December 2020
/In what proved to be a challenging year in most facets of life, birding was never more exciting in Virginia Beach than it was during 2020! Another calendar year has reached its end, and with it, so too have the year lists that many of us worked so hard to build. That task now begins anew, though first, it is time to close out the year with a quick recap, and an extensive December report! Weatherwise, December was basically a spot-on, average month (55°F/38°F for daily highs/lows), when looking at the prior ten-year average temperatures (55°F/39°F). Throughout the month, we ranged from a high of 71°F on 24 Dec to a low of 26°F on 26 Dec (a remarkable 45° drop in less than 48 hours). The last time we felt a temperature this cold in Virginia Beach was back on 22 Feb when we hit 25°F, which also happened to be the lowest temperature we saw here in 2020. Bird-wise, over the course of its thirty-one days, a total of 182 species produced accepted records in eBird during December. This proved to be a surprise increase from the 172 species logged here during November, probably thanks to Christmas Bird Count efforts, folks out trying their best to finish out personal 2020 calendar year lists, and a few late arriving species. This mark of 182 species was also a bit higher than our counts in other recent Decembers, like the 179 species logged in each 2019 and 2018. Virginia Beach finished up 2020 with an incredible 312 species, our highest total in any year so far submitted to eBird. This beats out the prior high mark of 307 species set last year and frankly, it obliterates the 290 we logged in 2018! Remarkably, 303 of the 312 species were photo-documented in eBird, and one additional species, Chuck-will’s-widow, had a voice recording (Redhead, Dovekie, Arctic Tern, Black-legged Kittiwake, Manx Shearwater, Black-capped Petrel, Cliff Swallow and Louisiana Waterthrush were the only species we observed, but were not able to document by media). So, we finished the year up with 304 species being media-documented! While we were unable to best the 10,061 complete checklists submitted in 2019, we finished up December strong, and hit a grand total of 9,969 checklists for 2020. Simply put, anyone who put time into eBirding in Virginia Beach this year should be quite excited by this community’s efforts!
Highlights for December included: Ross’s Goose, Brant, Blue-winged Teal, King Eider, Common Merganser, Western Grebe, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red Knot, Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Great Cormorant, American White Pelican, Snowy Owl, Ash-throated Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Evening Grosbeak, Snow Bunting, Clay-colored Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bullock’s Oriole, Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak & Painted Bunting. Please note that a listing of which species qualify for the highlights section can be found here. Additionally, December provided the city with first-of-season records for expected fall arrivals which, in order of arrival date, included: Horned Lark, Canvasback, American Woodcock, Razorbill, Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck & Redhead. A full list of regularly-occurring species and their expected fall arrival dates can be found here.
During December, four separate locations in Virginia Beach yielded records for ROSS’S GOOSE, with the presumption being that likely two different individuals were present. The first reports began at Stumpy Lake NA on the morning of 8 Dec (ph. Reuben Rohn & Jonathan Snyder). Morning reports continued at this location on 10 & 11 Dec, but the individual was not seen later in the day here, while a Ross’s Goose was then noted at the HRSD fields off Firefall Drive on 10 Dec (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty) through 28 Dec, and one was observed at Sherwood Lakes on 11 Dec (ph. Steve Keith) marking the only occurrence at that particular location. These latter two locations are quite likely to be the same individual given the goose flock moves around these spots, and with other reports at the Haviland Drive pond from 22 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli) through 28 Dec, it seems quite likely that this too was the same individual. Whether the Stumpy Lake individual was responsible for all these sightings is up for question, so really all we can say is that we had at least one, and maybe as many as four, but probably one to two Ross’s Geese present this month. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
While BRANT are an expected species here during the winter season, they are typically confined to saltmarsh areas of the Lynnhaven River, the southern Chesapeake Bay shore, and the CBBT islands. This month, we had two inland locations yield reports for this species, with up to twelve reported at the HRSD fields on 16 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli & Tommy Maloney), and a small flock of six present on freshwater Lake Tecumseh at Dam Neck NA on 19 Dec (vis. Karen & Tom Beatty). Only a few reports in the Outer Banks of North Carolina were farther south for this species during December, with almost all East Coast records falling between Virginia & Maine. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Rarely found in the city after November and before March, we were fortunate to have a pair of locations yield reports for BLUE-WINGED TEAL this month. A flock of 14 were present on the impoundments at Back Bay NWR during the 15 Dec refuge survey (vis. Robert Ake, Cindy Hamilton & Lauren Mowbray), though this area is unfortunately closed to the public from 1 Nov through 31 Mar each year. The second report this month occurred at a slightly more public location, with a group of four on the main impoundment at Princess Anne WMA Beasley Tract on 27 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli). The term “slightly more public” is being used here since this WMA is open to birding and wildlife viewing only on Sundays from 1 Sep through 30 Apr each year. Though in 2020 it was opened after the close of March, so there is some hope that this may occur again in 2021. Last year, it was noted on orange placards at each entrance to the WMA, so we should be on the lookout for those in the coming months. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Our rarest species of waterfowl present this month was the continuing first year male KING EIDER found originally at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on 20 Nov (ph. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels). Lingering only near the pier through 22 Dec, it was found reliably at Rudee Inlet and into Lake Rudee (west side of the General Booth Boulevard bridge) from 24 Nov all the way through 14 Dec. With no later records occurring at any locations along the Oceanfront, it is believed that this individual must have moved onward. Two records of female King Eiders in the Outer Banks of North Carolina were the only individuals known to be south of us on the East Coast, and Virginia only had one other record for this species during December, with a female at Cape Charles Coastal Preserve in Northampton. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Rare along the coast of Virginia with their disdain for murky, shallow, tidal waterways, it was a surprise that we had reports for COMMON MERGANSER at three separate locations this month. The first report, of a single female, came in from the north pond of Sherwood Lakes on 19 Dec (vis. Brandon Holland), a location that has been our most reliable source of observations for this species in recent years due to its clear, deep, freshwater habitat. Potentially the same individual was picked up at the Haviland Drive pond only a couple of miles to the northeast on the morning of 22 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli) and it was observed again there on 23 Dec (ph. Steve Myers) before flying east with the goose flock. This pond is also freshwater, but is shallower than Sherwood Lakes, so it is interesting that it chose this location, and that it would depart with a goose flock which was likely heading to the HRSD fields to forage. Perhaps it went the coastline, or to Lake Tecumseh? Lastly, during the Little Creek CBC, a group of three female Common Mergansers were reported from Little Creek Amphibious Base (Restricted) on 31 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate & David Youker). Unfortunately, these individuals could be followed up on without military credentials, but that gave us at least four different individuals in the city during December. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
For a remarkable fifth winter season in a row, we appear to be host once again to a WESTERN GREBE along our coastline! First detected this season off False Cape SP on 20 Dec (ph. Marlee Fuller-Morris), there is a strong likelihood that this is the same returning individual that first showed up off Little Island Park during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec 2016 (vis. Edward Brinkley & Paul Sykes), lingering through 3 Apr 2017 (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Mary Catherine Miguez) nearby. During successive cycles, this individual was observed in the same general area from 11 Feb 2018 (vis. Andrew Baldelli) through 15 Apr 2018 (ph. Jason Strickland), 3 Dec 2018 (ph. Dianne Hinch & Maggee Smith, ph. Charlie Bruggemann) through 5 Feb 2019 (ph. Dixie Sommers), and 25 Nov 2019 (ph. Tracy Tate) through 12 Apr 2020 (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Rob Bielawski). For the current cycle, after the initial 20 Dec record at False Cape SP, the bird was then recorded slightly north at Back Bay NWR on 26 Dec (ph. Will Kennerley) and was then present at Little Island Park on 31 Dec (ph. Wes Teets, Rob Bielawski & Tommy Maloney) to close out the month (and year). As in past seasons, this individual seems to ride along with the currents, and is difficult to try to pin down in a single location. There’s a possibility it also accounted for the 12 Feb 2017 record at First Landing SP (ph. Lisa Rose), though that’s been the only true location outlier during any of its cycles and could possibly have been another individual. During December, only four other Western Grebes were reported to eBird east of the Mississippi River (Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland & South Carolina), so having two this close to one another would be quite exceptional. Interestingly in the early 2000s, a Clark’s Grebe (very close relative of Western, so much so that they used to be considered the same species), returned for many years to the Chesapeake Bay mouth off Fort Story, and remains our only known occurrence in the state for its species. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
At least five RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were recorded this month in Virginia Beach, which is quite exceptional during any month in any winter season! Since 31 Oct, at least three different Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (2 females & a male) visited a private residence in Laurel Cove, and while a male & female were noted as recently as 2 Dec (ph. Loretta Silvia), only the male persisted beyond that, through 27 Dec (ph. Loretta Silvia). A well-documented female first noted at a Hunt Club Forest private residence on 12 Nov (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty) continued through 2 Dec, and an immature male was present sporadically at a Cypress Point feeder from 1-25 Dec (vis. Debbie Schroeder). The fifth individual had apparently been visiting a feeder in the Virginia Beach portion of Knotts Island and was randomly observed nearby during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (vis. Robert Ake, Kenneth Markley & Peggy Rommen), making for the first ever occurrence for the species in the count’s 81-year history. In addition to the confirmed Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, we also had a pair of records left best as “Hummingbird sp.” in eBird. One was present at the property in Blackwater that hosted an immature male Black-chinned Hummingbird in Nov-Dec 2019, though this appears more likely to be a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, on 28 Dec (ph. K. Dean), and another that may have been a Selasphorus hummingbird was briefly present at a feeder in Laurel Manor on 7 Dec (vis. Tommy Maloney). Looking around the region for this month, Norfolk had at least three confirmed Ruby-throateds still lingering and Chesapeake had another. Though, very few reports occurred north of us on the East Coast, with an outlier in Connecticut and one in Ohio, most others were in southern New Jersey or on the northern Delmarva. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Though a regular spring and fall transient along our coastline, it is quite rare for us to see RED KNOTS in Virginia Beach during the winter season. So, it was quite exciting when one was first reported at False Cape SP on 4 Dec (ph. Marlee Fuller-Morris), and then a second individual joined the first on 21 Dec (vis. Wes Teets; later ph. Marlee Fuller-Morris & Robert Wood). Fortunately, these individuals stayed along the stretch of beach near the Back Bay NWR / False Cape SP border all the way through 29 Dec, and were able to be logged for the Back Bay CBC, marking only the eight time in eighty-one years that the species has been found in the 15-mile diameter count circle on the date of the count. The last winter occurrence we have in eBird for this species was back on 6 Dec 2018 during the refuge’s beach survey, and prior to that, the 2015-16 winter season held a flock of at least 16 individuals, though this is far from the norm in terms of what occurs here annually in winter. During December this year, records extended along the East Coast up to Long Island, New York, with a few outliers in Nova Scotia and a single record in northwestern Newfoundland. Clearly, the species is tolerant of the temperatures moving north of our latitude, but the habitat of Virginia Beach isn’t a great fit, so places nearby like the Eastern Shore barrier islands do a better job of attracting them. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Very rare in Virginia Beach outside their fall migration window (mid-Jul through early Oct), a WESTERN SANDPIPER at Back Bay NWR on 26 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski) made for the first eBirded December record in the city since the Back Bay CBC of 2007. Additionally, this made for the first city record since one was present at the refuge on the 5 Oct impoundment survey. While this species winters annually to our north, and our south along the East Coast (as well as inside the Chesapeake Bay at Grandview NP in Hampton), Virginia Beach doesn’t boast as desirable of habitat to keep individuals here each winter. With a preference for tidal mudflats, our outer coast simply falls outside what this species is looking for. It’s possible some are present on the Lynnhaven River, but with Pleasure House Point NA being the only easily accessible location there, searching for this species is severely hampered. Kayak birding at low tide on the river might yield additional records in the marshy islands of the main bay, but this is something not many folks are willing to attempt in the winter season. The Eastern Shore’s lagoon system is the best spot in the state to see numbers of this species this time of year, but if hoping for up close views of individuals, the northern portion of Grandview NP in Hampton cannot be beaten. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Quite rare in Virginia Beach in any season, and more so in winter than in the transitional spring & fall, at least six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS appear to have taken up temporary residency at Back Bay NWR, with a report during the CBC there on 29 Dec (vis. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh). Interestingly, this time of year Long-billed is actually the more expected of the two dowitcher species, while Short-billed reigns throughout the spring and fall seasons. Though, still quite rare, this was our only record for the month, and only occurred due to special access in the otherwise closed-to-the-public impoundments at the refuge. Any dowitcher sightings moving forward would also be exceptional, but anything is possible. Reports for Long-billed Dowitcher occurred northeastward along the East Coast as far as New Jersey this month, with surprisingly very few from the Carolinas. While the Eastern Shore produced a pair of records, one each in Accomack & Northampton, only Poquoson held other reports for the state during December. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Exceptional from shore in any season, a single POMARINE JAEGER was observed from JEB Fort Story on 1 Dec (ph. Steve Myers), after this location yielded at least two others during November. The largest of the jaeger species to inhabit our coastal waters, this species is considerably less expected inshore than the smaller Parasitic Jaeger, mentioned next. Well-documented, from-shore records are few & far between for this species unfortunately, but they seem to peak during November/December each year. This is likely due to the mass exodus of Laughing Gulls that occurs in late fall/early winter along our coast, and provides the jaegers with an abundance of targets to kleptoparasitize as the gulls head southbound. Records farther into the winter season will be dependent on the number of gulls present along our shores. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
More commonly observed than their larger counterparts just mentioned, but still a highlight species to see from shore in Virginia Beach, we had PARASITIC JAEGERS reported from at least four different locations along our coastline this month. Little Island Park & Rudee Inlet each held one on 5 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski & vis. Andrew Baldelli, respectively). Back Bay NWR posted a record of two individuals on 24 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate), and another pair during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (vis. Adam D’Onofrio). Lastly, another was observed in nearby Sandbridge during the CBC as well (vis. Andrew Baldelli & Hugh McGuinness). These records proved to be the only occurrences known in Virginia overall during December, and only a 3-count record offshore of Delaware and a single from Cape May, New Jersey were farther north of our latitude this month. Quite a few records hailed from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and like the Pomarine Jaeger mentioned above, these birds are likely moving inshore as the remnants of the summering Laughing Gulls continue to trickle southbound. Royal Terns are also quickly vanishing from our shores, and these can also be harassed for food, as can Bonaparte’s Gulls, which are appearing in larger numbers each day, and even larger Ring-billed Gulls which are already present in good numbers for the winter season. In addition to the Pomarine & Parasitic Jaegers identified to species, there were also a few jaegers that went unidentified in Sandbridge on 3 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels), and at Rudee Inlet on 1 Dec (vis. Logan Anderson & Andrew Rapp) and 5 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli). (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
