January 2020

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The first month of the new year (and new decade) provided fantastic birding to both visiting & local Virginia Beach birders alike. Temperatures in January were higher than the prior ten-year average (49.1°F/ 32.3°F for daily highs/lows). Average daily highs (55.5°F) were the highest we’ve seen since January 2012 (56.4°F) while average daily lows (39.7°F) exceeded those of each of the prior ten Januaries. The avifauna observed throughout the month seemed very reflective of these temperatures. Waterfowl numbers were very low compared to what we’ve experienced in recent Januaries, but the quality of species observed still managed to be quite high. This month also featured perhaps the greatest diversity of waders ever found here in January, and lingering passerines also caused excitement throughout the month. Over the course of its thirty-one days, a total of 176 species produced accepted records in eBird during January, which was an ever-so-slight drop from the 177 species logged in December. Compared to recent Januaries, this number proved to be a healthy boost from the 170 species logged in 2019 and to the 167 in 2018. Collectively, eBirders submitted a total of 1,241 complete checklists in Virginia Beach, which puts us on an initial pace to eclipse the 10,061 complete checklists submitted in 2019.

The following species warrant mention for the month of January, as described below:

The single CACKLING GOOSE first reported at Sherwood Lakes on 29 Nov (vis. Andrew Baldelli) continued through 1 Jan in the agricultural field just north of the lakes (ph. Tommy Maloney; later vis. Karen & Tom Beatty). This is the only known individual in the city so far this winter season. (Jan 2020 Map)

An adult MUTE SWAN took up brief residency on an impoundment at Back Bay NWR from 4 Jan (ph. Marlee Morris-Fuller) through 6 Jan (ph. Robert Ake, Cindy Hamilton & Lauren Mowbray). This made for the first eBird record for the species at Back Bay NWR since 2017, and only the second for the city overall since then. (Jan 2020 Map)

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was discovered on a small, freshwater pond at NAS Oceana (Restricted) on 28 Jan (ph. Mark Burns) and it continued here through 31 Jan (ph. Karl Suttmann). This find made Virginia Beach the third city/county in Virginia to produce a record of the species in January, along with Portsmouth & Accomack. (Jan 2020 Map)

The female HARLEQUIN DUCK first noted at Little Island Park on 16 Dec (ph. Luke Fultz) continued through 31 Jan (vis. Andrew Baldelli) around the pier. Only one other record this month occurred in the city, with a female along the CBBT on 3 Jan (ph. Theo Staengl & Santiago Tabares). The female at Little Island Park proved to be the most southerly-occurring Harlequin Duck along the entire East Coast during January! (Jan 2020 Map)

A single PARASITIC JAEGER was observed from Little Island Park on 12 Jan (vis. Wes Teets), making for the only record in the state this month! The most northerly record for January along the East Coast overall, reports of this nature from shore during the winter are exceptional. (Jan 2020 Map)

Continuing at Lynnhaven Inlet from 31 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Lisa Rose), an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL lingered only through 2 Jan (vis. Kathy Louthan & Wes Teets). This was the only record for the species in Virginia during January, and only North Carolina (2) & Florida (1) had records farther south. (Jan 2020 Map)

Also at Lynnhaven Inlet, an immature ICELAND GULL made a brief appearance on 5 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli, vis. Lou Rajnys) before flying westward up Pleasure House Creek. Along with Norfolk, Richmond & Prince William County, at least four individuals were known in the state during January. (Jan 2020 Map)

Famous for perching along the railing of the CBBT south of Island One, a GLAUCOUS GULL first noted on 30 Dec (vis. Gabriel Mapel) continued through 31 Jan (vis. Matt Anthony & Erin Chapman). A second Glaucous Gull was reported around the CBBT during the Williamsburg Bird Club’s boat trip on 19 Jan (many obs.). No other records occurred for this species in January elsewhere in the state. (Jan 2020 Map)

A miraculous CASPIAN TERN was observed at Dam Neck NA (Restricted) on 12 Jan (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty), making for a first eBird record for the state during any January! Additionally, this was the most northerly record for the species on the East Coast overall during any January. (Jan 2020 Map)

A pair of records for WOOD STORK surfaced this month, first with a group of three in flight over Back Bay NWR on 8 Jan (ph. Steve Keith) and then with an individual found at Carolanne Farms Park on 11 Jan (ph. Charlie Bruggemann). The individuals of the former record were not re-found, but the individual mentioned in the latter record continued through 14 Jan (ph. Jeffrey Marcum). These made for the most northerly reports for the species during January. (Jan 2020 Map)

