A quarterlyirginia journal of ornithological sightings in theirds Commonwealth V published by the Virginia B Society of Ornithology

Volume 13 Ÿ Number 1 Summer Records Ÿ June–July 2016 Virginia Birds Regions Cities/towns numbered on map 1. Abingdon 18. Fredericksburg 31. Petersburg 42. Virginia Beach 2. Alexandria 19. Galax 32. Poquoson 43. Waynesboro 3. Bedford 20. Hampton 33. Portsmouth 44. Williamsburg 45 4. Bristol 21. Harrisonburg 34. Radford 45. Winchester Frederick Clarke Loudoun 5. Buena Vista 22. Hopewell 35. Richmond North Fairfax Arlington 6. Cape Charles 23. Lexington 36. Roanoke Warren Fauquier 15,16 Shenandoah 25, 26 7. Charlottesville 24. Lynchburg 37. Salem Rappahannock Prince 2 Page William 8. Chesapeake 25. Manassas 38. South Boston Madison Culpeper Rockingham21 Stafford 9. Chincoteague 26. Manassas Park 39. Staunton King Highland Greene George 10. Clifton Forge 27. Martinsville 40. Suffolk Augusta Orange 18 11. Colonial Heights 28. Newport News 41. Tazewell 39 Spotsylvania Westmoreland Bath 43 7 Louisa Caroline Richmond 12. Covington 29. Norfolk West Albemarle Essex East 9 King and Queen Northumberland 12 Rockbridge Central King William 13. Danville 30. Norton 10 Nelson Lancaster Alleghany 23 FluvannaGoochland Hanover 14. Emporia 5 Middlesex Amherst Henrico Accomack Botetourt Buckingham Powhatan 15. Fairfax New Gloucester Craig Appomattox 35 Kent Mathews 16. Falls Church Bedford Chesterfield Charles James Giles Roanoke 24 CumberlandAmelia 22 City City 44 17. Franklin Buchanan 3 Prince York 6 Montgomery37 36 Campbell Edward 11 41 Bland Nottoway Prince Dickenson 31 32 Northampton Tazewell 34 George Surry 28 Pulaski Charlotte Dinwiddie 20 Wise Franklin Coastal Russell Lunenburg Southeast 29 30 Wythe Floyd Sussex Isle of 33 Southwest Smyth South Central Wight Carroll Pittsylvania Halifax 14 42 Lee Scott 1 Mecklenburg Washington Grayson 27 38 Southampton17 40 8 4 19 Patrick Henry 13 BrunswickGreensville

Virginia Birds VSO Officers VSO Board of Directors Editors President Terms expire 2017 Bill Williams Jeff Trollinger, Henrico Bruce Johnson, Lovettsville [email protected] Past President Michael Lott, Fredricksburg Louise Menges Joe Coleman, Round Hill Laura Neale, Fairfield Vice President [email protected] Terms expire 2018 Regional Editors Lenny Bankester, Alexandria Patti Reum, Bluegrass Matt Anthony Secretary Russell Taylor, Vienna Fred Atwood Christine Stinson, Ferrum Dave Youker, Yorktown Terms expire 2019 Nick Flanders Treasurer Mary Ann Good Terri Cuthriell, Smithfield Lesley Bulluck, Bon Air Clyde Kessler Editor Dan Bieker, North Garden Michael Lott Andrew Dolby, Fredericksburg Bill Williams, Williamsburg Janet Paisley Newsletter Editor Zak Poulton Andrew Rapp Len Alfredson, Arlington C. Michael Stinson Membership Secretary Bill Williams Shirley Devan, Williamsburg Submissions Send reports and photographs to the Regional Editors. Photographs should be the highest electronic quality possible. Send with release form, which can be found on the VSO web site: www.virginiabirds.net. Articles for consideration can be sent to [email protected]. Season Reports due to Regional Editors Fall (Aug–Nov) 15 Dec Winter (Dec–Feb) 15 Mar Spring (Mar–May) 15 Jun Summer ( Jun–Jul) 15 Aug Terms and Abbreviations Species name in bold first time mentioned (VARCOM Review Birds BOLD CAPS); county names are in italics. Abbreviations ad. (ads.) adult(s) BBS Breeding Bird Survey CBC Christmas Bird Count Cr. Creek et al. and others f. female fide vouched by FOS First of Season Ft. Fort Gold Book Virginia’s Birdlife, An Annotated Checklist. Virginia Avifauna No. 7, Fourth Edition, 2007. Hwy. Highway Is. Island(s), Isle(s) imm. (imms.) immature(s) junc. junction juv. (juvs.) juvenile(s) L. Lake Ln. Lane MAPS Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship m. male m. obs. many/multiple observers Mt. Mountain, Mount NAP Natural Area Preserve NP National Park NWR National Wildlife Refuge ph. photographed by (initials) Pk. Park Pt. Point R. River Rd. Road Res. Reservoir RP Regional Park Rte. Route SF State Forest SP State Park VARCOM Virginia Avian Records Committee VDGIF Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries v. r. voice recording VSO Virginia Society of Ornithology WMA Wildlife Management Area * specimen collected