While expected around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a GREAT CORMORANT flying past 85th Street on the outer coast proved to be an excellent record for the month, occurring on 1 Dec (vis. Logan Anderson & Andrew Rapp). Scarce away from the CBBT, most other records tend to be shore-based observations from around the southern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, near JEB Little Creek, at First Landing SP, or at JEB Fort Story. Occasionally, individuals scatter along the coastline though and show up at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, or at Rudee Inlet, but this primarily occurs during Oct/Nov when migrants are still deciding on the best place to spend the winter. Rarer farther south, Little Island Park and Back Bay NWR have held records, but few and far between. Much larger than their significantly more expected relatives, the Double-crested Cormorant, we most often see immatures from shore, while the adults prefer the turbulent waters around the CBBT islands. Woodend pilings in the southern portion of the bay and any rocky jetties should be scrutinized for this species, which often hides among its relatives, but stands out due to its bulkier size (especially the head). Records for the December were abundant from Delaware north, but become sporadic at Virginia’s latitude and farther south, where the species becomes very local. Coastal records extended down to South Carolina this month, and one freshwater outlier on the inland Alabama/Georgia line made for the most unusual of records. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
A sought-after rarity anywhere in the state away from Hog Island WMA, we were fortunate this month to log a single record, of a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, found on the impoundments at Back Bay NWR on 29 Dec (ph. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh). Found while surveying the refuge for the Back Bay Christmas Bird Count, this individual was unfortunately located in a section of the refuge that is otherwise closed to all visitors from 1 Nov-31 Mar. So, there were no follow-up attempts to see if it may have continued until month’s end, but this is a species that has a good pattern of occurrence during Dec/Jan along our coastline. Not many are found to the north at this point in the year, though Blackwater NWR in Maryland tends to hold a flock, and records along the East Coast did reach as far north as New Jersey in December. Typically though, the closest individuals will be out in Surry County, or farther south at Pea Island NWR in the Outer Banks of North Carolina this time of year. Catching transients moving along the coast, or at high altitude over land is a matter of luck, though of course being out (and looking up) often certainly raises the probability of seeing them here. In past winters, Pleasure House Point NA, and even Sherwood Lakes has held this species, though typically not for long. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Breathtaking and extremely unexpected, a young SNOWY OWL surprised birders citywide when it visited the North End of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on 20 Dec. Initially reported to a private Facebook page, word spread quickly that one had shown up on 84th Street (ph. Joy Haycox), though it had departed soon after. Serendipitously, a friend of someone connected to the eBirding community took a quick look outside her 83rd Street home and spotted it atop a nearby roof where it was then documented (ph. June McDaniels) throughout the remainder of the day. It flew off as dusk closed in, and while it was picked up near 81st Street, and again on 84th Street before total darkness, it was not seen again the following day. A couple of days later, on 23 Dec, what is likely to have been the same individual, was observed on the dune line at Back Bay NWR near False Cape SP’s border (vis. Anonymous Campers, then ph. Cindy Hamilton & Steve Keith). Once again, the owl did not linger, and was not found by others searching the following day. At the time of the first report, there hadn’t been any Snowy Owl records input to eBird, though apparently several were known at locations in the state and just kept quiet. In total for December, at least six locations yielded records, though as mentioned, Virginia Beach two may have been the same individual. A record at Pea Island NWR in North Carolina proved to be the only record south of us during the month of December. For many, this was the first opportunity to view the species here in Virginia Beach, with the last eBird record thus far input having occurred at Back Bay NWR in Jan 2014, and the only other at the same location way back in Dec 1992. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Continuing in the fashion of prior seasons, we once again saw a report for ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER this month when one amazingly appeared at the Harris Teeter Retention Pond on 10 Dec (ph. Steve Myers). A western vagrant with a strong pattern of occurrence in late fall and early winter along the East Coast, it’s quite possible that this could be the same individual seen just a couple of miles to the west on 28 Nov (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty). However, it’s also possible this is a different bird altogether, and with quite a few records across the state this season, there’s no telling how many may have passed through our borders. Individuals made it into eBird this month all the way up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with at least three found in Virginia. As with many other western vagrants, records seem very tied to coastal areas, though individuals in central Tennessee and near Charlotte, North Carolina were interesting outliers this month. We seem to be in a prime location to pick this species up from Nov-Jan though, and we’ve now logged records to eBird for Ash-throated Flycatcher in each of its vagrancy cycles since 2015-16. Prior to that season, we only have one eBird record, of two individuals off Tim Road in the northwest corner of the city during 2009-10. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Unlike last winter when a WHITE-EYED VIREO spent the entire season along Munden Road between the Beasley & Whitehurst Tracts of Princess Anne WMA, it appeared for a while that we wouldn’t see any further records for the species after October this year. Fortunately, an individual was located along Colechester Road on 23 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate), making for an exciting winter find, and our only known individual to have stayed in the city past 8 Oct this season. With only a few records during December north of us along the East Coast, and only one other in Virginia, in Essex also on 23 Dec, any record we can come by for this species this time of year is cause for celebration. Aside from this year, and 2019, the only other December that has eBird records for this species input was 2018 when one was found in Sandbridge on the Back Bay CBC. A few probably overwinter in the Great Dismal Swamp west of us, but Virginia Beach seems like a prime location for individuals to make the same attempt. Any densely vegetated thickets near ditches or other fresh water sources are worth investigating for this species, and while this Colechester Road individual was not refound during the remainder of the month, it most definitely should be looked for in January. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Very similar to White-eyed Vireo in terms of expectation here through the winter season, we were fortunate to have two records for BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER this month, one at a private residence in Laurel Manor from 15-16 Dec (vis. Tommy Maloney), and another at Munden Park on 18 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli). With a dozen or so records this month north of us along the East Coast, we can remain hopeful that perhaps one will linger into January, as sometimes this species does just that at inland Virginia locations like Ancarrow’s Landing in Richmond, or at Hopewell. Nova Scotia had the northeastern-most individual along the East Coast, while Quebec held the northernmost during December. In past winter seasons, records have come into eBird for Virginia Beach at Back Bay NWR, Stumpy Lake NA, and at First Landing SP. It seems likely that any location holding ice-free, fresh water marsh and denser vegetation to attract over-wintering insects could feasibly hold this species. Areas that meet this description and have southerly exposure to catch the sunlight during most of the day would be the best spots to look. Princess Anne WMA, or perhaps West Neck Creek NA & Red Wing Park all feel like other potential spots where over-wintering could occur, though surprisingly that has not panned out for us in past winters. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
While it’s been a remarkable irruption season for EVENING GROSBEAK across most of Virginia, we were finally gifted our first eBird record for the species in over thirty years when a small flock of four (three males & a female) showed up at a private residence’s feeder in Hillcrest Farms on 5 Dec (ph. Beth Deir). There were whispers of an Evening Grosbeak being present somewhere in the city a few winters back, but homeowners are likely protective of these beautiful birds, similar to how many Painted Bunting records are treated. This season how brought forth an unprecedented number of reports for the state to eBird, and with many of us beginning to wonder if Virginia Beach would be completely left in the cold, seeing this report, which originated on Facebook, was a true delight even though there was no repeat visits. While records this month extended as far south as Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, coastal records were quite scarce south of New England, and it seems the overwhelming majority of individuals & flocks were found at inland locations where the habitat and available foraging are more suitable. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Always exciting to see in Virginia Beach, and highly sought-after by statewide birders in any given year, a group of three SNOW BUNTINGS were a hit at First Landing SP’s beachfront on 4 Dec (ph. June McDaniels). Hanging around the area near the JEB Fort Story fence line, this small flock was only present for a single day at this location, around a rainwater pool on the beach. However, a group of five was reported at the North End of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront near 85th Street on 21 Dec (vis. Max Sandkam), and a group of three was found during the Little Creek CBC on the namesake base on 31 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate & David Youker). The only reports for the entire state of Virginia during December, these were also the southernmost records input to eBird for all of North America this month. Occasionally, individuals will go farther south along the coastline and pop up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and records for the species have occurred as far south as coastal Florida (with an extreme outlier in the Bahamas in the 1960s entered to eBird). In any given winter, the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach are the most likely locations in the state to hold this species, though flocks have turned up at Grandview NP in Hampton, and an individual was present late this fall in Norfolk, just across the Little Creek Inlet. Some winters, we’re fortunate to have a flock hanging around the northern beaches of the city, so we’ll be looking out for them in January. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Marking the first eBird record during a December in Virginia Beach, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at Harris Teeter Retention Pond on 30 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski). A surprising find at this location not only due to the date, and overall scarcity of the species in the state, but due to the extensive coverage this location has received in recent weeks due to several other excellent rarities being present. Most records here tend to occur from Sep-Oct, sometimes spilling over into Nov, and we did have several in the city this fall, though none at this particular location. About a dozen records for this species occurred north of Virginia Beach along the East Coast during December, with only one other in the state in Culpepper on 31 Dec (ph. Jason Strickland). Interestingly, there were even less records south of here, and east of the Missippi River, with only eight currently input to eBird for the month. Florida led the way as far as states/provinces go, with five records, with Nova Scotia close by with four, and Prince Edward Island held the northernmost individual for the month. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Though a common winter resident throughout interior Virginia, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW is a very scarce species on the coast, which makes it exciting that we hosted at least six different individual in the city this month. One immature had been reported at the Harris Teeter Retention Pond off Princess Anne Road on 14 Oct (vis. Karen & Tom Beatty), and this site also held at least one other immature and one adult GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on 19 Nov (ph. Steve Myers). Like November, the total number of individuals present here held steady at three, but the second immature was confirmed to be of the Gambel’s race as well on 6 Dec (ph. & v.r. Rob Bielawski), making two out of three individuals the much rarer subspecies for us here in Virginia. In fact, these were the only Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows reported in the state this month, and made up 20% of the ten individuals recorded to eBird east of the Mississippi River in December. Only Florida held a location with more than one individual, to match our two. December proved to be a good month for White-crowned Sparrow overall, and we actually had a continuing report of an immature at Back Bay NWR first logged on 27 Oct (ph. June McDaniels) near month’s end, on 28 Dec (vis. Jack Esworthy IV) though it unfortunately wasn’t found during the blustery Back Bay CBC the following day. Also, we had at least two new individuals logged during December along the thicket-lined fence around the HRSD Atlantic WWTP near Ocean Lakes High School from 13-14 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels). So, we head into the new year with at least three recent locations hosting White-crowned Sparrows, and hopefully they continue to produce as this has been a difficult species to find locally in most winters. To illustrate that point, Northampton had the only Eastern Shore record this month with a single individual, and there were no other records in the coastal plain until one reaches the Richmond metro! (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Truly intriguing in its distribution of winter records, Virginia Beach hosted the state’s only known YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT this month at Harris Teeter Retention Pond from 11 Dec (vis. Mike Collins) through 30 Dec! While North Carolina only had one record, and South Carolina had none, there was a significant number of records northeast of here, with many from coastal New York through Massachusetts, plenty in Nova Scotia, and even one in Newfoundland. For a species that becomes scarce here after September, it’s remarkable that so many seem to linger into winter north of us, with very few records occurring in states to our south. A bit backwards from most species who will show a stronger pattern of wintering in southern states, with less reports as one travels north, and/or inland. In terms of past December reporting to eBird in Virginia Beach, one was at Little Island Park in 2019, and one was logged at Back Bay NWR and False Cape SP in 2016. Aside from those, we have no other eBird reports during this month, which clearly indicates how exceptional a record this time of year can be in the city! (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
One of the top birds this month in terms of newly found species, a miraculous immature male BULLOCK’S ORIOLE found its way to a private residence’s feeder in South Shore Estates on 27 Dec (vis. James Marcum) and gave excellent views to a wide array of birders through 29 Dec at this location. Mixed in among a group of Baltimore Orioles, beautiful in their own right, this Bullock’s was quite the stunner, and made for the first record in Virginia Beach since one was present at Back Bay NWR on 2 Dec 2016 (ph. Mike Collins). With few records for this species in the state across all years, Dec/Jan seems to be when the most records occur in Virginia for Bullock’s Oriole. A western species in its normal range, there were about fifteen other records east of Mississippi River entered into eBird this month, all being coastal except one remarkable inland outlier in Wisconsin. New Brunswick held the northernmost record, and interestingly, Virginia managed a second record for the month (and for the calendar year) out in Harrisonburg on 29 Dec (ph. Kathleen Fovargue). (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
With a population severely in decline over the past several decades, any opportunity to see RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Virginia Beach should be celebrated. While flocks of this species are known to winter to our west in the Great Dismal Swamp, it is a species that seems to loathe the immediate coast, perhaps due to our lack of freshwater-flooded forests (though First Landing SP and Stumpy Lake NA provide smaller versions of what Dismal has to offer). While staking out a feeder in the Hillcrest Farms neighborhood hoping to glimpse the aforementioned Evening Grosbeaks, a chance encounter of two “Rusties” occurred on 7 Dec (ph. Andrew Baldelli, Cindy Hamilton & James Marcum). Only our fourth record for the species in 2020, this was one of only three reports this month in Hampton Roads & the Eastern Shore combined, with one each in Hampton & Northampton. Perhaps additional coverage of the proper habitat could yield additional records into the new year, and places like West Neck NA and Red Wing Park also come to mind, but it’s more likely that we won’t see reports for this species until its once again on the move during spring migration. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
For a fifth winter in a row, we appear to have a flock of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS spending the season at Breeze Farms on West Gibbs Road, with the first record popping up on 4 Dec (ph. Steve Myers) of a single individual, which quickly became a group of fourteen by mid-month (ph. Joe Girgente & Hannah Wojo). Records continued through the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec with five individuals present at the location (vis. Stephen Coari & Karen Roberts), so it is likely that these reports will continue into 2021. A western species in terms of its expected occurrence, Surry County was the only other location in Virginia this month to boast a record, and only a record in Massachusetts was farther up the East Coast than here. West Virginia and North Carolina both had no records, and even South Carolina only had a couple during December, which should showcase how fortunate we are to have a recurring location not only in the state, but within our city where this species keeps showing up each winter. With several cattle yards just south of here in Currituck, North Carolina, it’s likely that the flocks can move around a bit, and often times they get missed as a result, but given enough patience, they seem to be fairly reliably viewed. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Normally quite rare during the winter season, we miraculously had at least nine different BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS recorded during December in Virginia Beach! A far and above record for the city during any December in terms of eBird reporting, it feels astonishing to have this species reported with a frequency this high during what has been a relatively cold winter season. This species’ distribution seems to be mirroring Blue-headed Vireo a bit, and perhaps individuals who are out looking for one or the other are helping to land us records for both species, given they share similar habitat during the winter season in Virginia Beach. A formal list of records for this species this month is as follows: A continuing individual in Oak Springs on 6, 19 & 27 Dec (ph. Carolyn Page), one at Stumpy Lake NA on 13 Dec (vis. Tommy Maloney; vis. Amy & Steve Myers) and present through 19 Dec, one in the campground area of First Landing SP on 31 Dec during the Little Creek CBC (vis. Adam D’Onofrio); new records for one at Lake Lawson and Lake Smith NA on 2 Dec (ph. Cindy Hamilton & Steve Keith) and continuing through 12 Dec, one in Great Neck Estates (vis. J. A.), one at Stumpy Lake Pier on 11 Dec (ph. June McDaniels), one in Amberley Forest on 15 Dec (vis. Gary Witmer), one at Back Bay NWR on 26 Dec (vis. Payton Palmerton), and lastly, one in Kings Grant on 31 Dec during the Little Creek CBC (vis. Chrissy Barton). Records continued up the East Coast as far as Massachusetts for this species in December, and a pair managed to persist in Newfoundland as well. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Rare outside of the fall migration season, a NASHVILLE WARBLER at Princess Anne WMA Beasley Tract on 27 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli) made for quite a surprise this month! Occasionally, this species will linger at our latitude, as we did also have a single record last December, but our only other winter reports in Virginia Beach were in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Interestingly, there were no records for Nashville Warbler in North & South Carolina this month, but Virginia had at least four, with Harrisonburg, Charlottesville & Richmond all getting in on the action. East Coast lingerers were present as far northeast as Nova Scotia, and there were quite a few interior Midwest records as well during December. Hopefully with some follow-ups, this Beasley Tract individual can be refound in January, though this is the time of year (until at least May) when the WMA is open to birding only on Sundays, and only with a valid Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR; formerly DGIF) access permit. Found in the extreme northeast corner of the tract among dense vegetation, it is highly possible for this individual to continue undisturbed if the temperatures in mid-winter allow for it. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Another warbler rarity during the winter season, a surprising record for NORTHERN PARULA popped up this month in a residential backyard in Lake Smith Terrace on 9 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate)! Only our fourth December record for this species across all years of eBird data, other individuals were noted in Oak Springs in 2019 & 2017, and one was at the Haviland Drive pond in Ocean Lakes in 2016. So averaging less than one individual this late into the winter season over even the past few years should show how exceptional any record in this month truly is. Fairfax County held the only other record in the state during December, and there were only about a dozen or so reports north of our latitude in the East. Quebec held the most northerly, and one in Nantucket, Massachusetts was the farther record up the East Coast itself. Like the Nashville Warbler mentioned above, it’s possible that more records could turn up for this individual into the new year, so long as temperatures don’t plummet. However, with no further reports in the latter two thirds of the month, if we are to see a Northern Parula in January it’ll more likely come from elsewhere in the city. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Officially now, for the fourth winter season in a row, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER is spending the season in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach! This individual is now in its third winter season visiting a residential backyard in the Bellamy Manor neighborhood, having been sighted throughout November, and then documented again this month on 10, 26 & lastly for the Little Creek CBC on 31 Dec (ph. Una Davenhill). Incredibly, it was observed on the same date as our next entry, which is a rarer species overall, but not overwhelmingly rarer in terms of winter distribution at our latitude and north along the East Coast. Incredibly, this month also produced a second record for Yellow-throated Warbler in Virginia Beach, with another recorded in Red Mill on 19 Dec (ph. Nadene Evans) and first posted to the Birding Virginia group on Facebook. Given the distance between these two points, it is very likely to be a separate individual. In past winters, another had wintered near Town Center in the Pembroke Manor neighborhood, but as of this writing that individual has not returned this season. Newport News, James City County, and Fairfax County also had individuals logged during December, making for at least five Yellow-throated Warblers present in the state this month. About a dozen records occurred north of our latitude, with one persisting in Newfoundland through 12 Dec being both the most northern, and most northeastward this month! (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Last, but absolutely not least of our December warbler highlights, a continuing TOWNSEND’S WARBLER was recorded at the same Bellamy Manor private residence hosting the Yellow-throated Warbler on 4 & 10 Dec (ph. Una Davenhill) after first being observed visiting a bird bath here on 27 Nov! Extremely rare in the East, in any season, this was one of only five records on our side of the Mississippi River during December (others were in New Jersey, South Carolina, and two in Florida), and one of about twenty or so records for the year. It is possible that this could even be the same individual that was present in late September at Mt. Trashmore Park, almost exactly two miles to the northeast, but there is no way to tell with any certainty. Unfortunately, with the last observation several weeks behind us, it is unlikely that this one will pop back up in the new year, but it’s not impossible. Perhaps it will find itself at another bird bath, or a feeder setup, of someone else who happens to be connected to the local birding community, or maybe we’ll all get lucky and it’ll just show back up at the same residence. In any case, it provided for remarkable records across November and December, and the photographic documentation that has been provided to eBird is fantastic. Even during its short stay, a few local birders who missed out on seeing the Mt. Trashmore Townsend’s were able to see this one, and those birders are no doubt very grateful to both the bird, and to the homeowner for her hospitality. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
