Gleanings…from the Web

This edition's summary covers reports to the Virginia Birds listserv for the period from 22 July to 14 October 2004 . Individuals interested in subscribing to this listserv or reading its archives can find directions on the VSO web page (www. virginiabirds.net/VAbirds.com). Inclusion in this column does not imply that a sighting has been accepted by VARCOM (the VSO's Records Committee), or verified in any other way. Nor does omission of a sighting from this column imply that a particular sighting was not credible or noteworthy. All omissions, inaccuracies in reporting dates, etc are the responsibility of the author.

Reports for this edition cover the end of the summer and much of the fall migration period. Readers can look forward to reading more details about the summer in the forthcoming first edition of “Virginia Birds”.

Waterbirds made up the bulk of significant sightings early in the period. Eared Grebes were reported at S. Holston L. in Washington Co. 8/31 (2) and 9/18 (3), and a female Anhinga was on Stumpy L., Virginia Beach 8/13, with two females there 8/14 and 9/4. During the Eastern Shore Birding Festival a juv. Common Moorhen was at Eyre Hall, Northampton Co. 10/10. American Avocets were seen regularly at Craney I. , Portsmouth , beginning with 8/1 (13), followed by smaller numbers until 9/22 and 9/26 (15), with the last report on 9/30 (24), and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was reported from Craney I. 9/3. Upland Sandpiper reports came from Craney I. (one bird between 8/8 and 8/21), as well as from Northampton Co. 8/15 and 8/17 (1), Hog I. WMA, Surry Co. 8/27 (4), and Remington sod farm, Culpeper Co. 9/8 (2). One Hudsonian Godwit was seen at Craney I. 8/21, 9/13, and 9/19, while single Marbled Godwits were reported from Craney I. (8/17, 8/21, 9/9), Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach (9/4 and 9/18), and several locations in Northampton Co.: north of the landfill 1.5 mi 8/25, Wreck I. Natural Area 9/11 (unspecified number), Oyster 9/19, and the Hog I. area 10/8 and 10/9 (6). White-rumped Sandpipers were found regularly at Craney I. beginning 8/8 (3), peaking 9/9 (15), and a last report 9/26 (3), as well as in Northampton Co. (first reported 8/14 (1), a maximum of 25 on 9/13 and a late report 10/9 of an unspecified number), Hog I. WMA, Surry Co. 8/29 (unspecified number), and Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach 9/4 (1). Single Baird’s Sandpipers were reported more widely from Craney I. 7/31 and 8/27, Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co. 8/3, Rockingham Co. 8/22-8/28, Loudoun Co. 8/29, King William Co. 9/2, and Northampton Co. 9/3 to 9/16. Buff-breasted Sandpipers were noted at Craney I. 8/27 and 9/13 (1), Hog I. WMA, Surry Co. 8/27 (2) and 8/29 (3), Westmoreland Co. 9/2 (3), Culpeper Co. 9/8 (2), Prince William Co. 9/11 (7), and Fauquier Co. 9/13 (3). All three phalaropes were recorded, with Wilson’s Phalaropes found several times at Craney I. beginning with two 8/13 and a high of three 8/21, 9/23 and 9/26), as well as in Northampton Co. 8/22 (2) and 8/24 (1) and in Culpeper Co. 9/8. Red-necked Phalaropes were noted in Rockingham Co. 9/8 and 9/9 (a pair then a different individual), Augusta Co. 9/9 (1), and Craney 9/9 (6) and 9/22 (9). And a single Red Phalarope was seen on a pelagic trip out of Virginia Beach 8/15. Finally, an adult Long-tailed Jaeger was found at Craney I. , Portsmouth 9/18 on the heels of hurricane Ivan, and an immature was on the Nansemond R., Suffolk Co. 9/19.

