Gleanings…from the Web

This edition's summary covers reports to the Virginia Birds listserv for the period from 15 October 2004 to 25 January 2005 . Individuals interested in subscribing to this listserv or reading its archives can find directions on the VSO web page (www.virginiabirds.net/). 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.

LOONS-WATERFOWL

One Red-throated Loon was found 20 Jan at Beaverdam Res. Loudoun, and one Pacific Loon was at Kiptopeke S.P., Northampton 13 Nov. Four reports of single Red-necked Grebes were made in January, two on the Coastal Plain and two on the Piedmont at Lake Anna and at Hunting Cr., Fairfax. Eight Eared Grebes were recorded on the Bristol C.B.C. 26 Dec, the eighth year for the species on the count since 1996 and a new high count for it. Either a Western or a Clark’s Grebe was spotted from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (C.B.B.T.) 9 Jan, and a probable Western Grebe was seen at Pleasant’s Landing, Lake Anna 15 Jan. An Aechmophorus grebe seen there again 16 Jan was probably the same bird. A grebe observed from Ft. Story , Virginia Beach on New Years Day was seen well enough to confirm a Clark’s Grebe. Single Greater White-fronted Geese were found at four locations, two in King George and two in Fauquier. Scattered reports of Snow Geese were made in the Piedmont , mostly of single birds, with a high of 37 blue morphs in Augusta . Diligent inspection of Snow Geese flocks produced reports of single Ross’s Geese from the following locations: Aggregate Industries ponds, King George 14 Nov and 17 Dec, Turkey I. Rd. east of Richmond 28 Nov, and during and after the Wachapreague C.B.C., Accomack 18 & 19 Dec. Three others were found on the Cape Charles C.B.C., Northampton 30 Dec. Following splitting of the Cackling Goose from the Canada Goose, observers were on the lookout for this diminutive form, and reports came from Northampton , King George, Augusta , and the Bristol C.B.C., with a high of 8 in Augusta 8 Jan. Most of these sightings were of the hutchensii subspecies when specified, but one minima was also noted with three hutchensii in King George 7 Dec. Single Eurasian Widgeons were reported from five localities, all on the Coastal Plain. One King Eider was found on Smith I. , Northampton during the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec, and 6 Common Eiders were found on the same count, with one additional record for Common Eider coming from the C.B.B.T., Northampton 7 Dec.

RAPTORS-SANDPIPERS

Northern Goshawks were reported primarily from the hawk lookouts, with highest season totals coming from Kiptopeke and Snicker’s Gap (13 and 11 respectively), but away from the hawk lookouts 6 additional birds were seen. The Kiptopeke hawkwatch totaled 4 Swainson’s Hawks, the latest on 5 Nov, along with an apparent Harlan’s subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk that same day. Both Kiptopeke and Snicker’s Gap had 2 Rough-legged Hawks for the season, and besides Highland and Tazewell, there were three reports from the Northampton , Frederick , and Fairfax . Season totals for Golden Eagles at Kiptopeke and Snicker’s Gap were 13 and 21 respectively, and besides other hawk watches, Highland ,and Tazewell, there were four reports of Golden Eagles from Frederick , Augusta , and Mecklenburg . A dead juv. Common Moorhen was found at Back Bay N.W.R., Virginia Beach 13 Oct, and another juv. was seen there 24 Oct, while one additional individual was found on the Cape Charles C.B.C., Northampton 30 Dec. One Yellow Rail was well observed on the Eastern Shore 13 Nov, and 15 Sandhill Cranes flew over the Eastern Shore of Virginia N.W.R., Northampton 5 Nov. American Avocets were found at Craney I. , Portsmouth , 17 Oct-11 Dec, with a high of 4 on 28 & 30 Oct, and only one Upland Sandpiper was noted, at Craney I. 17 Oct. Two wintering Whimbrels were found on both the Wachapregue C.B.C., Accomack 18 Dec and the Cape Charles C.B.C., Northampton 30 Dec. One Red Phalarope was at the C.B.B.T., Northampton 23 Oct, and about 25 were seen on the pelagic trip 27 Nov out of Rudee Inlet , Virginia Beach.

