February 2025
/While January set the tone for a true-to-form winter season in Virginia Beach, February upped the ante. The pair of snowfall events observed here last month were elevated by a single event this month, which took place from 19-20 Feb, and incurred accumulations of 10-12” across Virginia Beach. This event produced the highest snowfall we have seen here since at least 2018, and maybe even since 2010 depending on where in the city the measurements are being compared. Snow & ice, whether here in Virginia Beach, or in lands to our north and west had a significant impact on the birdlife we observed this month, and the result were quite exciting. By the month’s end, only remnants of the largest piles of snow remained around parking lots, but the memories of the exciting birds uncovered and of the beautiful scenery will persist long past February. All told, there was 32 species meeting the current Notable Observations Criteria observed in Virginia Beach during February, with the occurrence of each of these described in greater detail within this entry.
After missing the species altogether in January, a single adult ROSS’S GOOSE photographed along Princess Anne Road at the entrance to the Vanguard Landing development (currently under construction) on 16 Feb (ph. Will Shattuck) was an exciting find. Though it did not continue to be seen after this date, this made for only the second record in Virginia Beach for the cycle, with a presumed different individual present from 8-29 Dec 2024 (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty) being the only other occurrence. (Map of Records | Media)
In an interesting turn of events, the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE found foraging in a field near the North Landing Road and Kings Highway junction on 27 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski) was re-found several miles away at the same location as the Ross’s Goose mentioned above, also on 16 Feb (ph. Chris Ackerman). Present around Sherwood Lakes through 19 Feb this same individual, which has a distinctive dark smudge on the left cheek was then re-found once again a few miles to the north near the intersection of Dam Neck Road and General Booth Boulevard (in a small field bookended by an IHOP and a 7-Eleven) on 22 Feb (ph. Matt Anthony & Todd Day), where it remained through at least 24 Feb. (Map of Records | Media)
February held two records for CACKLING GOOSE, including continuing occurrences at Sherwood Lakes, which began with a single bird on 7 Dec 2024 (vis. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels) and held up to 7 on 22 Feb. Additionally, a new record occurred this month when an individual was found among a Canada Goose flock near the intersection of North Landing Road and Kings Highway on 4 Feb (ph. Rob Bielawski), with a group of 7 present there on 9 Feb (ph. Rob Bielawski), potentially some of the individuals that had been observed at Sherwood Lakes (located a few miles away). (Map of Records | Media)
Rarely observed in Virginia Beach, and declining in populations throughout the state, a single MUTE SWAN continued at Back Bay NWR this month off the Raptor Trail through 2 Feb. This individual was initially found 19 Jan (ph. Anonymous) among a group of Tundra Swans in the same general area, and represents the only report of a Mute Swan of likely wild origin in the city this cycle, with those seen previously around Lake Charles being of somewhat questionable origin. (Map of Records | Media)
While BLUE-WINGED TEAL becomes an expected transient by late February, records of actual over-wintering birds remain rare within Virginia Beach. That said, reports of up to 5 individuals seen during a mid-February, Hampton Roads Bird Club tram ride through the typically closed-to-the-public impoundments of Back Bay NWR were exciting to see (vis. James Abbott, Brandon Breitberg, Lori Palagyi, Debra Swinford et al.). In January, a group of three had been photographed at nearby False Cape SP, so these may have been some of the same individuals, or a new group starting to work northward. (Map of Records | Media)
At least two EURASIAN WIGEONS were recorded in the city this month, both at Back Bay NWR, and both on the bay itself around the Raptor Trail to the Kuralt Trail. The first, an apparent adult male with somewhat muted coloration and plumage patterns had been found initially on the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (vis. David Clark & Chris Farabaugh; later ph. Joan Mashburn) was documented throughout the month. The second, a more typically plumaged adult male, was first noted along the Raptor Trail on 16 Feb (ph. Rob Bielawski), though it may have been observed earlier and simply not identified as a separate individual. Both individuals were eventually noted together, though more on that note will be included in the March writeup. (Map of Records | Media)