On the cover: Black-necked Stilt with 4 chicks, photographed on Craney Island 23 Jun by Bill Williams

Virginia Birds is printed on recycled paper by PIP, Lynchburg. Published October 2016 DOVES: The Virginia Avian Record’s Committee’s Next Step into the Digital Era The Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO) launched its quarterly journal, Virginia Birds, in 2004. Coincidentally, that same year, the Virginia Avian Records Committee (VARCOM) took its first step into the digital age when then- VARCOM Secretary, Sue Heath, created an online mechanism for Committee Members to independently review and vote on scanned records documentation. Prior to that, VARCOM operated much like many other Bird Records Committees. Observers mailed written reports, photographs (often 35 mm slides), or other media to the Secretary, who dutifully compiled them into review packages that were then circulated by conventional mail among Committee Members in round-robin fashion. Hand-written votes and comments were mailed back to the Secretary for compilation. Records were re-circulated as needed by mail until the review process for each record was completed. Needless to say, this vetting procedure was time consuming and expensive.

As innovative as VARCOM’s initial 2004 web-based process was, it had its limitations. Much of the records documentation, including photographs, continued to be received by conventional mail, with a slow progression towards reports being posted to the Secretary by e-mail. Nevertheless, record documents had to be digitally scanned and organized into review packages that were then made available to the committee via an online link. Committee Members were given a timeline to complete their reviews. Their individual votes and comments for each record were recorded on a form that was e-mailed back to the Secretary for compilation. While this saved time and costs, it was still essentially a manual process that involved considerable effort by the Secretary. Because there was no public access to the results of committee deliberations, VARCOM’s actions were unknown until its annual report was published in The Raven. Additionally, there was no online means to view photographs associated with significant records.

In July 2009, VARCOM Secretary Amy Gilmer developed a proposal for an automated VARCOM Database and Online Submission Project. The proposed project had three key features: an online mechanism for submission of reports; an online mechanism for voting by Committee Members; and, an online archive of VARCOM records. The proposal was presented to the VSO Board of Directors, who endorsed the project with funding for the 2010 budget year. A contract programmer was selected but, due to unanticipated circumstances, was unable to fulfill the contract.

The project was dormant until 2011 when VARCOM Chairman Bob Ake suggested it might be a suitable senior class project for an undergraduate computer science student group he was mentoring at Old Dominion University (ODU). Because it was a class activity, there was no financial cost to the VSO. Through Bob’s guidance the class developed a program known as DOVES (Database for Ornithological Verification and Submission) using the Ruby on Rails programming language. Their work was completed in May 2013, although some finishing touch programming remained. Those programming responsibilities were assumed by ODU students, who refined and enhanced DOVES capabilities under a grant received from the VSO. DOVES was transferred to a commercial web host in July 2013.

Trial testing of the DOVES records submission component was initiated in early 2014. Since then approximately 70 different observers have posted more than 200 submissions which have been reviewed by the committee via the system’s records voting component. In the summer of 2015, VARCOM received additional VSO funds to correct problems revealed during the testing process and to create an online archive of all existing Accepted records, including those reviewed prior to the DOVES inception. This work was completed in May 2016.

One of DOVES most exceptional components is its publicly accessible archive of all Accepted records. Anyone may view summary documentation for these records, including the pictures that were submitted as supporting evidence. Only those photographs that VARCOM has been granted specific permission to use for the publicly accessible archive are posted.

DOVES was officially launched to the public on October 1, 2016.

4 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 We encourage anyone wishing to submit a report to do so by logging into the DOVES site at http://vsodoves.org then registering as a user.

The VSO’s step into the digital age of avian records was skillfully brought to completion by the 2013 ODU Computer Science Senior Class Blue Team: Dr. Janet Brunelle, Dr. Ajay Gupta, Scott Pardue, Bharath Kongara, Avinash Gosavi, and Grant Atkins. To them we owe a very sincere debt of gratitude.

Wendy Ealding and Bob Ake

Two ready-to-fledge Common Nighthawks photographed by Bill Williams at Craney Island, Portsmouth 7 Jul

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 5 Regional Reports

North Editors: Michael Lott Mary Ann Good 1729 Jefferson Davis Hwy. 18280 Lincoln Rd. P.O. Box 339 Purcellville, VA 20132 Stafford, VA 22554 [email protected] [email protected] Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Prince William, Rappahannock, and Stafford counties; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park

