February 24, 2020

I took a spin through some of Prince George County today (Brandon area) and then quickly visited a couple of areas in Charles City County.  The highlights were seeing and hearing both marsh wrens with Marsh Wren being in Prince George and Sedge Wren being in Charles City County.

 

February 22, 2020

On my way to North Carolina, I stopped by the Kerr Lake area briefly stopping at the dam and at Palmer Point.  The highlights were five (5) Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 325 Bonaparte’s Gulls but alas no Little Gull.

Trip to North Carolina Outer Banks Area (February 8-10)

I visited the North Carolina Outer Banks from February 8-10 with the primary objective of going off shore with Brian Patteson on a pelagic trip.  On the way home, I detoured to Little Island Park Pier in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The long weekend was enjoyable with a variety of species observed both on land and in the ocean (mostly from shore).  The weekend highlights included:

Common Eider (maxima of four (4) on the 10th from Jennette’s Pier northward for 1.8 miles;
King Eider- 2 females;
Razorbill- several hundred in North Carolina and ~38 in Virginia;
Dovekie- 1 off shore with Brian Patteson with “point blank” views
Manx Shearwater- a total of 15-20 in North Carolina and 2 in Virginia (Little Island Park Pier)
Northern Saw-whet Owl- Bodie Island Lighthouse Pond area
American Redstart- male at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Non-bird species of the trip was a very cooperative Thresher Shark while off shore with Brian Patteson.

Recording of Saw-whet Owl at Bodie Island Lighthouse area: