December 2022
/December was a month of extremes in Virginia Beach, with a warm introduction, but a very cold final act. Temperatures plummeted to a low temperature of 12°F on 24 Dec as a strong winter storm tracked crossed the country and impacted the East, marking the lowest temperature here since 8 Jan 2018 (10°F). This storm induced freezing of waterways to the north and farther inland and resulted in large movements of waterfowl into the region. Overall, daily high/low temperatures averaged 52°F/36°F, slightly lower than the 30-year climate average values of 54°F/38°F. In total, 175 species were reported to eBird during the month, including 27 species that met the Notable Criteria and are therefore presented in detail as follows:
Mixed among a large flock of Canada Geese on the north pond of Sherwood Lakes, five CACKLING GEESE were found on 17 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski), with a peak count of eight later reported 19 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels), and at least two continued at the site through 29 Dec (ph. Arun Bose during the Back Bay CBC). Additionally, a single Cackling Goose was found, also during the Back Bay CBC (29 Dec), at Back Bay NWR mixed in with a flock of Tundra Swans on the bay (vis. Sage Church; later ph. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Only recorded at Back Bay NWR this month, two BLUE-WINGED TEAL were photographed on C Pool from the waterfowl blind on 18 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski) and a total of six were photographed on A Pool (ph. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh) during the Back Bay CBC. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
A first for the winter season along Virginia’s coast, a female COMMON MERGANSER was photographed on the freshwater pond south of Lynnhaven House & Colonial Education Center on 31 Dec (ph. Paul King). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Extremely rare for Virginia Beach, a WHITE-WINGED DOVE was found perched on a power line near the intersection of Sandpiper Road and Sea Scape Road in Sandbridge during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (ph. Cindy Hamilton & Dianne Hinch). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
At least four private residential feeders hosted records for RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS this month with a surprise female in Kings Grant on 7 Dec (ph. Ron Furnish), at least one continuing individual in Cypress Point through 29 Dec (vis. Debbie Schroeder), two continuing females in Laurel Cove through 30 Dec (ph. Loretta Silvia) with one also observed 31 Dec, and two continuing in Laurel Manor through 2 Dec (ph. Tommy Maloney) with one seen through 26 Dec. Additionally, a “hummingbird sp.” was reported in Great Neck Estates on 8 Dec (vis. J. A.). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Rare in the winter season, a single LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was found on the B Pool at Back Bay NWR on 29 Dec (ph. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh) during the Back Bay CBC. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Two onshore records for PARASITIC JAEGER occurred this month, with two observed in flight past the beach at Back Bay NWR on 5 Dec (vis. David Clark & Lauren Mowbray) and a third photographed from the Little Island Park pier on 28 Dec (ph. Joe Girgente). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
A first for this winter season, a first cycle Kumlien’s-race ICELAND GULL was found among a large collection of mixed gulls on the Lynnhaven River tidal flats from Pleasure House Point NA just before dusk during the Little Creek CBC on 31 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski & Cindy Hamilton). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Mixed with a large grouping of Common & Red-throated Loons, a PACIFIC LOON was reported from the North End Beaches near 77th Street Beach on 16 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Likely brought here by freezing conditions farther north along the coast, an immature TRICOLORED HERON made for a nice surprise near the waterfowl blind at Back Bay NWR on the morning of 26 Dec (vis. Adam Sell) and marked the first record for this species in the city since the last fall transient was observed on 10 Oct. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Very secretive and difficult to find in Virginia Beach, a single BARN OWL was observed in pre-dawn flight over Princess Anne Road near Big Sky Farms on 11 Dec (vis. Andrew Baldelli). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Exceptionally late for the species this far north, four in-flight BARN SWALLOWS were reported over the West Dike at Back Bay NWR on 10 Dec (vis. Patricia Scanlon), marking the first-ever December record of more than one individual for Virginia Beach, and the first December occurrence for the species as a whole since 3 Dec 2016. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
With very few records in recent years, an in-flight CAVE SWALLOW near the Brock Center at Pleasure House Point NA on 1 Dec (ph. Mike Collins) was the only coastal record north of southern Florida during the month and the first in Virginia Beach since 9 Nov 2017. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Continuing from last month, Virginia Beach’s first-ever VARIED THRUSH found 20 Nov (ph. Suzanne Phelps) remained present at a private residence in Lakeview Park through 1 Dec but despite extensive searching, was not seen again after this date. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
With a single individual first detected on First Landing SP’s beach on 15 Dec (vis. June McDaniels), a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS persisted at the location through 21 Dec, first photographed the following day (ph. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels) with counts reaching a peak of ten from 18-20 Dec. Additionally, a single was reportedly observed in-flight along the North End Beaches on 17 Dec (vis. Kathy Louthan & Pamela Scrima). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