An incredible outlier for December, a female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK briefly made an appearance at a private residence’s feeder setup in Linkhorn Estates on 5 Dec (ph. Cindy Hamilton)! This species isn’t even all that common during it’s expected spring and fall migration windows through Virginia Beach, typically producing just a few reports in each season during most years. For December 2020, there were only eleven other records north of Georgia, with about half of those in New England and the northernmost lingerer up in Quebec. Florida & Texas each had a fair amount of records, but this individual was the only to occur in Virginia this month. Only the second eBird record in a December for Virginia Beach, one other had previously been present on the same date, but in 2018 at a residence in Bellamy Manor (ph. Una Davenhill). We do also have a third winter season record for the city, with one present at a feeder in Laurel Manor from 14 Jan-20 Feb 2016 (ph. Tommy Maloney). It’s interesting to have had these three pretty recent records, and perhaps with the ever-widening coverage of eBird users locally, we might see additional records in winters down the road. In any case, this was a genuine surprise for the month, and was made even more exciting by the photographic documentation during its quick stop. (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Always a highlight, even though they are an annual winter resident in scattered locations throughout Virginia Beach nowadays, we had three different private residences report at least four different PAINTED BUNTINGS in December! In Oak Springs, a female/immature type Painted Bunting showed up a private residence on 11 Dec (ph. Carolyn Page), followed closely by a young male in an interesting molt condition visiting a residence near Lake Windsor (ph. Lisa Rose). A brightly plumaged adult male visited a feeder in Kempsville on 19 Dec (vis. Betty Sue Cohen), and the same location also yielded a female/immature type on 27 Dec (ph. Betty Sue Cohen). Interestingly, none of these locations had submitted reports earlier in the season, and all the locations that had, didn’t manage any records this month. There are certainly neighborhoods in Virginia Beach where multiple individuals occur, but homeowners often prefer to keep these occurrences secret, as Painted Buntings tend to cause quite a stir among birders. Virginia Beach has been very fortunate over the years to also host individuals in public locations, though mostly during spring and fall migration. Much to the chagrin of birders local & otherwise, there currently are no known public areas where this species is wintering in the city. With other records this month is Chesapeake, Norfolk, and in less expected, Isle of Wight, Virginia is certainly getting its fair share, while others were observed as far northeast as Massachusetts! (Dec 2020 Map of Records)
Species that had their first-of-season reports in a prior month, but had their first media record during December included:
Virginia Rail – First Observed: 2, Back Bay NWR, 26 Sep (aud. Rob Bielawski); First Photographed: 1, Princess Anne WMA Whitehurst Tract, 6 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski).
Fox Sparrow – First Observed: 1, Back Bay NWR, 29 Nov (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels); First Photographed: 5, Stumpy Lake Pier, 11 Dec (ph. June McDaniels).
Species that had their first-of-season reports during December included:
Horned Lark – First Observed: 1, Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, 1 Dec (vis. Logan Anderson & Andrew Rapp); First Photographed: 1, Harris Teeter Retention Pond, 17 Dec (ph. Reuben Rohn).
Canvasback – First Observed: 1, Lake Joyce, 1 Dec (obs. C Lesley).
American Woodcock – First Observed: 1, NAS Oceana (Restricted), 15 Dec (vis. Karl Suttmann); First Audio Recorded: 4, Back Bay NWR-Frank Carter Impoundments, 30 Dec (a.r. Amy & Steve Myers).
Razorbill – First Observed & Photographed: 13, Virginia Beach Inshore Waters, 20 Dec (ph. Rudee Tours).
Common Goldeneye – First Observed & Photographed: 2, Back Bay NWR, 24 Dec (ph. Jamie Walker).
Long-tailed Duck – First Observed: 2, Back Bay NWR, 26 Dec (vis. Kathy Louthan & Wes Teets); First Photographed: 1, Little Island Park, 31 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski, Tommy Maloney & Wes Teets).
Redhead – First Observed: 1, Back Bay NWR, 29 Dec (vis. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh).
As mentioned in the introduction, we finished off December 2020 with 182 species, a total of three more than the 179 we observed in December 2019, and the matching 179 in December 2018. While 156 of these species were observed in all three of these Decembers, we had a total of 52 species that occurred in only one or two out of the three Decembers. Species recorded in at least one, but not in all three of these Decembers were as follows:
Species that were unique to each December were as follows, 2018 (11 species): Ruddy Turnstone, Black-legged Kittiwake, Iceland Gull, Tricolored Heron, Townsend’s Solitaire, LeConte’s Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Western Tanager & Indigo Bunting; 2019 (11 species): Black-chinned Hummingbird, Semipalmated Plover, Black-headed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Manx Shearwater, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, American Pipit, Lark Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Orchard Oriole & Blue Grosbeak; 2020 (10 species): Ross’s Goose, Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Great Cormorant, Snowy Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Clay-colored Sparrow, Bullock’s Oriole, Rusty Blackbird & Townsend’s Warbler.
As always, a wide array of media (photos/audio/video) were submitted during the month in Virginia Beach, and eBird makes it incredibly easy to organize and browse all of these. For those hoping to view every photo/audio/video submitted for Virginia Beach during this period, please see the complete listing for the month of December located on eBird’s Media explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird user account has the ability to rate these photographs/audio/video on a scale of 1-5 stars (based on these guidelines). Making use of the average rating for each media item is how eBird populates anything media-driven on the website, particularly the Illustrated Checklists. So, if you're one of the many folks who enjoy looking at photographs or watching/listening to video/audio recordings of birds, please take some time to rate their quality, it helps to make eBird more useful with each passing day!
Hopefully over the course of the next thirty-one days, each of these species, and perhaps some unexpected species, can be found in the city. 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 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 January! 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.