Mid-February 2018 (11th-20th)

/

Unseasonable, record-breaking warm weather permeated the region in mid-February, and both the average daily highs and lows were the highest recorded temperatures during this period for at least ten years. The first daffodils of the season are in bloom, and purple blankets of clover are covering many fields now in southern Virginia Beach. Birding picked up considerably from last period, and the sheer number of checklists submitted to eBird in mid-February was bolstered by this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count event, which took place from 16-19 Feb, and resulted in a pair of exciting finds that may otherwise have gone unknown. Top records for the mid-February period included new rarity reports for WESTERN GREBE, EURASIAN WIGEON, PURPLE FINCH, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE & PAINTED BUNTING, continuing rarity reports for BLACK-HEADED GULL & WESTERN TANAGER, a new unseasonal occurrence for YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and a continuing unseasonal occurrence for YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER!

While seawatching from Little Island Park in the early morning hours of 11 Feb, a single WESTERN GREBE was seen (obs. Andrew Baldelli) flying towards the pier from north, then landing on the waters just offshore of the southern reach of Back Bay NWR’s restricted ‘north mile’. This is the first to be recorded in Virginia as a whole in 2018, and the first known in the city since an individual (perhaps this same bird) spent the winter of 2016-17 along the Little Island / Back Bay coastline as well. That bird was found during the 2016 Back Bay CBC (obs. Edward Brinkley & Paul Sykes) on 29 Dec 2016, and it remained along the coast through at least 3 Apr 2017 (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Mary Catherine Miguez). So far, the 2018 bird has unfortunately not been re-found, and certainly not for a lack of effort as the coastline was blanketed with eBird reports in the ensuing days.

Our first EURASIAN WIGEON of the 2017-18 winter was found 11 Feb (obs. Jason Schatti) on the middle reaches of Pleasure House Creek between Pleasure House Point NA and the Bayville Golf Club. In the following days, the adult male was checked for by many, and not found. Until, it was re-detected a mile or so to the west on the upper tributary of Lake Joyce on 19 Feb (ph. Timothy Barry), in the same location a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck spent a good chunk of Jun 2016. This individual has continued through to the end of the period, being documented by several birders on 20 Feb. There is typically a good mixed flock of dabbling ducks at this location, so it makes sense that the bird would have retreated to this area. In winters past, there has been a single male observed on private Lake Wishart not too far south of this location, and one wonders if this is the same bird returning each year, though, we’ve had high counts of two birds at least in one recent winter as well. As a whole in Virginia this winter, reports of individuals have come in from Fairfax, Portsmouth (Craney), Hampton (likely the Craney bird seen during the freeze-up that occurred) and Northampton, with a pair of drakes having also been present on Swan Cove at Chincoteague NWR in Accomack for quite some time. So certainly, there are a few floating around the state (and who knows how many much-harder-to-detect females), but it is great to finally get the first one here locally in Virginia Beach!

During irruption years, PURPLE FINCHES can be abundantly reported throughout the state, though we never seem to get large flights of the species here in Virginia Beach, as far as eBird data is concerned at least. Thanks to the Great Backyard Bird Count, which likely introduced a fair number of new birders to eBird, a pair of Purple Finches wound up being photographed and reported on 18 Feb at a private residence (ph. April Mitchell) near the Oceanfront! This is the first record for the species in the city so far in 2018, and only the second for the winter as a whole, with a single individual being found on the Back Bay CBC back on 29 Dec 2017 (obs. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate) off Cayman Lane near Pungo. Purple Finch has always been a bit troublesome in eBird due to its superficial similarity to the much more abundant House Finch, so any documented reported for the species is a welcome sight around here!

Though there has been up to 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE known to be present in the city this winter, hanging around a large flock of Canada Geese that moves between Sherwood Lakes and Firefall Drive / Ocean Lakes High School’s agricultural field, a report of two individuals found between North Landing & Indian River Roads on 17 Feb (obs. Robert Ake) may well refer to a separate pair of birds. At this point, it is unclear if this group of Canadas is the same flock from Sherwood, and it isn’t too far away from the lakes to be believable.

While up to 4 PAINTED BUNTINGS have been reported from an undisclosed area in central Virginia Beach over the last few weeks (most recently on 19 Feb, ph. Karen & Tom Beatty), at least one new individual was reported to eBird during mid-February. Viewing at another private residence, this time in southern Virginia Beach, on 18 Feb (ph. Keith Roberts), a single adult male was seen. It is unclear from the report just how long the bird has been present, but it likely showed up a couple of months back, as their timing is fairly predictable in terms of winter season arrivals. It is very likely that there are a few more known throughout the city, but being such a sought after species, many homeowners likely keep their occurrence a secret. The last one found away from a residential neighborhood was a lovely adult male on Mill Landing Rd. found during the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec 2016 (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty). This observations is living proof that by spending enough time birding the southern roads of Virginia Beach, it is possible to find one of these birds away from residential feeder setups.

The BLACK-HEADED GULL that highlighted the late January and early February periods continued through at least 17 Feb (obs. Tommy Maloney & Jason Schatti), and it likely is still present somewhere around Rudee Inlet and Lake Wesley. This first cycle (not yet one year old) individual was first detected in the parking lot north of the inlet with a flock of Ring-billed Gulls on 28 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli).

A WESTERN TANAGER that has been reported at least twice from the neighborhood near the intersection of Shore Drive and Northampton Boulevard was observed most recently on 18 Feb (ph. Keith Roberts). First noted on 16 Jan at a private residence’s feeder (ph. Kathy Spencer), the bird was later photographed by another neighborhood resident on 10 Feb (ph. Natalie Wingfield). It sounds as if the bird is actually at time visible from the road, so if you’re heading up towards the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, keep your eyes open for a bright yellow bird. 