Continuing what has been a solid winter season for COMMON EIDER in Virginia Beach after a couple of very poor winters for the species, at least two locations yielded records in February. Rudee Inlet continued to host an immature male & an adult female throughout the month, both of which had been present here together since at least 27 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli), with potentially different individuals visiting the inlet going all the way back to 22 Nov 2024 (ph. Matthew Hosmer, Garland Kitts & Kent Skaggs). Additionally this month, an immature male was photographed off the beach at First Landing SP on 22 Feb (ph. Tom Green), which is likely to be a newly arrived individual, though it could be one of the 6 Common Eiders that had been present at this location on 15 Dec 2024 (ph. Jacob Jones), or any of the 1-4 individuals observed here from 18-31 Dec 2024 though we had no reports extending into 2025. (Map of Records | Media)
Our very first record for this cycle, three HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found foraging inside Rudee Inlet on the morning of 25 Feb (ph. Alan Moss) which provided a fantastic late winter surprise in a season where the species has been essentially nonexistent south of the Chesapeake Bay (aside from one individual in the Outer Banks and one near Wilmington, NC). The Rudee Inlet trio, which stayed through month’s end, included a single adult male and two females, always seen in proximity to one another, and to the armored shorelines that abut the inlet (often being physically on the rocks themselves). (Map of Records | Media)
Increasingly difficult to find in Virginia Beach year-to-year (as well as in areas farther south along the coast), February proved to be a good month for COMMON GOLDENEYE, with records occurring at three separate locations, though this could represent 1-3 (perhaps even 4) different individuals, all of which were females (with males being exceedingly rare here). Back Bay NWR held an individual on the bay out from the visitor center on 2 Feb (ph. Elena Bersani) and another (or the same) individual along the beach on 9 Feb (ph. Steve Myers), while others were at Rudee Inlet on 7 Feb (ph. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels) and at Little Island Park on 10 Feb (vis. Andrew Baldelli). (Map of Records | Media)
Rare in the coastal counties of Virginia due to their general lack of interest in non-freshwater habitat, COMMON MERGANSERS continued at one location this month from January, and we had one new record as well. A group of three females was initially found at Sherwood Lakes following a snowfall event on the morning of 22 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski) and numbers fluctuated between 1-5 females present here throughout the whole of February (with our first adult male since 2018 observed 16 Feb, ph. Rob Bielawski), while a presumed new female was sighted in southbound flight from Rudee Inlet on 22 Feb (vis. Andrew Rapp) marking our third overall record for this species in the city this cycle. (Map of Records | Media)
Records of over-wintering RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS continued to stream into eBird this month, with at least six different locations reporting feeder-visiting individuals. One to two were reported throughout the month in Hunt Club Forest (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty), at least two were logged in Alanton from 9-21 Feb (vis. Michelle Payne) and one to two from 14-16 Feb (vis. Mary Broome), up to three were reported in Laurel Cove through the month (vis. Loretta Silvia), one was in Lakeview Park through 19 Feb (vis. Bob Zabot) and lastly, one was in Cypress Point through 20 Feb (vis. Debbie Schroeder). (Map of Records | Media)
At a city-level, CLAPPER RAIL is not an unusual species in Virginia Beach, but records away from brackish marsh habitat and the immediate coast (in migration at least) tend to be very rare. This month, presumably the same individual found along Horn Point Road (in near-freshwater / oligohaline water) on 24 Jan (ph. Amy Myers & Steve Myers) was again detected following another batch of snow and ice on 23 Feb, marking the only known individual in the city away from the appropriate habitat this species prefers. (Map of Records | Media)
As in January, at least one of the official refuge surveys at Back Bay NWR turned up SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, which are quite rare in the city during the winter months, and even throughout March before northbound transients tend to show up in April. This month, two were reported on the closed-to-the-public impoundments on 4 Feb (vis. Robert Ake, Chris McGrath & Loretta Silvia), which may be remnants of a group of five reported 16 Jan, or could be different individuals altogether. (Map of Records | Media)
Marking the only winter season record in Virginia Beach, a group of two to four SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS was present at Pleasure House Point NA from 22-23 Feb (4, ph. Jan Kool; ph. Donna McAdams & Debra Swinford). This occurrence was the only known for the species all winter in not just Virginia Beach, but also anywhere in Virginia away from the Eastern Shore where the species routinely over-winters each year. (Feb 2025 Map of Records)