Temperatures were near average throughout June; however, A Black-billed Cuckoo, a rare summer resident in the temperatures were nearly 3 degrees above average for July. Region, was heard near Upperville, Fauquier 11 Jun Rainfall was generally average to slightly below average for (PK, RT). A Chuck-will’s-widow, considered rare in the the period. The highlights of the season included summer Piedmont n. of the James R., was heard along Snake Castle sightings of Sandhill Crane, Wilson’s , Peregrine Rd., Fauquier 15 Jun (GS), where it was heard again 3 Jul Falcon, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. (KK, m. obs.). A Sora, a rare and local summer resident in the Piedmont, was reported near Catlett, Fauquier 4 Jun Abbreviations: Dyke Marsh (Dyke Marsh Wildlife (GSl). A Sandhill Crane, a rare transient in the Piedmont, Preserve, Fairfax); Huntley Meadows (Huntley Meadows was observed near Locust Dale, Madison 8 Jun (ph. MA). Pk., Fairfax); Occoquan Bay (Occoquan Bay NWR, Fairfax) A Wilson’s Snipe reported from Occoquan Bay 17 Jul (BHo) was considerably earlier than its Coastal Plain WATERFOWL–SNIPE extreme early date of 12 Aug. A Tundra Swan was observed at Dyke Marsh 15 Jun (LC), a rare summer visitor. A continuing m. Lesser Scaup, also Herons–FALCONS a rare summer visitor, observed 5 Jun at Dyke Marsh (ph. An impressive 115 Great Egrets were seen at Dyke Marsh GH) was joined by another 19 Jun (MR). 24 Jul (LM). A single Snowy Egret, a rare summer visitor, was seen at Huntley Meadows 19 Jul (RR, SS). Another fairly rare postbreeding summer visitor was a Little Blue observed at Huntley Meadows 4 Jun (DLe), where up to 5 were seen through 25 Jul. A Black-crowned Night-Heron, a rare summer resident in the Piedmont, was observed at a pond near Haycock Rd., Fairfax 5 Jun (PF). Two Glossy Ibis, a rare summer visitor inland, were observed at Dyke Marsh 12 Jul (ph. EE). Pairs of Osprey, a rare and local summer resident in the Piedmont, were observed at a pond at Dulles Int. Airport, Loudoun 12 Jun (SJ) and L. Brittle, Fauquier 29 Jul (GSl). There were various sightings of Mississippi Kites in addition to multiple sightings throughout the period near their now- established nesting sites in Annandale and Burke, Fairfax. A m. Lesser Scaup at Dyke Marsh photographed 5 Jun by A single was observed over Bayfield Ln., Fauquier 8 Jun Gerry Hawkins (BH), with 2 seen at this location 9 Jun (AD). One was seen at North 18th and Upton Sts., Arlington 20 & 21 Jul ( JA). Most impressive were the 10 observed at the Prince

6 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 William Landfill,Prince William 24 Jul ( JS). A Peregrine a rare summer resident in the Piedmont, was observed Falcon, a very rare summer resident in the Piedmont, was at Leopold’s Preserve, Prince William 12 Jul (DL). A reported at Bailey’s Crossroads, Fairfax 21 Jul ( JA). Savannah Sparrow, a rare summer resident in the Piedmont, was observed near a private residence, Loudoun FLYCATCHERS–GRACKLES 10 Jul ( JC). A late White-throated Sparrow was reported A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a rare summer resident, was at Dyke Marsh 6 Jul (EE), nearly a month after this reported at Huntley Meadows 13 Jun (HG), later than species’ 12 Jun Coastal Plain extreme late date. Twenty- this species’ reported 8 Jun Coastal Plain extreme late date. five Bobolinks, another rare and local summer resident in Another rare summer resident in the Coastal Plain, a Willow the Piedmont, were observed near Upperville, Fauquier 11 Flycatcher, was observed vocalizing at Dyke Marsh 22 Jun Jun (PK, RT). A leucistic Common Grackle was observed (EE). A Least Flycatcher, a rare summer resident in the at Glencarlyn, Arlington 5 Jul (ph. SY). Region, was reported 19 Jun at Shenandoah NP, Madison (GK, MK). A Warbling Vireo, a rare summer resident in Contributors: Mary Allen, Janet Anderson, Larry the Coastal Plain and usually along the Potomac R., was Cartwright, Joe Coleman, Art Drauglis, Edward Eder, observed at Dyke Marsh 5 Jun (GH), with 3 reported at Peter Frechtel, Gionet, Harry Glasgow, Bert Harris, this location 19 Jun (MR). Individual Common Ravens, Gerry Hawkins, Bill Hohenstein (BHo), Stephen Johnson, rare in the Coastal Plain in summer, were observed at Phil Kenny, Mary Alice Koeneke, Glen Koppel, Kelly Cherrydale, Arlington 11 Jun ( JA); Woodbridge, Prince Krechmer, Dave Larson, David Ledwith (DLe), Larry William 25 Jun (MR); and along Waynewood Blvd., Meade, Elton Morel, Marc Ribaudo, Rich Rieger, Gina Alexandria 12 Jul (MG). A Bank Swallow was observed Sheridan, Greg Slader (GSl), Jason Strickland, Sherman at Dyke Marsh 11 Jun (EM), an uncommon and very local Suter, Russell Taylor, Steve Young summer resident in the Coastal Plain. A Marsh Wren,

Editor: Clyde Kessler West P.O. Box 3612 Radford, VA 24141 [email protected] Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Clarke, Craig, Frederick, Giles, Highland, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties; the cities/towns of Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Covington, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester

Abbreviation: RCSTP (Roanoke City Sewage Treatment One Chuck-will’s-widow was heard at Union Springs, Plant, Roanoke) Rockingham 9 Jun (GMo). Ten Eastern Whip-poor-wills were at Union Springs, Rockingham 9 Jun (GMo) and 9 in WATERFOWL–IBIS Frederick 18 Jun (RK). A Sora was heard at a pond near the A Mute Swan was observed in Swoope, Augusta 1–9 Jun Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Rockingham 1 Jun (GMo). (DH, AL, GMo). Five Hooded Mergansers were found in An ad. Sora with up to 3 young was seen and photographed Rockingham 21 Jun (GMo), and a f. was in Radford 2–4 at the Nazarene Church Rd. Wetlands, Rockingham 6–31 Jul (CK). A f. Common Merganser with 6 young was Jul (m. obs.). As many as 5 Virginia Rails (2 ads., 2 juvs., observed and photographed in Crimora, Augusta 5–20 Jun and another calling) were found and photographed at the (AW). Common Nighthawks were present at Broadway Nazarene Church Wetlands, Rockingham 15–30 Jul (m. obs., Community Pk., Rockingham throughout the period, with ph. DB, WL). Two Sandhill Cranes spent the summer in a peak count of 5 on 30 Jul; one was photographed there 24 Fishersville, Augusta (m. obs.). Three Pectoral Sandpipers Jun (GMo). One was also found near Ida, Page 27 Jul (GM). were observed at Swoope, Augusta 23 Jul (AL), 5 near

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 7 White Post, Clarke 26 Jul (DC), and one at RCSTP 31 A Swainson’s Thrush was found in Highland 2 Jun (GH). Jul (KD, JD). An ad. and one hatch-year fledgling Spotted Four Hermit Thrushes were observed on Sapling Ridge, Sandpiper were observed at Swoope, Augusta 2 Jun (AL). Highland 3 Jun ( JS), one near Pembroke, Giles 3 Jun ( JL), 3 Eighteen Great Egrets were found and photographed at on Reddish Knob, Augusta 10 Jun (WL), and 3 at Straight a pond near Woodstock, Shenandoah 29–30 Jul (KA). A Fork, Highland 25 Jun (m. obs.). Five Purple Finches were SNOWY EGRET was observed in Fishersville, Augusta 29– seen in Highland 6 Jun (DB). Sixteen Red Crossbills foraged 30 Jul (AL). An imm. Little Blue Heron found in Daleville, on cones of red spruce on Sapling Ridge, Highland 3 Jun ( JS) Botetourt 14 ( JH) & 15 Jul (KD, BKi) was last seen 24 Jul and 7 were seen on Shenandoah Mt., Highland 20 Jun (BKi). ( JH). Nine Green Herons including 2 juvs. and 4 chicks At Bother Knob, Rockingham 4 were noted 12 Jun ( JT). A were seen in Staunton 20–21 Jul (PW). Two Black-crowned few were reported from the Briery Branch Gap and Reddish Night-Herons were seen in Roanoke 13 Jun (EW), 8 along Knob area of Rockingham throughout the period with a high the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, Page 18 Jun (GK, MK), count of 4 on 23 Jul (GMo). A Golden-winged Warbler 6 there 8 Jul (DH), one at Newman L., Harrisonburg 11 was found in Staunton 2 Jun (PW). Two Prothonotary Jul (MB), and 2 near Dayton, Rockingham 27 Jul ( JT). Warblers were observed in Warren 21 Jun (MC), one in A GLOSSY IBIS was seen at the Nazarene Church Rd. Clarke 25 Jun (DC), and one in Clarke 22 Jul (FD). Three Wetlands, Rockingham 27 Jul ( JT). Vesper Sparrows were observed in Highland 2 Jun (GH) and one was in Shenandoah 12 Jun (DH). Five Grasshopper OWLS–BOBOLINK Sparrows were found in Blue Grass Valley, Highland 6 Jun A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found near L. Moomaw, (GM), 4 in Rockingham 11 Jun (MG), 8 in Warren 14 Jun Alleghany 7 Jun ( JSh). Four Loggerhead Shrikes were ( JF), 3 near Luray, Page 6 Jul (KK), and 5 in Pulaski 9 Jul seen in Frederick 7 Jun ( JL), 2 near Dublin, Pulaski 13 Jun (DE). Summer Tanager reports included one on Paddy Knob, (EO), and 2 near Ashby, Warren 16 Jul (MW). Twenty-nine Bath 12 Jun (LA), one in Highland 15 Jun (KS), 2 in Clarke Warbling Vireos were observed in Warren 10 Jun (NK, RKi), 25 Jun (TH), 2 in Botetourt 3 Jul (BK), one in Shenandoah 17 also in Warren 22 Jun (GS), 25 along the Shenandoah N P, Rockingham 6 Jul (GM), and one at Mountain L., Giles R., Page 19 Jun (MC), 20 in Clarke 25 Jun (DC), and 16, 20 Jul (KR). A Dickcissel was seen near Dublin, Pulaski 18 including recently fledged young, also in Clarke 27 Jun (BL, Jun (MB, SB); 3 were in Highland 22 Jun (EO), and one was JL). A singing m. Horned was observed near Lacey in Rockingham 1 Jul (DH). Fifteen Bobolinks were observed Spring, Rockingham 25 Jun (WH). Twenty Bank Swallows in Blue Grass Valley, Highland 6 Jun (GM), 25 in Warren 23 were found near Strasburg, Shenandoah 19 Jun (ET), 10 Jun (BL, JL), and 12 near Hayfield, Frederick 25 Jun ( JL). near Front Royal, Warren 23 Jun (DN), 10 near Goshen, Seventy-five (30 molting ads. and 45 hatch-year young) were Bath 29 Jun ( JP), and 56 near Whitehouse Landing, Page found at Swoope, Augusta 21 Jun (AL). 30 Jul (DH). Thirty Cliff Swallows were seen in Highland 12 Jun (WC). Elsewhere, 75 were at Claytor L., Pulaski 25 Contributors: Lee Adams, Kirk Andrews, Matthew Bell, Jun (BO), 30 near Alma, Page 1 Jul (WH), and 50 at Bisset Mary Ann Bentley, Stan Bentley, David Boltz, David Pk., Radford 6 Jul ( JK). A fledgling was seen in a nest near Carr, Walker Catlett, Matt Cohen, Kent Davis, Joanne Luray, Page 8 Jul (DH). Derryberry, Francisco Diaz, Dana Eglinton, James Fox, Jeff Gerbracht, Matthew Gingerich, Carly Gray, Thomas Two Red-breasted Nuthatches were found at Reddish Gray, James Hancock, George Harris, William Hintze, Teri Knob, Augusta 10 Jun (DH) and one was on Paddy Knob, Holland, Diane Holsinger, John Kell, Becky Keller, Clyde Bath 18 Jun (GMo); 2 were at a possible nest cavity at Kessler, Barry Kinzie (BKi), Nancy Kirschbaum, Richard Poverty Ck., Montgomery 20 Jun (LS). A family group of 5 Kirschbaum, Mary Alice Koeneke, Richard Korpi, Glenn was at Massanutten, Rockingham 16 Jul ( JG), and 3 (2 ads. Koppel, Kelly Krechmer, Allen Larner, William Leigh, and a hatch-year) were on Poor Mt., Roanoke 16 Jul (CG, BJ Little, John Little, Jessica Lowry, Stacey Maggard, TG). Three Brown Creepers were at Glen Alton, Giles 6 Jun Gabriel Mapel, Greg Moyers (GMo), Darshan Narang, Bill (BK) and 3 were at Poverty Ck., Montgomery 20 Jun (LS). Opengari, Ellison Orcutt, John Pancake, Kathy Richardson, Thirteen Veeries were found in Giles 6 Jun (BK). Several Lois Schultz, Karen Seward, James Shelton ( JSh), Gina were also found on Paddy Knob, Highland through June and Sheridan, John Spahr, John Todd, Ed Trelawny, Penny July with a high count of 5 on 18 Jun ( JF) and 5 Jul (SM). Warren, Matthew White, Emily Wilhelm, Allen Wolf.