The second, and even more notable, of the pair of rarities brought forth by the Great Backyard Bird Count was the occurrence of a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on 17 Feb (ph. April Mitchell) at a private residence near the Oceanfront. This bird has apparently been present since 12 Jan, an incredible feat for a species that is rare in any winter, even more so in one where frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall in January made even common winter residents difficult to find in the city. There are currently only two other records listed in eBird during the month of February for the entire state of Virginia! Both of these records also correspond to Great Backyard Bird Counts, so this event seems to be excellent for finding out about rare birds that would otherwise go unnoticed to the birding community!

One of the two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS known to be wintering in the city was again observed during this period, most recently on 17 Feb (ph. Stuart McClausand) at a private residence in the Brigadoon neighborhood near Kempsville. The other individual that persisted from 7 Dec 2016-26 Jan 2018 at an Aragona Village residence near Town Center (extensively ph. Maggee Smith) appears to have vanished. This same location was home to a wintering bird in 2016-17 as well, so maybe it has just moved on, and perhaps we’ll see reports here again when December or January roll back around.

Rarely observed away from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and associated islands where they are considered to be locally common, a GREAT CORMORANT was seen flying over Pleasure House Creek northbound towards the bay on 12 Feb (obs. Rob Bielawski). This species does not flag as a rarity in eBird for Virginia Beach due to it being known to exist in the proper habitat, but any onshore records are indeed a rare occurrence, and any sightings along the coast south of Fort Story are exceptional and should be well-documented. Essentially everywhere away from the CBBT, this species is outnumbered by the superficially similar Double-crested Cormorant, and care should be taken in securing the identity of all Greats.

In most winters here on the coast, both COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and SEASIDE SPARROWS are reported on an infrequent basis. With the extremely low temperatures and blizzard conditions in early January, it was no surprise that neither of these species was reported until the mid-February period when temperatures began spiking upwards. The first Common Yellowthroat of the year was found at Back Bay NWR on 16 Feb (obs. Karen & Tom Beatty), while the first Seaside Sparrow showed up at JEB Fort Story on 15 Feb (also obs. Karen & Tom Beatty). Interestingly, there have not yet been any documented records for species that do winter here annually, including: Northern Bobwhite, Black Skimmer, Red-breasted Nuthatch (irruptive), House Wren, Sedge Wren, Nelson’s Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sparrow. Any documented records for these species would be excellent to have input to eBird for the month of February.

WEATHER:  Record high temperatures were achieved on several days across the region during mid-February and as a whole, this was the warmest period both in terms of daily lows and highs in at least ten years (all the data I have currently at hand). Average daily high temperatures rose 9.0° from 52.3° F in early February to 61.3° (+10.6° from prior 10-year average), with average daily low temperatures rising a whopping 15.1° from 29.2° to 44.3° F (+11.6° from prior 10-year average). Overall, temperatures ranged from a minimum of 32° F (on 19 Feb) to a maximum of 75° (on both 16 & 20 Feb). A total of 0.93” of rain fell during the period, scattered over 7 of the 10 days with a daily maximum of 0.28” recorded on Wednesday, 12 Feb. For the first period so far in 2018, no snowfall occurred. Maximum sustained winds at Oceana this period were 25 mph and gusts reached 33 mph (12 Feb). No extreme tidal surge events occurred during this period, with observed tides staying less than 1’ different from predicted values. Sunrise/sunsets varied from 6:56 AM/5:40 PM (11 Feb) to 6:46 AM/5:49 PM (20 Feb), which means overall we gained 19 minutes of daylight during this period!

For those hoping to view every photograph submitted for Virginia Beach during this period, please see the complete listing for the month of February located on eBird’s Media explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird account also has the ability to rate these photographs (1-5 stars), and based on the average rating, this 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 of birds, take some time to click them all and rate them, it helps make eBird better and better each day!

LOOKAHEAD: The coast is starting to show some signs of life again after a very slow early February period, with large numbers of Northern Gannets and Scoters being observed from traditional seawatch sites like Back Bay, Little Island and Rudee Inlet. With the recent warmup, it is likely that we’ll start seeing some of the species that have been absent in the city returning, birds like House Wren, Black Skimmer, Nelson’s Sparrow. The only expected spring arrival during this period is that of Laughing Gull (20 Feb), which has not yet been logged in the city since the first blizzard event of early January. Blue-winged Teal have an expected arrival date of 5 Mar, and it is always possible in late February that one will show up around Princess Anne WMA or the impoundments of Back Bay NWR (which are sadly inaccessible to the public). Last year, a Little Blue Heron (ph. Mary Catherine Miguez) was observed in late February, and it is always possible that one of these, or a Tricolored Heron could pop up somewhere around Back Bay. Once we hit March, spring arrivals will start to slowly increase in volume, but it really won’t be until April that things get truly exciting. As always, make sure to report your finds to eBird so the data can be used to adjust the expected arrival dates and to view the full listing of each species’ average expected arrival dates!

Next Entry | Entry Index | Previous Entry

For further information regarding this thrice-monthly, online publication, please visit the Journal Overview Page which provides an in-depth explanation of the format, layout and composition of the journal. As always, thank you for reading, and please leave me a comment below (you may use your Facebook, Gmail or other accounts to easily do so), or just click the Heart icon to the lower right of this post to let me know you stopped in!

Early February 2018 (1st-10th)

/

Despite warm weather throughout early February, we logged yet another snowfall event (though a minor instance) on Friday, 2 Feb. In stark contrast to the same period in 2017, alcid numbers remained low, with a high count of Razorbills remaining in single digits (6 to be exact), compared to last year’s 4,000+ logged on a single checklist. While our hope for another major movement of these birds in 2018 appears to be losing a bit of steam with each period passed, there was still lots to be excited about around the city, as always! Top records for the early February period included new reports for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, continuing reports for BLACK-HEADED GULL, COMMON MERGANSERS & WESTERN TANAGER and an unseasonal occurrence for BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER!

