Gleanings…from the Web

This edition's summary covers reports to the Virginia Birds listserv for the period from April 30 th to July 16 th 2003 . Individuals interested in subscribing to this listserv or reading its archives can find directions on the VSO web page (www.vabirds.org). 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 inaccuracies in reporting dates, etc are the responsibility of the author.

Leading off with spring migration, several rare species were reported fairly widely. There were twelve reports of single Black-billed Cuckoos, ranging from 5/3 at Occaquan Bay NWR in Prince William Co. to 5/20 in Staunton , as well as a few mid-June records in Bath/Highland Co. Alder Flycatchers were reported on six occasions from 5/1 in Charlottesville to 6/9 (two individuals heard at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co.), as well as 3-4 individuals present at Whitetop Station in Grayson Co. (5/27). Mourning Warblers were reported five times from 5/3 at Monticello Park, Fairfax Co. to 5/31 in Alexandria, as well as three sightings later at higher elevation: Sky Meadows State Park, Fauquier Co. (6/1), Bath or Highland Co. (6/4), and near Powell Gap in Shenandoah N.P., between Rockingham and Greene Co. (7/6). And Lincoln's Sparrows were reported five times, from two on 5/1 at Julie Metz Welands, Prince William Co. to another report there on 5/18. Other rare passerine migrants included the following: Sedge Wren at Manassas National Battlefield Park, Prince William Co. (5/1), Olive-sided Flycatchers in Orange Co. (5/2), the Dismal Swamp (5/16), and Fairfax Co. (5/24), a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co. (5/15), an Orange-crowned Warbler in Buchanan Co. (5/6), a female Audubon's Warbler at a bird bath in Hampton (5/21), and Golden-winged Warblers at Monticello Park, Fairfax Co. (5/7) and Frederick Co. (5/17), as well as higher elevation sightings in Highland Co. (two on 5/6 and one between 6/20-22) and Mountain Lake, Giles Co. (5/30). Late birds included a Veery in Arlington Co. (6/18; this is a regular occurrence there) and a Blackpoll Warbler in Falls Church (7/4).

A Red-breasted Nuthatch was also late in Lynchburg on 5/1, and several other northerly species were found in the mountains late in the spring. A single male Red Crossbill visited a feeder in Roanoke Co. (5/22-23). A singing Brown Creeper was observed in Shenandoah N. P. near Big Meadows (border of Page and Madison Co.) (5/28). A male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was on territory at Iron Mountain in Smyth Co. (5/29). And a Golden-crowned Kinglet nest with young was discovered at Iron Mountain in Smyth Co. (6/11). This is one of the few nesting records in the state, and also represents a disjunct breeding population in the state. A VSO Breeding Bird Foray was also held June 6-15 in Bath and Highland Counties, and the following high-elevation species were among the notables: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Least Flycather, Winter Wren (fledglings noted), Hermit Thrush (nest with young noted), Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Purple Finch.

Sightings of unusual birds that breed or potentially breed in the state included the following. International Migratory Bird Day on 5/11 brought a sighting of a White-winged Dove in southern Northampton Co. at Routes 645 and 600, at the same site where a pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to nest. Another species expanding its range northward, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, has been reported once this summer, from Rockingham Co. on 6/28-29, after last summer's early June sighting at Manassas National Battlefield Park, and our first nesting three summers ago in Culpeper Co. Monk Parakeets were reported from three locations, one an established nesting location in Norfolk (5/2), and two sightings in Fairfax Co., one of a pair in Vienna (5/3) and another of a single individual at Belle Haven (7/3). And scattered Dickcissel sightings came from Culpepper Co. (one on 5/10), Rockingham Co. (one on 5/30 and four on 6/25), Fauquier Co. (three on 6/26 and two still on 7/11), and Burke's Garden, Tazewell Co. (one on 7/13).