8 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 Southwest Editor: Zak Poulton 466 Springlake Rd. Bristol, VA 24201 [email protected] Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties; the cities/towns of Abingdon, Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Tazewell

The Southwest Region had average temperatures as follows: from 4 Jun–7 Jul (RM, EO, DS). Two were reported in June 73 °F; July 77 °F. Sightings of note for the 2-month Grayson 4 & 14 Jun (BD, EH). One observation occurred period included Common Mergansers, a Little Blue Heron, in Floyd 11–12 Jul (SR). This observation also included a and a Dickcissel. fledgling. Red Crossbills were reported at WM. Six were observed on 3 Jun ( JP) and 4 observed on 2 Jul (KD et Abbreviations: BG (Burke’s Garden, Tazewell); NRSP al.). This species is known to breed in the high elevation (New River SP, Grayson); WM (Whitetop Mt., Grayson) spruce fir forest but isn’t observed every year. A Dickcissel was reported in Russell 25 & 26 Jul (VR, LM, RM). This Waterfowl–Sparrows species is rare (Gold Book) in the Region and often not Four Common Mergansers were observed on the seen out of higher elevations during this time of year. North Fork of the Holston R., Washington 9 Jun (SH). This species has only been reported during the summer Contributors: Kent Davis, Bill Dunson, Eric Harrold, months a few times before. Two accounts of 3 Yellow- Sheri Hiter, Becky Keller, Lynda Mayhorn, Roger Mayhorn, bellied Sapsuckers were reported during the summer in Ellison Orcutt, John Pancake, Veronica Ratliff, Steve Roble, Grayson on 23 & 26 Jun (BK, CS). There were 8 reports of David Schlaabach, Cathy Spencer Willow Flycatchers this summer. Five reports were in BG

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 9 Editor: C. Michael Stinson South 437 Wildflower Lane Dillwyn, VA 23936 Central [email protected] Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Franklin, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward counties; the cities/towns of Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Martinsville, Petersburg, and South Boston