Following single reports in both mid and late January, there was a pair of AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN reports during early February. First, a group of 17 was observed in northbound flight over First Landing SP on 5 Feb (ph. Cindy Hamilton) and just a couple of days later on 7 Feb, another group of 3 was observed in flight as well (ph. Mary Catherine Miguez). With another flock being seen out in Surry County at Hog Island WMA as well, it seems the species is on the move and it is likely that these flocks all represent different individuals. Pea Island NWR in North Carolina and Blackwater NWR in Maryland to our north often hold these birds, so they’re likely in transit between these locations, or even to Prime Hook / Bombay Hook NWRs in Delaware. That’s a bit of speculation, but these are all reliable locations where they’re found in higher numbers this time of year.

While the adult BLACK-HEADED GULL found at Pleasure House Point NA on 31 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli) was not observed again, the first cycle individual (not yet 1 year old) found earlier the same day at Rudee Inlet (ph. Andrew Baldelli) continued to be observed throughout the early February reporting period, with misses only occurring on 6 & 9 Feb (last observed 10 Feb, ph. Matt Anthony / Todd Day / Jason Strickland)! Interesting, the gull is now known to have been present dating back to 28 Jan (ph. Marie & Ron Furnish) after the bird was found in a photograph on the checklist and confirmed as the same first cycle individual. Most observers have seen the bird mixed in with the flock of Ring-billed Gulls that moves back and forth from the parking lots on the north side of the inlet to the western shoreline where the metal bulkhead is located off Southside Rd. It has been a hit or miss bird though, often moving further south onto Lake Wesley and resting on the water near the peninsula the splits the ‘lake’ into two halves. With Bonaparte’s Gulls also being observed from the inlet, make sure to key in on the red bill, red legs and large amount of black on the underwings if viewed in flight. While on the ground, it becomes a bit more obvious, especially when in direct comparison to the other gulls.

The group of at least a dozen COMMON MERGANSERS first reported 3 Jan at Sherwood Lakes (ph. Carson Lambert / Andrew Rapp / Robert Wood) has apparently dwindled down to perhaps only a pair of remaining birds. A lone male was observed on a pond at nearby Ashville Park on 2 Feb (obs. Mary Catherine Miguez), and a female was seen at Sherwood Lakes on 4 Feb (obs. George Harris). As there were no further reports throughout early February, it appears since all the freshwater bodies further inland are no longer covered in ice, that these and most of the other waterfowl that arrived in January have departed this location.

A new report for WESTERN TANAGER popped up during early February as a male was photographed at a private residence near Lake Joyce on 10 Feb (ph. Natalie Wingfield). Two Western Tanagers had been viewed simultaneously while visiting the feeders at another private residence in Alanton (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate) a few miles east during January, and potentially a third individual (or one of the same two) was seen in the Lake Joyce area back on 16 Jan (ph. Kathy Spencer). It is likely this record pertains to the same individual continuing to visit feeders throughout the neighborhood. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if we’ve had two, three, or even more tanagers present in the city this winter, but it is just exciting that we have any at all!

With the attention on out of season warblers so far in 2018 has focused on the two Yellow-throated Warblers known to be in the city, one last reported 26 Jan (ph. Maggee Smith) and the other reported 31 Jan (ph. Karen Kearney), things this period took a bit of a change. While neither of these birds were reported, a first for the winter season BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was observed in the Laurel Cove neighborhood in Great Neck on 3 Feb (ph. Loretta Silvia). The last Black-and-white to be reported in Virginia Beach dates back to 23 Nov 2017 at Honey Bee Golf Course (obs. Jessica Majors), and while the species is one of the more-expected warblers to attempt wintering in the city, it is still not reported with any frequency during the winter months. Interestingly, this is only the second February report of the species in Virginia Beach listed in eBird, with the other occurring during last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count on 18 Feb near Stumpy Lake (ph. David Didion). The typical spring arrival date for this spring & fall transient through the city is 5 Apr, so for those not lucky enough to see a wintering individual, their return isn’t horribly far off!

While true rarity observations were mostly focused on the continuing Black-headed Gull at Rudee Inlet, a great number of interesting observations were also logged around the city. For this listing, species are simply sorted taxonomically according to eBird/Clements, rather than to attempt to list in some sort of significance, or chronological order. To kick things off, it appears that the Snow Geese are starting to return in high numbers to our area. Most of these flocks, like one containing 650 individuals off South Stowe Rd. on 4 Feb (obs. Tracy Tate) likely spent the winter in the Outer Banks of North Carolina around Pea Island NWR; some potentially came from further south, or more inland locations like Mattamuskeet NWR or Alligator River NWR perhaps. This is a bit of speculation, but wherever they originated, large flocks are likely to be seen over the next month scattered around the agricultural fields of southern Virginia Beach, and in flight high overhead. A pair of Common Goldeneyes has persisted at Rudee Inlet throughout 2018 so far, most recently photographed 4 Feb (ph. Keith Roberts), which comes as a great surprise given that in January 2017, not a single individual was noted in the city. Clearly the ice-up of bodies of freshwater inland and to our north pushed a great many of this and other waterfowl species to our ice-free coastline during January, and not all of them have left yet even with the recent melt. A single Red-necked Grebe that has been present in Little Creek Inlet since at least 22 Jan (obs. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate) continued through 1 Feb (obs. Jason Strickland), and is likely the best ‘reliable’ chance for anyone to view this species right now in the city. A pair was also observed in northbound flight off 85th Street on 5 Feb, but these were likely long gone within a matter of minutes. A single Snowy Egret was observed at First Landing SP on 4 Feb (ph. Rob Bielawski) and on 7 Feb (ph. Mary Catherine Miguez), being the first documented individual away from Pleasure House Creek where a winter population occurs each year. Another report was input back in January on Lake Smith but no notes were provided (likely because the species doesn’t flag in Virginia Beach and as such, notes aren’t required), but it is important to be aware that occurrence in Jan/Feb away from Pleasure House is fairly rare & is always worth adding some details for. The only February reports further north than Virginia Beach so far this year have occurred at Chincoteague NWR, so really, any Jan/Feb reports in Virginia are interesting.