We turn next to waterbirds. Lingering northern species included Iceland Gull (a first summer bird at Hunting Creek, Fairfax Co. on 4/30 and 5/1) and Red-necked Grebes (four at the Fairfax Co. Rod and Gun Club on 5/5, two at Burke Lake on 5/17, one on Belmont Bay on 5/17, and one at Woodglen Lake on 5/26 and 6/15, all in Fairfax Co., as well as one on Occoquan Bay, Prince William Co. on 5/24). Migrants of a western persuasion included a possible Long-billed Curlew on mudflats off Chincoteague NWR, Accomack Co. around 5/23, White-faced Ibis (one at Chincoteague NWR on 5/4 and two in southern Northampton Co. from 5/28-5/29), three Upland Plovers in Rockingham Co. (5/1-5/2), and several sightings of Sandhill Cranes (two at Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach on 5/9, two at Julie Metz Wetlands, Prince William Co. on 5/12, one in Augusta Co. on 5/12, one in Charlottesville on 5/24, and one in New Kent Co. about 6/1). Other migrants of interest included Parasitic Jaegers at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) (five light-morph adults on 5/3, one light-morph adult 5/9, and two adults on 5/17) and the following seven reports of Red-necked Phalaropes: two males at the CBBT (5/17), one female in Reston, Fairfax Co. (5/18), two birds at Craney Island, Portsmouth (5/20), one to two birds at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co. on the following dates: 5/23, 6/6, 6/21, and 6/22, eight birds at Blandy Experimental Farm in Clarke Co. on 5/22 (one bird remaining 5/24), and one male at Craney Island (6/3). Notable inland records included single Little Blue Herons in both Botetourt Co. (5/4) and Buchanan Co. (5/11), a White-rumped Sandpiper in Fauquier Co. (5/11), and two Least Terns on the James River at the Goochland/Powhatan Co. line (6/30). And several summer records were significant. A Reddish Egret was reported for one day only along the Chincoteague causeway (6/20). All three mergansers made showings in the state, with breeding by both Common Merganser (eight young on the Little River at the Montgomery/Pulaski Co. line both 6/4 and 6/21) and Hooded Merganser (breeding confirmed at Douthat State Park, Bath Co. on the Breeding Bird Foray), in addition to a female noted at Sky Meadows State Park in Fauquier Co. (6/22). A Red-breasted Merganser was also noted on Belmont Bay, Fairfax Co. (6/21). And a female Bufflehead was present at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co. (6/29). Two broods of Pied-billed Grebes were observed at Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area, Mecklenburg Co. (7/3), and a Common Moorhen was present at Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co. (6/19-6/29). Other notable waterbird reports were three sightings of White Pelicans, with five at Leesylvania State Park, Prince William Co. (5/12), as well as three on Belmont Bay, Fairfax Co. (5/16) to the end of the month, and a single bird at Hog Island, Surry Co. (7/13). And a female Anhinga was seen at Stumpy Lake , Virginia Beach (5/16). Finally, a Wilson's Phalarope at Craney Island , Portsmouth on7/17 was probably an early migrant.

Concluding with raptors, a Northern Goshawk was sighted at Jarman Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Albemarle Co. on 5/3 during the VSO annual meeting. And there were three sightings of Swallow-tailed Kites during the period. The first was during the VSO annual meeting, and was seen at Ivy Creek, Albemarle Co. on5/2. And on 5/11 single individuals were also seen at both the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, Northampton Co. and from Bull Mountain in Buchanan Co. Mississippi Kites were more widely reported, with the largest number seen being in the Emporia/Greensville/Southampton Co. area, where a maximum of 26 were seen on6/14, including one flock of 16. Other reports came from there on 6/21 and 7/9. In Halifax Co. one bird was seen on 6/1 after a three year absence from that locale. At Huntley Meadows two adults were present on 6/1 and 6/6, as well as single birds on 6/21 and 6/22. And one bird was also seen in Fredericksburg 6/4, and another in Woodbridge , Prince William Co. 6/14. A single report of Merlin was made, with two seen at the CBBT on 5/9. And several Peregrine Falcon reports were made, including one 5/2 in Norfolk , where they nest on the West Norfolk bridge, one 6/8 in Alexandria , and one 6/24 in Goochland Co. Unfortunately West Nile Virus's effects were seen in this species when three nestlings were killed by the virus, and a fourth nestling and a parent were also ill. Lastly, a Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard calling in Highland Co. at the Locust Springs Campground during the Breeding Bird Foray on both 6/8 and 6/9.

-Gene Sattler