GULLS-HUMMINGBIRDS

Unusual gull sightings included a probable ad. Franklin’s Gull at Lake Anna 10 Nov, although the observer did not have binoculars at the time, a California Gull on Neabsco Cr., Prince William 26 Nov and another possible individual at Smith Mtn. L., Franklin 9 Jan, a Thayer’s Gull at both the Fauquier landfill 19 Dec and on the Ft. Belvoir C.B.C. 2 Jan, and three sightings each of both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, with one of the Glaucous Gulls being on the Piedmont at Lake Anna 17 Dec. Four Eurasian Collared-Doves in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach 18 Dec was a high number for the species. Barn Owls were reported from four locations in northern Virginia , as well Augusta , and single Snowy Owls were seen at Chincoteague N.W.R., Accomack 29 Dec and on Ship Shoal I. , Northampton 30 Dec. Two Long-eared Owls were found on the Central Loudoun C.B.C. 26 Dec, and 1-3 Short-eared Owls were observed at seven locations. Selasphorus hummingbirds that were both probably Rufous Hummingbirds were visiting feeders in Blue Ridge , Botetourt and James City in October, and an ad. male Ruby-throated Hummingbird was in Cape Charles from 30 Dec to at least 19 Jan. A male Black-chinned Hummingbird visited the same location 28 Nov through at least mid Dec.

FLYCATCHERS-THRUSHES

An Ash-throated Flycatcher was well observed and photographed at Eastern Shore of Virginia N.W.R., Northampton 6 Nov, and two other Myiarchus flycatchers were seen at Craney I., Portsmouth 20 Nov and at the C.B.B.T., Northampton 23 Nov; calls were heard from the former bird that suggested an Ash-throated. A Western Kingbird was also found near Kiptopeke S.P.,Northhampton 18-22 Oct. One Northern Shrike was found on Fisherman’s Island , Northampton 30 Dec, and Loggerhead Shrikes were reported from five locations. Cave Swallows made their strongest showing yet this fall, first showing up at Kiptopeke S.P., Northampton 5 Nov and seen last near the Eastern Shore of Virginia NW.R., Northampton 12 Dec. High numbers reached in the 30s on 28 Nov and 5 Dec. Besides Northampton , small numbers of the swallow were also seen in Fairfax , Suffolk , Loudoun, and at Craney I. , Portsmouth . Red-breasted Nuthatches were widely reported, with a high of 18 on the Banister River W.M.A. C.B.C., Halifax 26 Dec. A male Mountain Bluebird was present near the Eastern Shore of Virginia NW.R., Northampton 27&28 Nov, and a Bicknell’s Thrush was banded at Kiptopeke S.P., Northampton 21 Oct.

WARBLERS-FINCHES

Orange-crowned Warblers were noted from eleven locations on the Coastal Plain and n Virginia ’s Piedmont . A female Summer Tanager visited a feeder in Charlottesville from possibly as early as 17 Jan to at least the 25 Jan, and single Western Tanagers were reported to have been seen in Chesapeake in late December (a male), in Virginia Beach the week of 16 Jan (a female), and also in Virginia Beach 22 Jan (a male). Observers noted single Clay-colored Sparrows at five locations on the Coastal Plain, and two Lark Sparrows were reported on the Banister River W.M.A. C.B.C., Halifax 26 Dec, as well as single birds in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach . October and early November produced four Henslow’s Sparrows in Fauquier, Augusta, Franklin, and Buchanan, and a LeConte’s Sparrow was present at Rappahannock River Valley N.W.R., Richmond 18 Dec-12 Jan. Lapland Longspurs were found in four areas, with a high of 12 in Augusta 19 Nov, and Snow Buntings were found at five locales across the state, with a high of 4 on the Lake Anna C.B.C., Louisa 2 Jan. Searching through blackbird flocks yielded an imm. Yellow-headed Blackbird in Henricus 16 & 21 Oct, and both a male and a female near Kiptopeke S.P., Northampton 1 Jan. One Brewer’s Blackbird was reported from s Northampton 6 Nov, 2 were found in Buchanan 25 Nov, and up to 20 were at their regular haunts near Nokesville, Prince William 26 Nov-17 Jan. Purple Finches were widely reported, with a high of 44 at a feeder in Shenandoah, but only one report of Red Crossbills was posted, a flock of 12-15 in Pulaski 2 Jan. Only single Common Redpolls were noted, at the C.B.B.T., Northampton 8 Nov and 7 Dec, near the Eastern Shore of Virginia N.W.R., Northampton 28 Nov, and in Falls Church 25 Jan. Pine Siskins, like Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches were widely reported, with a high count of 50 in multiple flocks flying along the Blue Ridge , Franklin30 Oct. Two sightings of Evening Grosbeaks were made, one of 11 at Snicker’s Gap 15 Nov and the other of 14 in a yard and at a feeder west of Warrenton, Fauquier.

Gene Sattler