Though the ice has melted around Back Bay (with a slight amount still present on Saturday, 3 Feb though) both Sora and King Rail continued to be observed at Little Island Park (ph. Rob Bielawski / 3 Feb). There hasn’t been any sign of the Least Bittern that attempted to winter at this location since 18 Jan (ph. Loretta Silvia), and now that the bay has opened up, finding it will be very difficult if it did manage to survive the last cold snap. Osprey continue to be reported around Pleasure House Creek, with a winter high count of 2 thus far. We appear to be located at the northeast-most limit of their winter range, as individuals do not appear to spend January across the CBBT in Northampton. Bonaparte’s Gulls, while common winter residents over saltwater and brackish tributaries around the fringes of the city, aren’t viewed all that often on freshwater inland lakes. This period, there was two reports, three individuals at Lake Smith on 2 Feb (obs. Debbie Schroeder) and one on North Withduck Ponds on 4 Feb (obs. Rob Bielawski). Forster’s Terns have been completely absent from the city ever since the first snowfall event in early January, but up to 6 were logged on 4 Feb at Little Island (obs. Joe Minor) with a pair more reports at the location over the course of the day. With the ice gone, perhaps they’ll return to their usual feeding areas on Back Bay as well. While thousands of Razorbills were being observed each morning last year during this same period, so far this year we’ve achieved a high count of only 6 individuals (which in a standard or average year is a good count) on 5 Feb (obs. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate). One individual was present inside Rudee Inlet on 2 Feb and provided excellent views to a few birders (ph. Andrew Baldelli).

Seldom seen, but ever-present, all three of our common owls were logged during the period, those being Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl & Eastern Screech-Owl. Please remember that the first two are already in breeding season routines, and therefore any observations are valid for the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas! When submitting to eBird, make sure to use the Atlas Portal, or move the checklist through the web interface after it has been submitted. At least one Peregrine Falcon has been stalking Rock Pigeons and whatever other prey it is interested in from the first hotel north of Rudee Inlet. Many observers have gotten to see it up on the edges of the higher floors while simultaneously searching for the Black-headed Gull nearby. A Blue-headed Vireo was observed at Stumpy Lake NA on 3 Feb (ph. Charlie Bruggemann), and while this habitat seems quite appropriate, these birds are difficult to come by in the winter months with most observations occurring in similar First Landing SP. The species is also known to winter in the Great Dismal Swamp to our west, but would otherwise be considered rare across the remainder of Virginia. The first Marsh Wren so far reported away from Back Bay was logged on 6 Feb when an individual was seen at Marshview Park (obs. Mary Catherine Miguez). Only a single report at Bethel Beach NAP in Mathews County is more northerly as far as 2018 Virginia reports go, thus far! Lastly, a brilliantly plumaged Yellow Palm Warbler (the eastern-breeding race) was observed at Woodstock Cove Park on 6 Feb (ph. Andrew Baldelli). This represents the first non-western race Palm Warbler so far reported in Virginia Beach for 2018.

Back Bay / 3 Feb / Back Bay NWR

WEATHER:  Most years, early February represents the beginning of rising temperatures, and this year continued that trend. Average daily high temperatures rose 0.1° from 52.1° F in late January to 52.3° (+0.8° from prior 10-year average), with average daily low temperatures actually falling 4.8° from 34.0° to 29.2° F (-4.9° from prior 10-year average). Overall, temperatures ranged from a minimum of 19° F (on 3 Feb) to a maximum of 66° (7 Feb). A total of 0.85” of rain fell during the period, with 0.44” recorded on Wednesday, 7 Feb. Minor snowfall accumulations occurred on Friday, 2 Feb. Maximum sustained winds at Oceana this period were 34 mph and gusts reached 40 mph (3 Feb). The highest predicted (harmonic) tide was to be 3.053 feet (9:36 AM on 1 Feb), however, the maximum observed tide was 3.11 feet (11:18 & 11:36 AM on 2 Feb); a maximum storm surge (observed minus predicted) of 0.704 feet occurred at 10:42 AM on 3 Feb. Sunrise/sunsets varied from 7:06 AM/5:29 PM (1 Feb) to 6:57 AM/5:39 PM (10 Feb), which means over all we gained 19 minutes of daylight during this period!

For those hoping to view every photograph submitted for Virginia Beach during this period, please see the complete listing for the month of February located on eBird’s Media explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird account also has the ability to rate these photographs (1-5 stars), and based on the average rating, this 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 of birds, take some time to click them all and rate them, it helps make eBird better and better each day!

LOOKAHEAD:  Waterfowl numbers seem to have plummeted over the last couple of weeks across the city, though the expected species can all be found in their usual haunts. As evidenced by the Black-headed Gull at Rudee Inlet, rarities can pop up anywhere along our coast, so places like Back Bay NWR, Little Island Park, Fort Story, and the Oceanfront beaches are always worth checking. There is likely an Iceland Gull still hanging out somewhere along the resort area beaches, though it’s been some time since one was logged. The LeConte’s Sparrow has not been observed at Princess Anne WMA since the first Sunday of the year, and it is likely that this bird is no longer present given it has been looked for every Sunday since with no success. The field it was wintering in was heavily flooded after the snow melts in January and in rain events proceeding the melt. It likely did not enjoy the flooded habitat since they tend to like a moist, but not flooded environment like their Ammodramus counterparts (Seaside, Nelson’s, Saltmarsh Sparrows) do. Anyway, this one might not be worth investing time into searching for at this point. Similarly, the Brewer’s Blackbirds on West Gibbs Rd. have not been reported recently either, and may or may not still be around. At this point in the winter, we actually have our first arrival of the spring season expected next period, that being Laughing Gull, which is set at an arrival date of 20 Feb, though occasionally individuals do spend the winter here (though not this season due to the intense cold and icy conditions we’ve had). As always, make sure to report your finds to eBird so the data can be used to adjust the expected arrival dates and to view the full listing of each species’ “average expected arrival dates”!