Few reports were submitted this season, especially regarding 7 Least Sandpipers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Solitary unusual passerines. Many checklists were submitted to eBird Sandpiper, and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs ( JB), portending as contributions to the second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas, a good showing of fall migrants at this site. A Warbling but nearly all of the species reported were those expected Vireo at Bear Cr. L. SP, Cumberland 16 Jun (TD) was the to occur in the area. By the end of July, water levels at Kerr only report away from expected sites along the James R. Reservoir were low enough that migrant shorebirds were A Worm-eating Warbler heard 17 Jun along Saunder’s being seen along the upper shore at Staunton View Public Cr. in Holliday L. SP was at least a potential breeder in Use Area, but elsewhere almost no shorebirds were reported. Appomattox, where they are seldom reported. The only other report of that species was of two gathering food along COMMON MERGANSER–MISSISSIPPI High Bridge Tr. SP near Tuggle, Prince Edward 4 Jul (ES). The long-staying f. Common Merganser below Kerr Dam, Mecklenburg, was seen there again 16 Jul ( JB et al.). Two Contributors: Jeff Blalock, Todd Day, Evan Spears, C. Least Bitterns found on a private pond at Greenfield, Michael Stinson Charlotte 6 Jul (ES et al.) remained until the end of the period, providing a first record for the county. Breeding was suspected but never confirmed. Three imm. White Ibis were at Staunton View Public Use Area, Mecklenburg/Halifax 26 Jul ( JB); despite their population increase along the Virginia coast the species is still rare to unknown in this Region. Mississippi Kites continued through the period along Wolf Trap Rd., s. Halifax ( JB), where they have been located for several recent summers. One seen 3 Jun north of Hampden- Sydney, Prince Edward (CMS), was the third county record; it was not relocated on subsequent dates. Also, 2 ad. Mississippi Kites were near Naruna, Campbell 16 Jun (TD), and several were reported from Emporia and Greensville on various dates; collectively this is perhaps the most impressive showing ever for this species in the Region. SPOTTED SANDPIPER–WORM-EATING WARBLER Two Spotted Sandpipers appeared on the shore of Holliday L., Appomattox 28 Jun (ES), and as with previous Regional summer records, it is unclear whether these birds were migrants or had bred nearby. At Staunton View Public Use Area, Mecklenburg/Halifax, 26 Jul, an assortment of migrant shorebirds were present, including

10 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 Central Editors: Andrew Rapp Janet Paisley 3689 Red Fox Lane 1435 Gentry Lane Keswick, VA 22947 Charlottesville, VA 22903 [email protected] [email protected]

Albemarle, Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Caroline, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Louisa, Nelson, Orange, Powhatan, and Spotsylvania counties; the cities of Bedford, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, and Lynchburg

The weather in central Virginia continued to be above normal Red House Rd., Campbell 11 Jun (ML); and 3 at Greenfield during the summer period. June had an average monthly Farm, Albemarle 12 Jun (LS). There were two reports of temperature of 74.3 degrees, a departure from normal of Brown-headed Nuthatches, both at new locations: one 2.4 degrees. July had an average monthly temperature of at Byrd Elementary School, Goochland 4 Jun (LB); and a 80.4 degrees, which was a departure from normal of 5.0 pair potentially nesting at Thousand Island RV Reserve, degrees. Total rainfall for the period was 6.75 inches, a Campbell 9 Jun (LA). Up to 6 Veeries were reported from departure from normal of -1.32, occurring in July. The rain Pocosin Cabin, Greene 12 Jun (DL). A Yellow-rumped in early June provided small flats for migrant shorebirds Warbler, a local but increasing breeder in the state, was such as White-rumped Sandpiper. Other highlights were found marking territory at Alhambra Rd., Amherst on 18 American White , Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Jun (BL, JL). An impressive count of 6 Vesper Sparrows, and Hooded Merganser. along with the report of 2 at this location two summers ago, suggested possible breeding of this local summer breeder at MERGANSERS–BOBOLINK Green Springs, Louisa 23 Jul (HH). A late White-throated A Hooded Merganser was a surprise on 17 Jun at Stoney Sparrow was found on 1 Jun in Amherst (DMS). Two Ck., Nelson (ph.MF); the individual was not confirmed to be Bobolinks were found on Grastly Ln., Orange 28 Jun (VK). breeding in the area and was likely a wandering individual in search of a mate. A Ring-necked Pheasant reported at Contributors: Logan Anderson, Fred Atwood, Lewis the Presbyterian Homes, Lynchburg 8 Jun represented most Barnett, Bill Boyd, George Burruss, Marshall Faintich, Huck likely a survivor from nearby releases for hunting purposes Hutchens, Kelly Krechmer, Diane Lepkowksi, BJ Little, Jon (ph. LA,GB). There was a report of a Black-billed Cuckoo Little, Margaret Lyons, Stauffer Miller, Pete Myers, Ellison from Chancho Volante, Albemarle 3 Jul which suggested Orcutt, Richard Peters, Donna Mateski de Sanchez, Leigh potential nesting in the nearby area (PM). A rare transient Surdukowski White-rumped Sandpiper showed up at Greenfield Farm, Albemarle for only a short visit on 12 Jun (LS). An early Solitary Sandpiper was located at Hidden Swamp, Albemarle 15 Jul (SM). A Common Loon was found on L. Anna, Louisa 9 Jul (RP). There was an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN spotted flying high over Fredericksburg 8 Jun (BB). An imm. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found at Sycamore Landing, Fluvanna 15 Jul (HH). Red-headed Woodpeckers were found at several locations in Amherst, Albemarle, Campbell, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Powhatan with confirmed breeding in Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Louisa, which is exciting for this declining species as the species still has a foothold in these counties. Four reports of Horned Larks were recorded: one on Mount Sharon Rd., Orange 9 Jun (EO); 3 on Level Rd., Caroline 11 Jun (FA); one on

