December 26, 2019

I got out briefly this a.m. due to the fog along the river in Charles City County.  The highlight was fifteen (15) Least Sandpipers along the James River observed at low tide.

December 24, 2019

Today I visited the City Point area in Hopewell.  The continuing five (5), probably plus, Orange-crowned Warblers were still present.  One of them was interesting both from an initial call note perspective and coloration.  It is possible that the Orange-crowned in question has “some” lutescens genes in its ancestry as the eye arcs appeared mostly yellowish to my eyes, the brow was yellowish, reduced gray about the head and the streaking on the chest was minimal.  I have included images of the bird in question first, followed by other images of celata (taiga).

In Charles City County I noted the continuing adult Northern Red-tailed Hawk (abeiticola).

December 22, 2019

I tried birding West Point this a.m. but encountered thick freezing fog and observed 3 wrecks on the highway 30 bridge due to slick conditions.  I then traveled to Charles City County and traveled back west through eastern Henrico County (Turkey Island Road).

A Barred Owl posed well on a telephone line at 8:45 a.m. in Charles City County and I observed what was probably an immature Northern Red-tailed Hawk (abeiticola) in Charles City County but as Brian Sullivan and I have corresponded this is as yet a tough ID with the darkest borealis and the lighter abeiticola being possibly similar(?) or with overlap(?).

At Turkey Island Road in eastern Henrico the nice encounter was a family group of three (3) Sandhill Cranes.

December 21, 2019

I covered both the City Point area and the Hopewell Marina in Hopewell and in Charles City County a little of Shirley Plantation.  Birding was enjoyable with much activity at City Point, a continuing “rarity” at the marina and some good birding in Charles City County.

At the Hopewell Marina, I observed the male Yellow Warbler found by Arun Bose on count day last Sunday. It continues to “associate” with the House Sparrows at that location(?).  At City Point there were five (5) Orange-crowned Warblers and two (2) Baltimore Orioles.

In Charles City County, I observed and heard a Sedge Wren, House Wren and had my 6th Orange-crowned Warbler for the morning.

December 19, 2019

I traveled to Richmond County this morning and also checked under  the bridge as you cross the Rappahannock River.  Overall the birding was slow but a single Blue-headed Vireo was noted at the Wilna track of the Rappahannock NWR.  A nice male Northern Harrier was also observed.  Canada Goose numbers were lower, I think they were more dispersed, than when visited earlier this fall.  Nineteen (19) Brown Pelicans still remain at the bridge.

December 15, 2019

I participated on the Hopewell CBC (Christmas Bird Count) today.  Arun Bose and myself covered Hopewell and some of Prince George.  I spent some time in other areas as time allowed.  Highlights were one (1) Black & White Warbler, one (1) Palm Warbler, one (1) House Wren (expected) and four (4) Baltimore Orioles.

December 12, 2019

I visited Dutch Gap in Chesterfield County for about an hour today.  Total species count was 47. Ebird indicates Palm Warbler is unusual for this time of year and I observed 4 near the new board walk.

December 8, 2019

Birding in Hopewell was enjoyable this morning.  Thousands of gulls were on the water and on exposed tidal flats as it was just leaving low tide.  Laughing Gulls are still the predominate gull with estimated numbers of 4000+.  Landbird highlights included Orange-crowned Warbler (5), Black & White Warbler (observed with Arun Bose), Palm Warbler; surprising for City Point, Pine Warbler (2), first observed by Arun, Baltimore Oriole and House Wren.

I then traveled for a brief time to the Brandon area of Prince George County.  The highlight was a nice flock of American Pipits.  For those of you who might assume they are always on the ground I have included one of several observed on the “telephone” lines.

December 6, 2019

I traveled down to McKay Island NWR in northeastern North Carolina this morning.  The refuge periodlcally holds an “Open Roads” event and this three (3) day weekend is one of those times.  I ended up the morning with 79 species within the impoundment area that is usually off limits this time of year.  Observed waterfowl were predominately made up of Mallard, Black Duck, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck and Hooded Merganser.  Approximately 285 Tundra Swan were also noted.  Landbirds of note were both White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireo, Black & White Warbler, many Orange-crowned Warblers and three (3) Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

December 4, 2019

I visited West Point to start the morning off with nothing unusual to note.  Ebird still flags House Wren (2) which are regular here in winter.

On the way back to Richmond, I briefly went by Shirley Plantation (restricted) and busy with construction and noted two (2) Cackling Geese.

December 3, 2019

I started the morning in Hopewell and noted gulls at the marina as I got into town.  I spent about 10-15 minutes there looking amongst the 1500+ gulls which were comprised mostly of Laughing (900), followed by Ring-billed (575) and then Herring (25).

I then spent went to City Point and birded there.  The highlight was one (1) Black & White Warbler, two (2) Orange-crowned Warblers and just because it is one of my favorite birds, a couple of Winter Wrens.  For such a small bird they are full of attitude and put up one of the most melodious songs in North America (my opinion).

I then traveled over to Berkeley Plantation and walked the grounds ($10).  While the grounds were “birdy”, it was the first time in memory that no “unusual” warbler or an Oriole was noted(?).  Hopefully my timing was off or I just “missed” observing/hearing one.  What was nice was an adult Yellow-bellied Sapsucker which put on a pretty good presentation.

December 1, 2019

What a gloomy, overcast and intermittently misty, rainy day it has been here in central Virginia.  I did venture out this morning briefly to see if any gulls were “downtown” on the James as they were yesterday on the rocks below the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge in Richmond.  As I got to the edge of the river I could clearly see hardly any gulls were on the rocks at that location and about that time the rain picked up and I headed to Swan Lake.  At Swan Lake, I observed the apparently continuing Blue-wing Teal (female) at this location.

In the early afternoon, I traveled over to Swift Creek Reservoir to see if anything had settled in due to the inclement weather.  Most enjoyable was a Common Loon “fallout” at this location.  There were at least 33 Common Loon present with a consistent 25-27 being in one flock.  Also present was one Red-throated Loon.  Lighting conditions made photography challenging but a few images were gained.