Next Entry | Entry Index | Previous Entry

For further information regarding this thrice-monthly, online publication, please visit the Journal Overview Page which provides an in-depth explanation of the format, layout and composition of the journal. As always, thank you for reading, and please leave me a comment below (you may use your Facebook, Gmail or other accounts to easily do so), or just click the Heart icon to the lower right of this post to let me know you stopped in!

Late January 2018 (21st-31st)

/

With a warm start to late January (72° F), temperatures eventually dropped to near-normal values. For a third straight period in a row, we received snowfall accumulations, with yet another nor’easter sliding past us on 30 Jan. The Winter Wildlife Festival took place from 26-28 Jan, which helped add some records to eBird, but overall, rarity observations were down a bit from the madness that early & mid-January raised the bar to. Top records for late January included new records for BLACK-HEADED GULL & AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, continuing reports of CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, COMMON MERGANSER, WESTERN TANAGER, BREWER’S BLACKBIRD and an ongoing unseasonal occurrence of YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER!

For the first time in just over a year, a BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Rudee Inlet on 31 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli). Incredibly, this first cycle bird (meaning still in its first year of life after hatching this past spring, so not yet one year old) was not the only occurrence, as an apparent adult bird was also found later in the day on the exposed sand flats at Pleasure House Point NA (ph. Andrew Baldelli). The last time one of these was found in Virginia Beach was back on 24 Jan 2017 when one was observed in flight on South Thimble Island (obs. Robert Ake). As of this writing on 2 Feb, the Rudee Inlet bird has been present off and on throughout each day since the initial identification was made.

Bringing the count of verified AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in 2018 from just one lone individual to nine birds now, a report was submitted from Pleasure House Point NA on 26 Jan of 8 birds (ph. June McDaniels). Unfortunately this flock was in transit and hasn’t been picked up anywhere else along the Virginia coast, but it’s still very possible that it turns up somewhere. Pleasure House Point was birded quite heavily through the ensuing weekend though, as the Winter Wildlife Festival occurred and at least one bird walk was scheduled here. The only other report thus far in 2018 is that of the single bird that showed up on the smaller pond at Sherwood Lakes on 12 Jan (ph. Mike Collins).

The CACKLING GOOSE first noted at Sherwood Lakes on 26 Nov 2017 (obs. David Clark, ph. Karen & Tom Beatty) was again reported on 27 Jan afternoon (ph. James Marcum & Pamela Monahan). With several hundred Canada Geese typically present at the lake or in the nearby agricultural fields, this single Cackling Goose is likely to continue through the winter, and is simply a matter of effort and patience in order to find it!

Our other continuing rare goose species, the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, was reported just once during late January behind Ocean Lakes High School on 27 Jan (obs. Karen & Tom Beatty). This species has been present in the city since at least 3 Jan when a pair was photographed at Sherwood Lakes (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty), with a high count of 3 occurring 13 Jan (obs. Andrew Baldelli / Linda Chittum / Tracy Tate) back at the fields off Firefall Drive near the high school.

The group of at least a dozen COMMON MERGANSERS first reported 3 Jan at Sherwood Lakes (ph. Carson Lambert / Andrew Rapp / Robert Wood) continued through 27 Jan when 7 individuals were observed in the morning (ph. Matt Anthony / Rob Bielawski / Todd Day) and 4 were seen in the afternoon (ph. James Marcum & Pamela Monahan). As mentioned last period, Sherwood Lakes has been a hotbed for reports of this species in recent years (though reports of Red­-breasted Mergansers still outnumber Commons about 1000:1, which is why Commons flag in eBird), due primarily to it’s resistance to freezing (due to its depth, being a former sandpit), and its clarity, which Common Mergansers prefer in their normal winter range of swiftly flowing, clear rivers where fish make plentiful prey.

The two continuing WESTERN TANAGERS first noted at a private residence in Alanton 3 Nov (1, obs. Michelle & Taryn Payne) & 21 Jan (2, obs. Michelle Payne) continued into late January with one report on 23 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate). One individual stayed at this same location in 2017 through 10 Apr, so it is likely we haven’t seen the last of the reports for what has now become two different birds returning to the feeders at this residence.

The BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS present at Breeze Farms along West Gibbs Road continued to be observed through the period, with a pair of females photographed on 21 Jan (ph. Diane Lepkowski & Greg Moyers). These birds are being observed on private property, so for anyone who attempts to view them from the public roadway, please be respectful of the land owners. Sometimes, the flock sets up nicely in the trees along the road, but more often they are viewed on the muddy grounds of the horse stables.

After a jam-packed mid-January for unseasonal occurrences, late January brought only one species, the continuing YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER first noted 7 Dec 2017 (ph. Maggee Smith) at a private residence in the Aragona Village. Excitingly, after not being reported for almost a week after the snowfall event on 17 Jan, the bird magically reappeared on 24 Jan, and was observed through 26 Jan according to eBird reports. One wonders where the bird may have retreated to for that week, but what’s important is that it did survive the blizzard!