Highly rare this late in the winter season along the coast of Virginia Beach, and the northernmost record this month along the East Coast overall, a single PARASITIC JAEGER was a nice surprise along Little Island Park’s pier on 8 Feb (ph. Rob Bielawski). In terms of the latest winter records ever logged in the city, only two others eclipsed this date according to eBird, with both on 11 Feb, split between 1990 & 2023. (Map of Records | Media)
As with prior winters, with the peaking of Razorbills in January & February, we were able to snag some DOVEKIE as well. Records for this species from shore are still very rare in Virginia, but they do occur with some regularity and this month the species was reported solely from Little Island Park from 5-10 Feb with an initial report of seven (vis. Andrew Baldelli), and then numbers fluctuating between one and three for the duration. (Map of Records | Media)
With significantly fewer records along the Virginia coast in recent years than its smaller cousin mentioned above, we were also delighted to see a single record for THICK-BILLED MURRE this month when one was photographed during a refuge survey along Back Bay NWR’s beach on 24 Feb (ph. David Clark, Kenneth Markley & Chris McGrath). This occurrence marked the most southerly record along the East Coast this winter season, Virginia Beach’s first onshore record since 31 Jan 2021 and only our second since 17 Feb 2015. (Map of Records | Media)
While not recorded on an annual basis in Virginia Beach, February has historically been a good month to find LITTLE GULLS around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, when this species is most frequently encountered embedded within large flocks of Bonaparte’s Gull. This month the city played host to a few of these gorgeous gulls, beginning with at least two adults photographed at First Landing SP’s beach on 16 Feb (ph. Andrew Baldelli & June McDaniels) and the ending with at least three different individuals (two adults and one immature) off the North End Beaches on 23 Feb (vis. Andrew Baldelli; later ph. Steven Klingler). (Map of Records | Media)
Yet another small, rare gull was present this month, with records of BLACK-HEADED GULL occurring at two separate locations. An adult had been present around Lynnhaven Inlet since the Little Creek CBC on 31 Dec 2024 (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Rob Bielawski) and likely this same individual was again reported this month on 9 Feb from Pleasure House Point NA, with another report outside the inlet from First Landing SP on 16 Feb (vis. Andrew Baldelli) that could pertain to the same individual, or a newly arrived bird that moved in with the large flocks of Bonaparte’s Gulls (that also held Little Gulls). (Map of Records | Media)
Highly irregular give its irruptive nature but always rare in Virginia Beach, RED-NECKED GREBES were found at two different locations this month in the city, making for the most southerly reports along the immediate East Coast for this winter cycle. First, two were reported in flight past Little Island Park’s pier on 10 Feb (vis. Andrew Baldelli) with subsequent reports here on 28 Feb, and then another pair was noted, this time floating on the ocean rather than flying over it off the North End Beaches on 25 Feb (vis. Andrew Baldelli; later ph. Michelle Gianvecchio). (Map of Records | Media)
Remarkable for this time of year at this latitude, a single LEAST BITTERN found initially 24 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli) following the second snowfall / freeze-up event of the season was sighted again along Horn Point Road from 22-24 Feb following the 10-12” snowfall event that pushed it out into the open to forage in similar fashion to the prior storm. This marks not only the first-ever February record for Least Bittern in Virginia Beach, but in the state of Virginia as a whole! (Map of Records | Media)
Continuing our banner season of over-wintering TRICOLORED HERONS, reports of individuals present through the past several months persisted at two locations, with new reports from a third summing up to the only documented records away from the Eastern Shore in February. An immature that had been present at Pleasure House Point NA since fall migration and one to two adults at Back Bay NWR first reported 26 Dec 2024 (ph. Wendy Guest & James Nelson) were recorded throughout the entirety of February, and we also received a new record at the Owl’s Creek Municipal Boat Ramp from 15-26 Feb (ph. Kyle Price). (Map of Records | Media)
Generally difficult to pin down given that most reports are of flocks seemingly in transit, we saw quite a few records for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN this month, though not a single occurrence was twitchable unfortunately. What are probably best assumed to be different flocks were noted at Back Bay NWR on 9 Feb (26, vis. Bob Epperson, Barry Kinzie & John Pancake), on 15 Feb (28, ph. Steven Klingler) and on 27 Feb (20, vis. Gerald McMahon) while Rudee Inlet also produced records on 15 Feb (58, vis. Louis Sokolow et al.) and 25 Feb (12, ph. Rudee Tours). (Map of Records | Media)
