January 29, 2021

I visited some Shirley Plantation Road, Turkey Island Road and a little of Malvern Hill National Battlefield Park this morning.  I noted that a majority of the Evening Grosbeak flock is apparently now feeding further “up” the road away from Highway 5.  They are located about .3 miles from the intersection.  A few still linger at the original tree line where they have been feeding.  A conservative estimate had 44 at the “new site” and about 5ish at the original site.  Besides the grosbeaks the Cedar Waxwing flock is apparently enjoying the food supply here.

On Turkey Island Road I noted two (2) Cackling Geese in amongst the Canada flock.  A gathering of approximately 325 Lesser Snow Geese fed further up the road.  At the western tree line off of Turkey Island Road I noted calling Evening Grosbeaks but couldn’t ID their location for numbers.

At Malvern Hill, I noted a single immature White-crowned Sparrow.  The millet has now been harvested and the birds have divested to a large degree.

January 27, 2021

I visited Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton today.  I was greeted with marginal weather initially with overcast skies, some fog and temperatures around 43 degrees.  As the morning progressed, the skies lightened up and the fog lifted.  The tide stayed high during the visit and the bay at this location was fairly flat with winds out of the North at ~5-7 mph.

I started the morning (6:45 a.m.) with two (2) Virginia Rails with one responding to the tape, actually flying in, and the second responding to the first rail calling.  Clapper Rails called during the walk to the beach with both Sedge and Marsh Wrens noted.  

I ended up walking the beach to the inlet with foraging flocks of Dunlin, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstones, a couple of Western Sandpipers and a Black-bellied Plover.  The bay, itself, was not to busy but the expected Northern Gannets, Brown Pelicans, Common and Red-throated Loons, Surf Scoters, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebes were present in various areas of the walk.  As I neared the inlet, I ran into a couple of flocks of Savannah Sparrow with most and possibly all(?) being Ipswich.

January 16, 2021

I traveled to Hopewell right before daybreak this morning since I had not visited this area in several weeks.  I ended up walking about 2 miles in town and enjoyed a nice morning but the action was limited, i.e.- it is mid-winter.  I was, however, rewarded with a beautiful sunrise, a nice male Baltimore Oriole and three (3) Orange-crowned Warblers.

I then moved my focus over to Charles City County swinging through Shirley Plantation (private) and later working along Shirley Plantation Road.  The biggest surprise of the morning was a Yellow Warbler.  It was actively feeding in the distance amongst the vegetation on an impoundment.  Also present were two (2) Common Gallinules and one (1) Palm Warbler (western).  A short time later, I encountered my fourth Orange-crowned Warbler of the day.  I then stopped by the “Evening Grosbeak” spot on Shirley Plantation Road and had at least 19 birds feeding visibly in the trees.

January 14, 2021

I spent time this morning in both eastern Henrico and Charles City Counties.  The day, itself, was wonderful, for the mid-winter time period, with mostly clear skies, mild temperatures (31-44) and winds 0-3 mph.

I started the day before dawn and had four (4) American Woodcock on display at Malvern Hill Battlefield and then I traveled to Carter’s Mill Road and had another four (4) displaying at that location.  One of the woodcocks on Carter’s Mill Road even landed within 15 feet of me after his display flight.

My next effort was walking some of the battlefield at Malvern Hill.  The highlights of the effort were a few calling Evening Grosbeaks flying past and a photogenic female Northern Harrier.

At Shirley Plantation Road, I stopped at the reliable Evening Grosbeak location about .25 miles off of Highway 5 and observed 13 Evening Grosbeaks with others calling from distant trees, so the true quantity is unknown.  I then moved up the road to Shirley Plantation (private) and observed the Common Gallinule, photographed two (2) different Common Yellowthroats and photographed one of the Northern Red-tailed Hawks (abieiticola).

I then back tracked to eastern Henrico County and worked Turkey Island Road.  Another Northern Red-tailed Hawk (abieticola) was present, about 850 Canada Geese were visible and approximately 375 Lesser Snow Geese and 1 Ross’s Goose were noted.  The Lesser Snow Geese allowed for some photographic opportunities, of both color morphs and the “in betweens”, as while they were anxious they did not flush and fly away as is all to common when hunting pressure has been placed upon them.

January 12, 2021

I spent some time in Mecklenburg County this morning splitting time between the dam area at Kerr Lake and Dick Cross WMA.  Before daybreak, I was in Dick Cross and had at least four (4) American Woodcock peenting and performing display flights.  A Great Horned Owl also made its presence known.