Concentrating next on notable inland records of waterbirds, a dead Band-rumped Storm-Petrel was found in Nelson Co. 9/19 after hurricane Ivan’s passage, making it the first specimen record for the state. At Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co. Least Bittern breeding was inferred from observation 7/23 of one ad, one HY, and two other possible HY or females); and a bird was also seen on Neabsco Cr., Prince William Co. 7/31. An ad. Little Blue Heron was at Fair Oaks, Fairfax Co. 8/11, while an imm. was at Mill Cr. L., Amherst Co. 8/12-8/13, and one Black-crowned Night Heron was at Dupont Pond, Augusta Co. One Greater White-fronted Goose was present in Fauquier Co. 10/9, and single Snow Geese were observed in Loudoun Co. 9/19 and Fairfax Co. 10/1, as were five individuals on S. Holston L., Washington Co. 10/12. Three Virginia Rails and two Sora were seen at Bland Experimental Farm, Frederick Co. 7/25, and one Virginia Rail was also found in Sky Meadows S. P., Fauquier Co. 8/15. Three adult Sandhill Cranes were reported from Augusta Co. near Mt. Solon 8/4, having been present for over three weeks, and remained through 8/15. Single birds were also reported from Augusta Co. south of Weyer’s Cave 8/26, and from Northampton Co. 9/2-9/4, seen from the Kiptopeke S. P. hawkwatch platform. Black-bellied Plovers were found at the Remington sod farm, Fauquier Co. 9/8 (3) and 9/9 (4), and American Golden-Plovers were reported from Prince William Co. 8/28-8/29 (2) and 9/11 (10), Culpeper Co. 9/3 (5), 9/6-9/9 (2), and 9/18 (15), and Fauquier Co. 9/9 (1). One Willet in Rockingham Co. 8/15 was a third county and first fall record, and a Long-billed Dowitcher in Fauquier Co. 9/9 was a possible first county record. Single Caspian Terns were seen in Manassas 8/14 and at S. Holston L., Washington Co. 8/22 along with one Forester’s Tern, while three Forester’s Terns were seen earlier at the lake 8/17 as well another three at Mill Cr. L., Amherst Co. A Sooty Tern 9/11 was an even better find at S. Holston L., and Black Terns were also found there 8/17 (7) and 8/22 (12), as well as earlier in Fairfax Co. 7/31 (1) and Chesterfield Co. 8/1 (4).

Moving to raptors, a White-tailed Kite was a great find 9/17 at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR (ESVNWR), Northampton Co. There was a secondhand report of a Mississippi Kite nest in Fairfax Co. over the summer, where one and sometimes two ad. were reported from 7/22 to 8/13 in the vicinity of Waynewood Elementary School , Carl Sandburg Middle School , and the George-Washington Parkway . Other reports came from Annandale, Fairfax Co. 7/31 (2), Mason Neck NWR, Fairfax Co. and Dinwiddie Co. 7/31 (5) and 8/1 (1). Prior to the start of the migratory season one Peregrine Falcon was sighted at Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co. 8/7, and one Merlin was seen at S. Holston L., Washington Co. 8/17. Reports of Northern Harriers came from Augusta Co. both near Smith Pond 7/29 (one female where one was noted all summer) and the Swoope area 7/31-8/1 (3) and 8/15 (2), Accomack Co. 8/21 (3), S. Holston L., Washington Co. 8/23 (1), and Buchanan Co. 8/25 (1). Single Northern Goshawk sightings were made from Harvey ’s Knob 9/14 and a second bird prior to 9/24, Rockfish Gap 10/6 and 10/9, and Snicker’s Gap 10/12, while Golden Eagle’s were seen in Culpeper Co. 9/18 (1) and Rockfish Gap 9/19 (2). Finally, a Short-eared Owl was seen both on the Kiptopeke S. P. hawkwatch 9/3 in the early hours of the morning and in Augusta Co. 10/4, while Loggerhead Shrike sightings came from several locations: Clarke Co. 7/24 (1), Augusta Co. 8/4 (1), the Madison/Culpeper Co. line 8/4 (2 ad. and 2 imm.), Bath Co. 8/21 at two locations (three birds total), Highland Co. 9/4 (1), and Fauquier Co. 10/3 (1).