Rarely documented away from the CBBT in Virginia Beach, a GREAT CORMORANT that visited Rudee Inlet from 2 Jan (ph. Gabriel Mapel) to 4 Jan (vis. Tracy Tate) made for an exciting record. All other records in the state this month hailed from the CBBT. (Jan 2020 Map)

There was two separate records for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN in the city this month, with a pair flying over Sandbridge Road on 2 Jan (vis. Robert Wood) and a flock of mixed counts present at Back Bay NWR on 25 Jan during the Winter Wildlife Festival (vis. Robert Ake). Only Northampton & Surry Counties held records elsewhere in the state this month. (Jan 2020 Map)

SNOWY EGRET records this month were completely limited to the area around Lynnhaven Inlet, except for a single report of four at Back Bay NWR on 12 Jan (ph. Marlee Fuller-Morris). This species is unusual away from the Lynnhaven Estuary during the winter season. Chincoteague NWR was the only other area of the state to produce documented sightings in January and there were no sightings in states north of Virginia. (Jan 2020 Map)

An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was found at Princess Anne WMA Whitehurst Tract on 5 Jan (vis. Tracy Tate), with an adult also present on 12 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski) and then only the immature lingering through to 19 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski). The adult was the first to be photographed in Virginia Beach during any January and the most northerly adult along the East Coast for the month. Only three other records for the species occurred in Virginia this month, with an immature in Northampton & two immatures in Accomack; there were no records in states north of us. (Jan 2020 Map)

Similarly unusual here during January, an adult TRICOLORED HERON was observed at Back Bay NWR on 26 Jan (ph. Prashant A). As with Little Blue Heron, the only records elsewhere in the state this month occurred in lower Northampton (Eastern Shore of VA NWR) and in northeast Accomack (Chincoteague NWR). (Jan 2020 Map)

Typically absent in the city after the first week of January, a group of three CATTLE EGRETS lingered through at least 26 Jan (ph. Ty Smith & Evan Spears) along Munden Road, which was likely a faction of the eight that had been present since the Back Bay CBC (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty, Cindy Hamilton) along North Muddy Creek Road through 19 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski). Only a pair of records in Maryland were farther north along the East Coast this month. (Jan 2020 Map)

Remarkably, a single immature YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON persisted at Pleasure House Point NA through 22 Jan (ph. Steve Myers). Typically after October, any record would be considered noteworthy, and this is the first time the species has been recorded to eBird in the city during any January! (Jan 2020 Map)

Last of the waders, but certainly not least, a pair of GLOSSY IBIS lingered at Princess Anne WMA Beasley & Whitehurst Tracts through 19 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski) after one was first noted here on 7 Dec (vis. Tommy Maloney) and two were found on the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski, Lisa Rose & Robert Wood). This made for the record of the species in the state, and the most northerly record for the East Coast in January. (Jan 2020 Map)

An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER made a very brief appearance along I-264 offramp at First Colonial Road on 24 Jan (vis. Brandon Holland). This made for the third report for the species here this winter, with two in December (one at Fort Story JEB & one along Colechester Road). Only one other record occurred this month in the state, with an individual noted during the Nansemond River CBC in Suffolk. (Jan 2020 Map)

Very near to the flycatcher, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was photographed at the northern reach of NAS Oceana (Restricted) on 14 Jan (ph. Karl Suttmann), lingering at this location only through 15 Jan (vis. Andrew Baldelli). There were no records in adjacent states this month, and only Delaware (1) and New Jersey (1) produced records north of Georgia along the East Coast in January. (Jan 2020 Map)

Continuing since 24 Nov (ph. Rob Bielawski), a WHITE-EYED VIREO lingered near the parking lot of Princess Anne WMA Whitehurst Tract through 26 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli). This made for the first January eBird record in Virginia Beach across all years of data. Additionally, one of only three records for this species in the state overall this month, only Maryland (3) and New Jersey (1) held records farther north along the East Coast. (Jan 2020 Map)

In what has proven itself to not be an irruption season, a single PINE SISKIN found at a backyard feeder in Cypress Point on 22 Jan (vis. Debbie Schroeder) made for our only record this month! Amazingly, there was not a single photographed record for this species in the state during January, and only a few counties saw reports overall. (Jan 2020 Map)