I then traveled to the dam area right at sunrise.  Even in the poor light, the clouds were clearing but it was mostly overcast initially, an estimated 1000+ gulls were noted both above and below the dam.  The mix was predominantly Ring-billed Gulls but Herring (at least 41), Bonaparte’s (an estimated 90), a single immature Great Black-backed and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull were also noted.  Due to what I presume was hunting pressure, a mixed flock of dabbling ducks on the lake was noted comprised of Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard and a single Black Duck.  Other birds noted in the lake were Common Loon (7), Horned Grebe (57+), Lesser Scaup (2) and four (4) Ruddy Duck.

At mid-morning I went back to Dick Cross WMA.  The highlights there included one Common Yellowthroat (male) and a House Wren.

January 11, 2021

I visited the Brandon area of Prince George County and a few areas in both Charles City and eastern Henrico Counties this morning.  The highlights were several raptors providing some enjoyable photography opportunities.  I also noted a continuing Palm Warbler (western) in Prince George.

January 10, 2021

I made my way over to Dutch Gap this morning in an attempt to observe the Eurasian Wigeon being reported.  I walked the length of the impoundment but was met with no success.  I did however note a Mallard/Gadwall hybrid in the effort.  Before I departed, Arun Bose refound the wigeon and several of us got to observe and photograph him.

January 9, 2021- A Golden Day

I ventured to Highland County early this morning.  The day probably couldn’t have been better for early January.  The skies were mostly clear, the temperature ranged from 18-39 degrees and the winds were 7-10 mph.

The bird of the day was Rough-legged Hawk but the birds of the day were the Golden Eagles.  The light phase Rough-legged Hawk presented itself twice at great distance on the  slopes of Snowy Mountain.  (The photographs are heavily cropped.)  The Golden Eagles at least five (5) were generally around Snowy Mountain but one young bird was observed near SR 637 & 638.  The eagles on several occasions flew directly over me for some enjoyable viewing.

January 6, 2021

I got up early this morning and traveled north to Clarke, Facquier and Rockingham Counties in an attempt to observe Long-eared Owl, Green-tailed Towhee and Snowy Owl all of which had been recently reported.  I got to Blandy Experimental Farm right before daybreak and spent some general time birding prior so that better light could be established for seeing the Long-eared Owl.  Barred Owl proved to be my first owl at the farm with one being perched along one of the drives.  I spent some time after 8:15 a.m. trying to photograph and see the owl.  I was more successful with the observation than the photography as the bird was perched in some thick foliage and my focusing sensor kept wanting to capture the foreground.  Finches at Blandy included Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

I then traveled to Sky Meadows and spent time with several other birders trying to observe the Green-tailed Towhee.  We spent time on Rolling Meadows Trail before moving over to the Shearman’s Mill Loop Trail and locating the bird.

I then traveled to Rockingham County to make it 3 out of 3 species for the day with the hopeful observation of the Snowy Owl that had been present.  The owl proved illusive for me however but the day was still more than a success.

January 2, 2021

I decided to walk Malvern Hill Battlefield Park this a.m. for sparrows.  While the walk was enjoyable, I could not replicate my enjoyable walk of mid-December there with both numbers and species.

I then traveled to Shirley Plantation Road to check on the Evening Grosbeak flock.  To my surprise the number present this morning was approximately 100 in number.  They were challenging to count in the trees but when “something” caused them to leave in mass I got a quick estimate on the number and the flock was quite impressive.  This is by far the greatest quantity I have observed.

January 1, 2021

Happy New Year and hopefully everyone continues to stay healthy.

I started the day out at Jordan Point in Prince George County, passed through Shirley Plantation (private) up Shirley Plantation Road and then to Turkey Island Road in eastern Henrico County.  My last stop was at Dutch Gap/Henricus Park in Chesterfield County.  The morning, itself, was overcast with temperatures ranging in the 42-43 degree range.

Highlights included the continuing Evening Grosbeak flock (22) on Shirley Plantation Road.  At Shirley Plantation, the Northern Red-tailed Hawks (abieticola), at least two (2), continue along with House Wren and White-crowned Sparrows maintaining their presence.  At Turkey Island Road, I observed an immature Ross’s Goose with mostly blue morph and a few white morph Snow Geese.  My fourth finch species for the day, a nice male Purple Finch was observed at Dutch Gap.