Besides at their traditional location in southern Northampton Co., single Eurasian Collared-Doves were found in Montross, Westmoreland Co. 7/26, in Isle of Wight Co. 8/24-8/27, and at Sandbridge , Virginia Beach 10/11. Sightings of Black-billed Cuckoos came from Fauquier Co. 8/15, 9/1, 9/10), Northampton Co. 8/22, Augusta Co. 8/29, Fairfax Co. 9/4, Prince William Co. 9/11, and the Clarke/Loudoun Co. line 9/12. An adult male Rufous Hummingbird was in Appomattox Co. 7/23 and a Selaphorus hummingbird was in Fairfax Co, 9/18, 10/6 while an intergrade Northern Flicker was banded at Kiptopeke S. P. 9/19. Single Olive-sided Flycatchers were reported from Loudoun Co. 8/28, 8/29, and 9/9, Prince William Co. 8/29, 9/11, and 9/12, the Culpeper/Fauquier Co. line 9/1, Manasas 9/12, and Northampton Co. 9/19. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher reports were frequent, with sightings in Arlington 7/30, Prince William Co. 8/27, 8/29, 9/5, 9/11, and 10/11, Fauquier Co. 9/1 and 9/10, Northampton Co.(primarily Kiptopeke S. P. banding station) 9/2, 9/5, 9/11 (3), 9/12 (2), 9/19, 9/20, 9/21 (2), 10/6 and 10/7, Loudoun Co. 9/12, Franklin Co. 9/19, and Fairfax City 9/21, and a single Alder Flycatcher report came from Leesylvania S. P., Prince William Co. A Western Kingbird was found north of ESVNWR 9/19, followed by no less than three near the Kiptopeke S. P. entrance 10/8, with one still present 10/10. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher’s nest reported on last issue with five eggs present 7/2 was apparently unsuccessful, with little activity observed after that time, two eggs still present 7/24, and the female last seen about that date. Numerous Philadelphia Vireos were reported: Fairfax Co. 8/26 and 9/5, Fairfax City 9/2, 9/19, and 9/20, Arlington Co. 9/3, Highland Co. 9/4, Prince William Co. 9/5, 9/17, 9/19 (2), 9/21, and 10/11, Loudoun Co. 9/11 and 9/19, Kiptopeke S. P. 9/11 and 9/13 (three banded), elsewhere in Northampton Co. 9/20 and 10 10/9, and Buchanan Co. the week of 9/19, and at least three Cave Swallows were present at Kiptopeke S. P. 9/19. Sedge Wrens possibly nested in Augusta Co., with a minimum of two to three individuals present from 7/22, and one still present to 8/26; nest material or food carrying and possible nestling vocalizations were noted. This was a fourth county record and third summer record for the Mountain and Valley province. A Bicknell’s Thrush was banded at Kiptopeke S. P. 10/13. Records of migrating Golden-winged Warblers came from Gloucester Co. 8/19, Prince William Co. 8/23, Kiptopeke S. P. 8/30 (banded), and the Loudoun/Fauquier Co. line 9/5, and Orange-crowned Warblers were reported from Fairfax City 9/23, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) 10/6 and 10/7, and Buchanan Co. 10/12. An unusual Black-throated Blue Warbler report was of a bilateral gynandromorphy individual (one half of body with male characteristics and the other half female) in Northampton Co. 10/5, and not one but two Townsend’s Warblers were found, the first a female in Buchanan Co. 9/26 and the second a male in Williamsburg 10/8. Northern Waterthrush records included 28 banded at Kiptopeke S. P. between 8/19 and 10/4, with a one day total of 17 banded 9/19,and other reports were one in Norfolk 9/19 and another elsewhere in Northampton Co. 9/20. Connecticut Warblers were reported from Augusta Co. 9/11, Loudoun Co. 9/12, Northampton Co. 9/19, Fairfax City 9/20, Prince William Co. 9/21, Fauquier Co. 9/26 (2), Highland Co. the weekend of 9/24-9/26, Alexandria 9/30 and 10/3, and Kiptopeke S. P. 10/4 and 10/5 (two banded), and Mourning Warbler sightings were made at Kiptopeke S. P. 8/18 and 9/11 (two banded), Loudoun Co. 8/22 and 9/25, Prince William Co. 9/5, Augusta Co. 9/12 and 9/13, and Shenandoah Co. 9/15. Clay-colored Sparrows were found at the CBBT 10/3 (2), and in Augusta Co. 10/3, Kiptopeke S. P. 10/3, and Back Bay NWR 10/11. Lark Sparrows were found in both Northampton Co. 9/4 and 9/16 and in Floyd Co. 9/5. Lincoln Sparrow sightings came from Fairfax Co. 9/20 and 10/10, Fairfax City from 9/21-9/26 (two at times), Prince William Co. 9/21 (two or more) and 10/9 (2), Bath and Highland Cos. the weekend of 9/24-9/26, Kiptopeke S. P. 10/6 and 10/8 (three banded), and Loudoun Co. 10/10, while Dickcissels were found in Fauquier Co. 7/24 (3), Westmoreland Co. 9/19, Prince William Co. 10/9, and Clarke Co. 10/15. Concluding with northern finches, Red-breasted Nuthatches were widely reported beginning 9/19 through the period, and an undetermined number of Red Crossbills were found in Jefferson National Forest, Giles Co. 9/13, and well as ten or more in Rockingham Co. 9/23. A single Evening Grosbeak was found at the Peaks of Otter on the Bedford/Botetourt Co. line 9/8. Purple Finches were found in Highland Co. the weekend of 9/24-9/26 (1), Rockingham Co. 10/13 (1), and Louisa Co. 10/14 (2), and Pine Siskins were reported from Kiptopeke S. P. 10/6 and 10/11.

Gene Sattler