Sunrise / 27 Jan / Little Island Park

WEATHER:  In a typical year, late January is expected to be the coldest of the thrice-monthly periods here in Virginia Beach, however thanks to a very unseasonal first few days this was strangely the warmest period of 2018 thus far. Average daily high temperatures rose 1.7° from 50.4° F in early January to 52.1° (+4.0° from prior 10-year average), with average daily low temperatures also increasing 2.2° from 31.8° to 34.0° F (+3.3° from prior 10-year average). Overall, temperatures ranged from a minimum of 24° F (on both 26 & 31 Jan) to a maximum of 72° (23 Jan). A total of 1.72” of rain fell during the period, with 1.03” recorded on Monday, 29 Jan. Minor snowfall accumulations occurred on 30 Jan as a minor nor’easter impacted the region. Maximum sustained winds at Oceana this period were 26 mph and gusts reached 37 mph (23 Jan). The highest predicted (harmonic) tide was to be 3.075 feet (8:48 AM on 31 Jan), however, due to the nor’easter brushing us, the maximum observed tide was 4.114 feet (8:00 AM on 30 Jan), the highest value so far in 2018; a maximum storm surge (observed minus predicted) of 1.513 feet occurred at 10:42 AM on 30 Jan. Sunrise/sunsets varied from 7:13 AM/5:17 PM (21 Jan) to 7:07 AM/5:28 PM (31 Jan), which means over all we gained 17 minutes of daylight during this period!

For those hoping to view every photograph submitted for Virginia Beach, please see this complete listing for the month of January located on eBird’s Media explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird account also has the ability to rate these photographs (1-5 stars), and based on the aggregate rating, this is how eBird populates anything photograph driven on the website, particularly the Illustrated Checklists! So if you're one of the many folks who enjoy looking at photographs of birds, take some time to click them all and rate them, it helps make eBird better and better each day!

LOOKAHEAD:  While their numbers seem to have dwindled with the late month melting of the ice on freshwater lakes, the remaining gull and duck flocks along the coast need continual checking, and there are likely some rare birds unbeknownst to all of us hiding right in plain sight. Rudee Inlet is still providing great birds, as Razorbills have shown up recently though in single digit counts only not like last year when during early February thousands were being observed just off the coast. Though the LeConte’s Sparrow has not been observed at Princess Anne WMA recently, it is likely still somewhere in the Beasley Tract, among many other sparrows. We don’t have any expected arrivals for the near future, but as soon as spring arrives, that information will begin being posted here again. As always, make sure to report your finds to eBird so the data can be used to adjust the expected arrival dates and to view the full listing of each species’ “average expected arrival dates”!

Next Entry | Entry Index | Previous Entry

For further information regarding this thrice-monthly, online publication, please visit the Journal Overview Page which provides an in-depth explanation of the format, layout and composition of the journal. As always, thank you for reading, and please leave me a comment below (you may use your Facebook, Gmail or other accounts to easily do so), or just click the Heart icon to the lower right of this post to let me know you stopped in!

Mid-January 2018 (11th-20th)

/

Following the arctic-style freeze we felt throughout early January, the middle third of the month actually began with several unseasonably-warm days (reaching 71°F). It was short-lived however, and another snowfall event associated with our second coastal nor’easter of the season moved in on the 17th/18th, though accumulations were anywhere from 1-3” across the city, rather than the 8-12” seen back on the 3rd/4th. Bolstered by a pair of bird club boat trips to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, this period featured a staggering number of reports, and top records included new records for AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, WESTERN TANAGER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, COMMON MERGANSER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, continuing reports of CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, ICELAND GULL, PAINTED BUNTING & BREWER’S BLACKBIRD and unseasonal occurrences of TRICOLORED HERON, LEAST BITTERN, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER & WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW!

For the first time in 2018, an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was found within Virginia Beach out on the smaller of the two Sherwood Lakes on 12 Jan (ph. Mike Collins). While this individual was only observed through the following morning of 13 Jan (last observation, ph. David Clark), January is prime time for this species to pop up along the coastline. In 2017, there was only one report outside of January, when an in-flight flock of 8 was observed at Camp Pendleton SMR on 27 Oct (obs. Mary Catherine Miguez). This same flock was very possibly the same group of 8 observed over the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch later in the day, and on 31 Oct at Blackwater NWR in Maryland. In 2017, the last winter record for the species in Virginia Beach occurred 29 Jan at Back Bay NWR when the large group of 30+ birds that had been present for a week or so was last observed (ph. Rob Bielawski).

At least one WESTERN TANAGER was observed during this period, another first for the year! A single individual had been noted visiting a private feeder in the Alanton section of the city dating back to 3 Nov 2017 (obs. Michelle & Taryn Payne), and while it went unrecorded at the location after 28 Dec 2017, this could potentially be the same individual, showing up at the feeder of a separate private residence in northern Virginia Beach (ph. Kathy Spencer). The vivid white wings bars stand out brilliantly against the yellow of the bird in this photograph, and it is great to have a photo-documented record for the year in the city.

While the species has been predictably found during early Sep-early Nov the past couple of years in Virginia Beach, a single report of a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Pocahontas Club Road on 18 Jan (obs. Andrew Baldelli) represents the first record for the 2017-18 winter season. This particular find was likely made possible due to the 1-3” of snow that fell the night prior, which likely forced all the sparrows out of their usual thickets to the roadsides to forage on the open ground for seeds and grit. During the larger snowstorm in early January, a great many sparrows were observed in similar, yet grander conditions, but no Clay-coloreds were turned up unfortunately, though an equally-rare Lincoln’s Sparrow was observed.

The group of at least a dozen COMMON MERGANSERS first reported 3 Jan at Sherwood Lakes (ph. Carson Lambert / Andrew Rapp / Robert Wood) continued through at least 17 Jan when three were observed at the same location (ph. Pamela Monahan). This departure date coincides with the approach of the coastal storm that brought 1-3” of accumulating snowfall to the region, so it is likely the mergansers moved further south, or further inland. Sherwood Lakes has been a hotbed for reports of this species in recent years (though reports of Red­-breasted Mergansers still outnumber Commons about 1000:1, which is why Commons flag in eBird), due primarily to it’s resistance to freezing (due to its depth, being a former sandpit), and its clarity, which Common Mergansers prefer in their normal winter range of swiftly flowing, clear rivers where fish make plentiful prey.