Very rarely recorded in Virginia Beach, though with the likelihood of their actual presence obscured a bit by their nocturnal nature, we had one instance of AMERICAN BARN OWL this month. Recorded vocalizing in the Cape Story neighborhood on 4 Feb (v.r. Huw Lloyd), this is the first documented occurrence for the species in the City going all the way back to 11 Dec 2022. (Map of Records | Media)
Continuing to be observed around dusk (and occasionally dawn) as they soar over the fields of NAS Oceana, SHORT-EARED OWLS were present throughout the entire month, mostly viewed from the Flame of Hope Memorial’s western edge looking towards the runway/control tower area of the base. Initially found by a tractor operator on base on 19 Nov 2024 (ph. Katherine Armstrong), number have fluctuated mostly between 1-5 since then, but up to 9 were reported during February, marking the highest tally thus far. (Map of Records | Media)
Exceptionally rare at our latitude during February, one to two SNOW BUNTINGS were present at Rudee Inlet from 13-17 Feb (2, vis. Aaron Talor; 1, later ph. Kirk Gardner & Roger Medina), marking the most southerly occurrence for the species anywhere in the world this month. This has been a difficult cycle overall for finding Snow Buntings in Virginia Beach, with only three other records, one in December and then two of which were in November when we tend to see the species making a quick dive to the south before retreating north again. (Map of Records | Media)
Known to be present only at our single, reliable location, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were reported throughout the month at Harris Teeter Retention Pond after first being detected for this cycle at this site on 25 Oct 2024 (ph. Loretta Silvia). Counts again fluctuated between one and six individuals, though it’s difficult to discern just how many different birds may be present at this location since the habitat has grown up a great deal over past seasons. (Map of Records | Media)
Like the sparrows above, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also detected at only a single location this month, as a continuing flock has been present along the Foxfire Trail since 16 Nov 2024 (ph. Amy Myers & Steve Myers). This species is very scarce as one gets closer to the coastline during the winter season, with ideal habitat not particularly accessible but fortunately this new shared-use path provides a window into that very habitat so perhaps we’ll see more over-wintering records moving forward. (Map of Records | Media)
Though still quite rare as a true over-wintering species, it did not come as a huge surprise this month that we had BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS reported from three separate locations. An adult male persisted around the causeway and parking area of Stumpy Lake NA from at least November through the end of February, while another adult male was present in the First Landing SP campground area from 28 Dec (obs. Kai Dickson; later ph. Andrew Baldelli, Rob Bielawski, June McDaniels & Lisa Rose) through at least 24 Feb, and another unspecified individual was briefly present in a Kings Grant yard on 17 Feb (vis. Marie Furnish & Ron Furnish). (Map of Records | Media)
Quite rare but also somewhat regular through winter in Eastern North America, it was still a surprise to see records for at least five WESTERN TANAGERS at four different locations in the city during February. Individuals were present at an Eagle’s Nest yard from 24 Jan (ph. Chris Farabaugh) through month’s end, one was in Lynnhaven Colony from 19-21 Feb (vis. Michele Sorenson), one was photographed at Beth Sholom in western Virginia Beach on 14 Feb (ph. Robin Franklin), and two were present in the Brandon neighborhood on 1 Feb with one to two being know there since 17 Nov 2024 (ph. Teresa Conlon). (Map of Records | Media)
Extremely rare anywhere in the state of Virginia during the winter season, an immature male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued to be seen throughout February in Bellamy Manor after first being detected there on 2 Jan (ph. Una Davenhill). Very few members of this species choose to over-winter at our latitude along the East Coast, and this may have been the most northeastern individual to make it through to March this season across Eastern North America. (Map of Records | Media)
A rare but regular winter resident in Virginia Beach at this point in time, PAINTED BUNTING reports popped up from at least three different locations in the city during February. An every-winter population tends to be found in scattered neighborhoods of central Virginia Beach, with individuals present through the entirety of February, in addition to an adult male found at a private residence in Indian River Plantation on 3 Feb (ph. Elizabeth Dupuis) and a single sight report of a female/immature at Harris Teeter Retention Pond where the species had been reported sporadically since 27 Oct 2024 (vis. Reuben Rohn). (Map of Records | Media)
This concludes Birding Virginia Beach’s February 2025 Journal entry. Please be sure to check back next month to see what birders will have observed in Virginia Beach during March!