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 11 Southeast Guest Editor: Matt Anthony 713 S. Henry St. Williamsburg, VA 23185 [email protected] Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, New Kent, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and York counties; the cities of Franklin, Hopewell, Richmond, and Williamsburg

Temperatures in the Region hovered very close to average possibly the same individual, was at Jamestown 18 Jul (ph. during the summer. Precipitation was significantly above BW). A well-described Black , rare away from the average in June, but returned to average during July. This coast, was at Ragged Is. WMA, Isle of Wight 28 Jul ( JS). summer proved to be good for Black-bellied Whistling- Anhingas were present at multiple locations in the Region Duck, both statewide and in the Region. Jamestown Island this summer. Four were seen at Carson Wetland, Prince hosted several notable shorebirds this summer. Other George 12 Jun (ph. JS). These birds continued to be seen rarities included Anhinga and Western Kingbird. past the reporting period, with a high count of 6 reported 13 Jun (AR, RW). A single Anhinga was at Hardwood’s Mill Abbreviations: Dutch Gap (Dutch Gap Conservation Res., York 25 Jun (DY). An American Bittern that flew over Area/Henricus Historical Park, Chesterfield); Hog (Hog during a bird survey near Nelson Park, York 25 Jun (NN) Island WMA, Surry); Jamestown ( Jamestown Island, provided the first local June record. Six juv. White Ibis, rare James City). inland, were at Hog 30 Jul (ph. JB, AD). DUCKS–COOTS KINGBIRDS–DICKCISSEL There were several records of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING- A WESTERN KINGBIRD at College Cr., James City 11 Jun DUCK in the state this summer, including two from the (ph. BT) provided the second local June record, and the Region. One bird was seen in a private yard near L. Loreine, first June record since 1984. Henrico 29 Jun (SB, ph. KH) and continued until at least 2 Jul (WB). A flyover at Jamestown 19 Jul (NN) provided the second local record and the first for James City. Three recently fledged Hooded Mergansers were observed at Upham Brook Swamp, Henrico 16 Jun (EO). A single Ruddy Duck, a species which occasionally oversummers in the Region, was at Hog 30 Jul (ph. JB, AD). An American Coot, also rare in summer, was first reported at Dutch Gap 12 Jun (ph. CN) and continued until at least 26 Jul (ph. WE). SHOREBIRDS–IBIS Several notable shorebirds were recorded in the Region this summer. An American Avocet at Jamestown 6 Jul (ph. NB, ph. CJ) was only the fourth record for James City, and the second this year. It also exceeded the previous local early date, which was 8 Jul 1999 at Hog. A Marbled Godwit at Jamestown 18 Jul (ph. BW, BT) provided the first record for James City. The third local record of “Western” Willet A Western Kingbird photographed by Brian Taber at College Creek, James City 11 Jun was provided by a bird at Jamestown 13 Jul (ph. BW). This bird was still present on 14 Jul (NN, BW). Another bird,

12 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 A single Loggerhead Shrike, rare in summer on the A very late White-throated Sparrow was at a private Coastal Plain, continued at the intersection of Purvis Ln. residence in Yorktown, York 4 Jun (EW). A well-described and Burwells Bay Rd., Isle of Wight. It was first documented Dickcissel was seen at Westover Plantation, Charles City 4 May (EO) and continued through the summer reporting 2 Jul (GG). period, with the last sighting reported 4 Jul (DC). A Warbling Vireo, uncommon in the summer, was singing Contributors: Matt Anthony, Sandee Bailey, Nancy at Tutters Neck Pond, Williamsburg 13 Jun (NN) and Barnhart, Jeff Blalock, Will Burgoyne, Erin Chapman, continued through at least 24 Jun (MA, JS). Cliff Swallows, David Clark, Adam D’Onofrio, Wendy Ealding, Geoff also locally uncommon in summer, were visiting a possible Giles, Kim Harrell, Cheryl Jacobson, Jeanette Navia, Nick nest site under the Rte. 199 bridge over College Creek, Newberry, Carlton Noll, Ellison Orcutt, Andrew Rapp, Williamsburg 30 Jun (NN) and were still at that location Jason Strickland, Brian Taber, Elizabeth Wilkins, Bill through 18 Jul (MA, EC). A Pine Siskin made a one-day Williams, Robert Wood, Dave Youker visit to a Chanco’s Grant, James City feeder 31 Jul (ph. JN).