For the third winter season in a row, Harris Teeter Retention Pond appears to be hosting an over-wintering CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, first recorded at this location back on 16 Oct (ph. Reuben Rohn), and observed most recently on 11 Dec. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Two different LARK SPARROWS were encountered this month, with the first found in the septic field north of the Back Bay NWR visitor center on 21 Dec (ph. Karen Beatty & Tom Beatty) which was then reported through 27 Dec, and also a previously unknown individual visiting a private residence in Oak Springs on 29 Dec (ph. Sophie Bodrog & Alex Capaldi) during a Painted Bunting stakeout. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
At least two, and probably three WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were recorded this month, with a continuing Dark-lored adult at Harris Teeter Retention Pond first noted 4 Nov (ph. Rob Bielawski) and reported through 29 Dec, as well as an immature reported at this location 28 Dec (vis. Tommy Maloney). A potential third individual, an immature, was photographed just to the south of this location in a scrubby field northeast of Sherwood Lakes (ph. Arun Bose & Loretta Silvia) on 29 Dec during the Back Bay CBC, and could either be a previously unknown individual or the same immature mentioned above. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
During a Cape Henry Audubon Society field trip, a LECONTE’S SPARROW was found along the West Dike next to D Pool at Back Bay NWR on 3 Dec (vis. Tracy Tate, Robert Ake, et al.) and continued to be seen at this location through 10 Dec. On 26 Dec, potentially a different LeConte’s Sparrow was discovered (ph. Kenneth Barnhart & Nancy Barnhart) adjacent to E Pool at the refuge, just north of where the East & West Dikes branch, with this individual exhibiting much more social behavior and being reliably observed through month’s end. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
A very low density wintering species in southeastern Virginia, and generally quite secretive and difficult to find here in any season, a surprise LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found at False Cape SP along the Sandy Ridge Trail (just south of the Wood Duck Overlook) during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (vis. Elisa Flanders & Nicholas Flanders). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Unusual in Virginia Beach as a winterer due to a general lack of appropriate habitat, a flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS ranging in size from 2-80 birds was first detected at Stumpy Lake NA on 17 Nov (ph. Mary Hays) and continued to be observed through 21 Dec. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Continuing to be a reliable location each winter season, Breeze Farms along West Gibbs Road is once again hosting a small flock of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS, with eight detected on 10 Dec (ph. Sage Church, Amanda Dymacek, Audrey Dymacek & Julian Dymacek) and count of 2-5 continuing through 31 Dec. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Increasingly more regularly encountered in early winter in recent years, at least three different locations yielded reports for BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS this month, with a female lingering at Stumpy Lake NA from 16 Dec (ph. Reuben Rohn) through at least 20 Dec, as well as one in the Diamond Springs area (vis. Tom St. Andre & Saundra Winstead) and one at Buckner Farms Park (vis. Kelly Creger & J. A.) during the Little Creek CBC on 31 Dec. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Rare but somewhat regularly reported as an early winter visitor at this latitude and farther north, a NASHVILLE WARBLER at a Laurel Manor residence on 11 Dec (ph. Tommy Maloney) made this the third December in a row to boast a record for this species, even though the last fall transient had been reported over a month prior on 1 Nov. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
In a similar vein as the Nashville Warbler, NORTHERN PARULA is a rare early winter visitor in Virginia Beach, and for the third time in the last four Decembers, one was detected, this time on the Raptor Trail at Back Bay NWR on 2 Dec (vis. Amy Myers & Steve Myers) which is the city’s first since the last fall transient was logged on 22 Oct. (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Though rare in the East, at least three WESTERN TANAGERS were observed this month, with a female briefly at Harris Teeter Retention Pond on 9 Dec (ph. Amy Myers & Steve Myers), a female visiting the feeders at a private residence in Laurel Cove from 6 Dec (ph. Loretta Silvia) to 30 Dec, and lastly an immature male at an undisclosed private residence on 28 Dec (ph. Nylia Laney). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
Lastly, PAINTED BUNTING had a good showing this month, with a seasonal-repeat adult male visiting a private residence’s feeders in Oak Springs from 17 Dec (vis. Carolyn Page) through 30 Dec, and a female/immature briefly present in a Laurel Manor yard on 26 Dec (ph. Tommy Maloney). (Dec 2022 Map of Records)
As always, a wide array of media (photo/audio/video) was 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 photo/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 we will see records for some unexpected species in the city. For those who wish for observations to be included in this journal, please submit your records to eBird, 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 entry. Be sure to check back next month to see what birders will have found in Virginia Beach during January!