants work best to attract and support wildlife, and how to build and monitor a bluebird trail, which includes a video showing bluebird development from egg to when the young leave the nest. Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife biologist Lou Verner will round out the program with a talk on wildlife basics-from which species are likely to show The open house will run from 10 am to 4 pm, with presentations starting at 10:30. Eastern View High School is located at 16332 Cyclone Way, Culpeper, VA 22701-4416. For more information, go to www.oldragmasternaturalists.org or contact Pam Owen at (540) 227-0137 or ormn.openhouse AT gmail.com. Cheers, Pam Owen Outreach Coordinator Old Rag Master Naturalists ormn.openhouse AT gmail.com or NighthawkComm AT gmail.com (540) 227-0137 www.OldRagMasterNaturalists.org _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay From: "David Larsen - birding" <hirundo AT comcast.net> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:44:37 -0500 I found the Glaucous Gull at Pohick Bay Regional Park this afternoon around 2pm. It drifted into my view while I was trying to sort through the cluster of Coots just off shore northwest of the parking lot. It was by itself but by the time I had set up my scope it was chasing a second year Bald Eagle that had just snagged a rather large fish. It followed the eagle until it dropped its catch. The Glaucous Gull was joined by an adult Great Blacked-backed Gull and the two of them floated side by side for some time. I was able to get an excellent size comparison; the Glaucous being close in size (90%) to the Great Black-backed. It was clearly a second winter gull: plumage was all white, bill was all pink except for dark tip. Dave Larsen Haymarket _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Northern Pintail, Portsmouth, VA From: Elisa Enders <elisaenders AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:45:27 -0500 About 15 minutes ago, there was a male Northern Pintail, on the pond next to the main entrance of the Portsmouth location of Tidewater Community College, near the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Freedom Avenue. It was in the company of 6 American Wigeon and 2 Canada Geese. I rarely seen Pintail in Portsmouth and have never seen one away from Craney Island in Portsmouth. Elisa Enders Portsmouth, VA _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Glaucous Gull - Pohick Bay From: Linda Chittum <LCHITTUM AT comcast.net> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:33:13 -0500 The Glaucous Gull was still present this morning at Pohick Bay. It spent most of its time on the water at the far end of the parking lot. Also, there was one female wigeon in the large mass of coots. I was pondering Eurasian because of the overall brown color to the head and lack of apparent contrast from head, neck, breast. It will take better skills than mine to sort that out but you might want to take a look if you are there for the gull. Linda Chittum _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Back Bay NWR - CSY06, Jan 26, 2012 From: Shirley Devan <sedevan52 AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:19:54 -0500 Greetings VA Birders Geoff Giles and I ventured down to Back Bay NWR this afternoon. Recorded 41 species in our walk over the dunes to the beach and then around the trail along the ditches (can't remember the name of that trail). Highlights were the large number of dolphins feeding near shore at the beach. They were surrounded by large rafts of Red-breasted Mergansers. Also spotted several Red-throated Loons and Horned Grebes and two Brown Pelicans. Quite a few Northern Gannets feeding as well (only counted those near the shore). The pond behind the observation platform supported the expected species of winter ducks. Back Bay itself (scoped from parking lot) had several hundred Tundra Swans plus winter ducks. The bird of the day for me was Redhead duck (2) -- a year bird! Complete list is below. We stopped by Ashley Park Blvd in VA Beach to look for the Loggerhead Shrike but it did not cooperate today. Temperature was in mid-50s and winds were light. Shirley Devan Williamsburg, VA Ph: 757.813.1322 Begin forwarded message: > From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org > Subject: eBird Report - Back Bay NWR - CSY06, Jan 26, 2012 > Date: January 26, 2012 6:35:36 PM EST > To: sedevan52 AT cox.net > > Back Bay NWR - CSY06, Virginia Beach, US-VA > Jan 26, 2012 12:30 PM - 2:50 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 1.0 mile(s) > Comments: With Geoff Giles > 41 species > > Canada Goose 24 > Tundra Swan X > Gadwall 36 > American Wigeon 40 > American Black Duck 6 > Mallard 12 > Northern Shoveler 8 > Northern Pintail 10 > Green-winged Teal 18 > Canvasback 36 > Redhead 2 > Bufflehead 1 > Red-breasted Merganser 90 > Red-throated Loon 8 > Common Loon 1 > Pied-billed Grebe 6 > Horned Grebe 4 > Northern Gannet 12 > Double-crested Cormorant 8 > Brown Pelican 2 > Great Blue Heron 1 > Great Egret 3 > Northern Harrier 3 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 > American Coot 28 > Killdeer 2 > Ring-billed Gull X > Herring Gull X > Great Black-backed Gull 10 > Forster's Tern 28 > Rock Pigeon 10 > Mourning Dove 4 > Blue Jay 1 > American Robin 4 > Northern Mockingbird 1 > Yellow-rumped Warbler 15 > Field Sparrow 1 > Song Sparrow 1 > Northern Cardinal 2 > Red-winged Blackbird X > Common Grackle X > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/VA) _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/ Subject: Merlin Shenendoah Co. From: James Fox <jmsfox11 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:22:38 -0500 I spent some time driving back roads in the area of the intersection of Cottontown Rd. and SR-55 in northern Shenandoah County this morning looking for the Loggerhead Shrike that was reported there on ebird a few days ago. I did not find it but I did see a Merlin fly across the road in front of my car. Five Fox Sparrows, three Purple Finches, and an Eastern Meadowlark were in the area as well. James Fox Front Royal _______________________________________________ va-bird mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO. http://www.virginiabirds.net/