The last newly recorded rarity for the year was discovered on a Monticello Bird Club boat trip to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) when a group of five HARLEQUIN DUCKS was found off of North Thimble Island (also known as CBBT island #2) on 13 Jan. The report indicates the birds were sticking close to the rocks of the island, and thus no photographs have populated eBird reports at this point. This species is annually occurring during the winter months around the four manmade islands of the CBBT, but essentially anywhere else in Virginia it is considered a rare find. Interestingly, a single report early this winter (rather, this Fall) occurred at Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton on 19 Nov (ph. Eric Alton & Tamara Conklin). The occurrence of this species away from the CBBT provided a nice VARCOM record!

Rife with the potential for inaccurate identification is the first continuing rarity of the period, the CACKLING GOOSE. Over the past couple of months throughout not only Virginia Beach, but Virginia as a whole, there have been a great many hopeful reports of Cackling Geese that have turned out to just small Canada Geese. For those who take the time to read this report (I hope there’s a few of you!), please understand that true Cackling Geese are rare in the state as a whole, even moreso along the coast than their larger, much more abundant counterparts. To secure this ID, it is imperative that the silvery/gray back, proportionally small and downward-pointing bill, and Mallard-equivalent size are observed & noted. Reports simply stating, “smaller than surrounding Canadas” is not typically sufficient to eliminate small Canadas from ID contention. Thus far only a single individual has been confirmed in Virginia Beach, originally noted 26 Nov 2017 (obs. David Clark, ph. Karen & Tom Beatty). During mid-January, a single report by several observers on 13 Jan indicated that the species is still present among the goose flock that moves between Sherwood Lakes and the agricultural fields near Firefall Dr. / Ocean Lakes High School. Finding this Cackler is truly a matter of effort, patience, and careful observation, though it is much easier to pick out when floating on the water where all the geese are bound to the same surface elevation. When the group is foraging in agricultural fields, the elevation is ever changing, and this makes gauging true size much more difficult.

Mixed in with the very same goose flock mentioned above, at least three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were recorded during mid-January foraging among a large flock of Canadas near Ocean Lakes High School / Firefall Drive (obs. Andrew Baldelli / Linda Chittum / Tracy Tate). These individuals continued to be observed until 14 Jan, with the last photographic record occurring 13 Jan (ph. Rob Bielawski & Mary Catherine Miguez) behind Ocean Lakes High School. Previously, this species was essentially absent from eBird reports in the county, with the first occurring in 2014 at Baybreeze Farms off Sandbridge Road for only two days. Last year, a group spent the majority of the winter around Sherwood Lakes / Firefall Drive, and perhaps this is a more regular occurrence than current reports indicate. However, this has been an exceptional year for the species in Virginia, and for many species of waterfowl, so more study is needed here.

Potentially the same first cycle individual found at Rudee Inlet on 4 Jan during the height of the first nor’easter of 2018 (obs. Andrew Baldelli), an immature ICELAND GULL was observed near South Chesapeake Island in Northampton County, and later viewed by many observers as it followed the Williamsburg Bird Club boat into Virginia Beach waters on 20 Jan (ph. Williamsburg Bird Club). It is very possible that this is the same bird observed on 8 Jan near the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier (ph. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate, later ph. Kathy Louthan), and also the bird seen at Rudee Inlet on 15 Jan (ph. Linda Chittum).

Though a drabber plumage than their vivid male counterparts, a female PAINTED BUNTING was photographed in central Virginia Beach on 13 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli / Linda Chittum / Tracy Tate), and this is likely one of several individuals that have taken up winter residency within the city. The dapper male Painted Bunting observed during the Back Bay CBC on Mill Landing Road (ph. Karen & Tom Beatty) has unfortunately not been reported since the initial find though is likely to still be hanging around the same area just north of Pleasant Ridge Road. This species is particularly interesting because it is an annual winterer, but then moves south in the springtime to breed. Typically, the reverse occurs here, with birds moving further north from their wintering grounds to breed. However, breeding evidence was observed on the Eastern Shore this past summer by a participant of the 2nd Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas, an incredible first record for anywhere north of North Carolina!

The BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS present at Breeze Farms along West Gibbs Road continued to be observed through the period, with a seasonal high count of 10 occurring 14 Jan (ph. Baxter & Tucker Beamer / Ander & Paul Buckley), and the most recent report on 20 Jan of 4 individuals (obs. Clark Olsen). These birds are being observed on private property, so for anyone who attempts to view them from the public roadway, please be respectful of the land owners. Sometimes, the flock sets up nicely in the trees along the road, but more often they are viewed on the muddy grounds of the horse stables.

While not year-round rarities, several seasonally unexpected species were reported during mid-January, including: TRICOLORED HERON, LEAST BITTERN, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW! Being the first record for the species since 8 Oct, a pair of TRICOLORED HERONS was a surprise find along Marvin Road on 18 Jan (obs. Andrew Baldelli) following the nor’easter induced snowfall that occurred the prior night. This species winters regularly on the Eastern Shore, primarily at Chincoteague NWR, and also to our immediate south at Mackay Island NWR but is not typically observed with any regularity during the winter months in Virginia Beach. Usually records begin popping up in late March/early April, so any January record is certainly worth noting.

At least one of the two LEAST BITTERNS found at Little Island Park on 6 Jan (ph. Andrew Baldelli / Rob Bielawski / Mike Collins) has persisted around the small trickle of water near the kayak launch to Back Bay through 18 Jan (ph. Loretta Silvia). Very sadly, the other individual was found deceased at the site on 9 Jan following several weeks of icy conditions, and an assumed lack of available water to find food in. With the weather having warmed, hopefully the individual still being reported will be able to survive the remainder of the winter here. Least Bitterns are a common summer resident in the freshwater marshes that line Back Bay’s shoreline, but winter records in the city, and the state as a whole, are few and far between.