The only such record in the state this month, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at Virginia Beach National Golf Club on 21 Jan (vis. Andrew Baldelli), then photographed on 24 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli) among a flock of sparrows near a series of brush piles. Only a few other records occurred on the East Coast for this species during January, and North Carolina (2) & Maryland (1) were the only other states between Florida & Massachusetts to host the species. (Jan 2020 Map)

At least four different WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were identified at the Harris Teeter Retention Ponds off Princess Anne Road during January, with the latest report on 30 Jan (vis. Karen & Tom Beatty). Two immatures of the Dark-lored race have been known to be present, as well as an adult Dark-lored and an adult Gambel’s, going back to the initial find of a single bird on 27 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Mike Collins). Craney Island DA (Restricted) was the only other location in Hampton Roads to produce ongoing records this month, and this was the only known occurrence for Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow in the state. (Jan 2020 Map)

A continuing LINCOLN’S SPARROW first noted at Princess Anne WMA Whitehurst Tract on 10 Nov (ph. Rob Bielawski) lingered at the same location through 26 Jan (vis. Andrew Baldelli), among a flock of Song Sparrows in the northern half of the tract. A rare winterer along the East Coast, this is one of only two known records during January in the state, with the other photographed in Prince William County. (Jan 2020 Map)

An apparent wintering YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was photographed at a private residence in Baylake Pines on 9 Jan (ph. Jamie Todd)! With only one other record in the state this month, an individual in Suffolk, this record made for an excellent surprise. Interestingly, there were no records in Georgia, nor South Carolina during January, yet every state from Virginia to New Hampshire along the East Coast had at least one, which seems quite bizarre for a species that usually moves southward for the winter. (Jan 2020 Map)

Unusual along the coast, a single RUSTY BLACKBIRD was photographed at Stumpy Lake NA on 3 Jan (ph. Jack & Steve Myers)! Though this species is more expected inland during the winter season, this made for the only documented record in the three coastal counties of Virginia during January and the first at this location since 2017. (Jan 2020 Map)

As in other recent winter seasons, a group of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS has been present at Breeze Farms (Private) since the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (ph. Tommy Maloney), and were most recently reported on 18 Jan (vis. Wes Teets). Only one other record for this species occurred during January in the state, in King William County during the Walkerton CBC. Additionally, there were no other records this month east of Tennessee and Georgia! (Jan 2020 Map)

In what has been another exception winter season for BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, at least three individuals were noted in the city this month. One has continued at private residence in Great Neck Estates since 5 Dec and was most recently reported on 30 Jan (vis. J. A.); one was present at an Oak Springs private residence from 2 Jan (ph. Carolyn Page) through 30 Jan (ph. Carolyn Page); lastly, one was found at Stumpy Lake NA on 22 Jan (ph. Jonathan Snyder) and present through 31 Jan (ph. Steve Myers). (Jan 2020 Map)

A continuing YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER first noted at a Bellamy Manor private residence 22 Nov (ph. Una Davenhill) lingered through 31 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli). Only one other member of this species was recorded in the state this month to eBird, that being an individual at Dyke Marsh in Fairfax County. Interestingly, the only records farther north than Virginia along the East Coast this month were in Maine (1), New Brunswick (1) and Nova Scotia (2). (Jan 2020 Map)

Female/immature male type PAINTED BUNTINGS were recorded at two locations this month, with one in Atlantic Park on 7 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli) and another continuing at a private residence in Laurel Manor since 23 Nov, most recently observed on 26 Jan (ph. Tommy Maloney). This has been an exceptional winter for the species on the East Coast overall, with records dotting Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York & even Massachusetts in January. (Jan 2020 Map)

A bit surprising, there wasn’t a single eBird record this month for Barred Owl or for Northern Bobwhite. The former was certainly present in the city this month, and just missed due to a lack of nocturnal effort in the proper habitat (lowland forest abutting freshwater). The latter might no longer be sustaining wild populations in the city, and it is difficult to know for certain if the few records that do occur are simply released individuals or are descendants of naturally occurring individuals. Any other species that were missed this month would be considered as “Rare” in eBird, so the birding community did an excellent job this month at logging almost everything that was possible here!

For those who wish for their observations to be included in this journal, please submit your records to www.eBird.org, and ensure that the proper documentation (whether written notes that rule out all similar species or photo/audio/video that is conclusive to species) is provided. Thank you to those who have taken the time to enter such documentation into eBird so these records may be publicly known, and also to those who took the time to read through this Journal entry. Be sure to check back early next month to see what birders will have found in Virginia Beach during February! For further information regarding this monthly, online publication, please visit the Journal Overview Page which provides an explanation of the current format, layout and composition of the journal.