The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER first noted 7 Dec 2017 (ph. Maggee Smith) at a private residence in the Aragona Village survived the blizzard on 3-4 Jan though it appears to have vanished now, with perhaps the final report having occurred on 17 Jan ahead of the second snowfall event of the year. It is possible the bird has persisted, and simply found a new location to spend the winter, but the strong cold snaps and snowfall tend to be very hard on our non-wintering warblers. In a typical year, the only warblers that spend the entirety of winter in the city are Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned Warblers and Common Yellowthroat. Interestingly, no one has reported a Common Yellowthroat thus far in 2018, with the last record occurring on the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (ph. Rob Bielawski).

Outnumbered about a thousand to one during the winter in Virginia Beach by the similar White-throated Sparrow, we appear to be hosting at least two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in the city. The first has been present at Ashville Park since the Back Bay CBC on 29 Dec (obs. Andrew Baldelli & Tracy Tate), and was most recently observed on 13 Jan (obs. Chrissy Barton). The second was observed following our snowfall event on 18 Jan at Dam Neck NA (obs. Karen & Tom Beatty). This species has been difficult to find since their normal period of transience in the fall, and unlike last winter when four juveniles were observed almost daily at Back Bay NWR, the reports have all been of single birds (no adults yet either).

Aside from the rarities and the unseasonal occurrences, there has been plenty of other excitement around the city over the last ten days. Mentioned earlier, but probably not expanded upon much, two bird clubs hosted boat trips out to the four islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex during this period. The first, the Monticello Bird Club, toured the islands on 13 Jan, finding the typical winter specialties like Purple Sandpiper, which is now a much more difficult bird to find in the state due to the closure of island one to the public this past October. Common Eider, King Eider, and Harlequin Ducks were all observed as well, though only the Harlequins occurred in Virginia Beach waters (islands three and four are in Northampton County). The second trip, the Williamsburg Bird Club, turned up mostly the same species, missing King Eider, but adding Iceland Gull and Red-necked Grebe. These ~4 hour trips are absolutely worth the small fee, and they provide a unique view of the islands that can’t be appreciated from land.

Towards the end of the period, the ice cover that had persisted for several weeks finally gave way across much of the state, allowing for some of our concentrations of waterfowl to move back inland to now-open bodies of freshwater. January has been remarkable on the coast for waterbirds, with more Red-necked Grebe and Common Goldeneye reports already this year than in all of 2017. In fact, there wasn’t a single Common Goldeneye reported in Virginia Beach last January, but there are around 100 records so far in 2018, incredible. Horned Grebes are grouping up on the Chesapeake Bay in huge numbers, with counts of over 500 viewed from Norfolk. At least one Eared Grebe has continued on the Newport News waterfront not terrible far from us, and it is always possible that we will find one of these associating with Horneds off our coast. White-winged Scoters have been much more numerous this year, following in the path of the goldeneyes. However, where the waterfowl numbers and variety have exploded in 2018, irruptive species like Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin and Purple Finch have essentially been nonexistent. Thus far, only Pine Siskin has been reported in the city this year, and there are only a couple of reports. Last winter was a major invasive year for the nuthatches, so viewing the eBird maps of last vs. this year shows quite a stark contrast.

WEATHER:  After an extremely frigid early January, temperatures return to more normal levels in mid-January, rising a drastic 18.2° from 32.2° F in early January to 50.4° (+0.6° from prior 10-year average), with average daily low temperatures also steeply increasing 16.4° from 15.4° to 31.8° F (-2.1° from prior 10-year average). Overall, temperatures ranged from a minimum of 24° F (on both 14 & 18 Jan) to a maximum of 71° (12 Jan). A total of 0.35” of rain fell during the period, with 0.34” recorded on Friday, 12 Jan. As mentioned above, we also received anywhere from 1-3” of snow depending on the specific location in the city during the coastal nor’easter that brushed past us on 17/18 Jan. Maximum sustained winds at Oceana this period were 25 mph (18 Jan) and gusts reached 40 mph (13 Jan). The highest predicted (harmonic) tide was to be 2.553 feet (9:18 AM on 17 Jan), however, due to the nor’easter brushing us, the maximum actual tide was 3.548 feet (9:30 AM on 17 Jan); a maximum storm surge (observed minus predicted) of 1.418 feet occurred at 3:30 AM on 18 Jan. Sunrise/sunsets varied from 7:16 AM/5:07 PM (11 Jan) to 7:14 AM/5:16 PM (20 Jan), which means over all we gained 11 minutes of daylight during this period! Incredibly, some remnants of snow remain in ditches and shaded areas, though the ice cover has disappeared entirely at this point.

For those hoping to view every photograph submitted for Virginia Beach, please see this complete listing for the month of January located on eBird’s Media explorer by clicking here! Please remember, anyone with an eBird account also has the ability to rate these photographs (1-5 stars), and based on the aggregate rating, this is how eBird populates anything photograph driven on the website, particularly the Illustrated Checklists! So if you're one of the many folks who enjoy looking at photographs of birds, take some time to click them all and rate them, it helps make eBird better and better each day!

LOOKAHEAD:  Gull and duck flocks along the coast need continual checking, and there are likely some rare birds unbeknownst to all of us hiding right in plain sight. Rudee Inlet is still providing great birds, as Razorbills have shown up recently, perhaps Dovekies are next. Though the LeConte’s Sparrow has not been observed at Princess Anne WMA recently, it is likely still somewhere in the Beasley Tract, among many other sparrows. We don’t have any expected arrivals for the near future, but as soon as spring arrives, that information will begin being posted here again. As always, make sure to report your finds to eBird so the data can be used to adjust the expected arrival dates and to view the full listing of each species’ “average expected arrival dates”!

Next Entry | Entry Index | Previous Entry

For further information regarding this thrice-monthly, online publication, please visit the Journal Overview Page which provides an in-depth explanation of the format, layout and composition of the journal. As always, thank you for reading, and please leave me a comment below (you may use your Facebook, Gmail or other accounts to easily do so), or just click the Heart icon to the lower right of this post to let me know you stopped in!