Jeanette Navia’s 31 Jul photo of a Pine Siskin at a feeder in Chanco’s Grant, James City

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 13 East Editors: Nick Flanders Fred Atwood 3825 Pine Road Flint Hill School Portsmouth, Virginia 22124 10409 Academic Drive [email protected] Oakton, VA 22124 [email protected] Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties

The Northern Neck, composed of King George, Waterfowl–Rails Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland, and Lancaster A nice diversity of waterfowl species was reported from the Counties, is bordered by the Rappahannock and Potomac Region this summer. This season saw an uptick in Mute Rivers. The Middle Peninsula includes King William, King Swan observations compared to summer 2015, with small and Queen, Essex, Middlesex, Gloucester, and Mathews numbers found in n. and e. counties and a high count of 7 Counties and is bordered by the Rappahannock and near Colonial Beach, Westmoreland 19 Jun (BH). A count Pamunkey/York Rivers. The Mattaponi River is the boundary of 42 Wood Ducks from King George 25 Jul was impressive between King William and King and Queen and it joins (FA). One Green-winged Teal in Dragon Swamp at Byrds with the Pamunkey River to form the York River in West Bridge on the border of Essex and King and Queen 28 & 30 Point. Even though the northern and eastern shorelines of Jul (RM) may have been an early migrant. Two diving ducks the Northern Neck overlook the Maryland waters of the apparently summering in King George was notable, with one Potomac River, those Maryland birds are reported here since Redhead and one Ring-necked Duck present 4 Jun and 25 they are not reported anywhere else. Jul (FA). Summer scoter reports from the Region are very rare, so one Black Scoter off South Haven Beach,Mathews Highlights from the Region this summer included Black- 1 Jun was a great find (EO). Summer Ruddy Ducks were necked Stilt, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, reported from the Region for the fifth consecutive year with Swallow-tailed Kite, and Painted Bunting. As in 2015 good 2 at LaGrange Ln., King George 25 Jul (FA). This site also coverage of sites adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay resulted in hosted 2 Pied-billed Grebes 25 Jul (FA). Ten Chuck-will’s- above average diversity of coastal waterbirds for the Region. widow reports were received from the Region in summer Breeding Bird Atlas efforts were influential in increasing 2016, more than doubling the number of reports received in reporting across the Region, which was likely responsible for summer 2015. Most Chuck-will’s-widow observations came increases in observations of House Wrens, Yellow Warblers, from Westmoreland, Mathews, and Gloucester, with a high of and breeding evidence for warblers and sparrows in general. 6 at Winter Harbor Rd., Westmoreland 4 Jun (FA) and 3 in Given this positive trend in reporting of breeding species King William 6 Jul (LF). The two Eastern Whip-poor-will it was surprising that known Cliff Swallow colonies lacked reports received from the Region involved low numbers in coverage this summer. Many reports were gleaned from w. counties. Summer Virginia Rail reports from the Region eBird records and VA-Bird and NNAS listservers. are always exciting, so one near Naylor’s Beach, Richmond 20 Jun was notable (FA). Abbreviations: Bethel Beach (Bethel Beach area, Mathews); Guinea (Guinea Neck area, Gloucester); New Point Comfort Shorebirds–Terns (New Point Comfort NAP, Mathews); Wilna (Wilna Tract Black-necked Stilts are rare in the Region, but a flooded of the Rappahannock River Valley NWR, Richmond); field near Robins Neck, Gloucester held one 6 Jun (H&RC). Woodbury (Woodbury Rd., King William); Wright (Wright Seven American Oystercatchers nesting at New Point Tract of the Rappahannock River Valley NWR, Richmond). Comfort was a nice count 1 Jun (EO). Bethel Beach held some migrating shorebirds of note in late July, with 14 Semipalmated Plovers and one Ruddy Turnstone present 29 Jul (KK) and 2 Short-billed Dowitchers 23

14 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 Jul (AB). Checks of Woodbury in July did not produce crowned Night-Heron to be observed this summer was any observations of rare shorebirds, but observers did exceptional. Reports of single Black-crowneds came report counts of expected species that were notably high from Guinea 2 Jun (EO) and Jun (R&EB). for a w. county in the Region. These included 14 Least Small numbers of Yellow-crowneds, including a juv., were Sandpipers and 6 Lesser Yellowlegs 30 Jul (EO) and 8 reported throughout Jun (H&RC) and Jul (H&RC, JP) Pectoral Sandpipers 25 Jul (FA). One Semipalmated in Gloucester, with an additional report of one at Wilna 30 Sandpiper at Woodbury 25 Jul (FA) represented the only Jul (HC). Private property in Westmoreland held two ibis report of the species from a w. county in the Region this spp. in late July with one White Ibis present 25 Jul (FA) summer, with 24 in a flooded field near Diggs, Mathews 1 and 6 Glossy Ibis present 23 Jul (CT). One Glossy Ibis Jun furnishing the high count (EO). The only Short-billed was in a flooded field near Robins Neck, Gloucester 6 Jun Dowitcher report from a w. county in the Region came (H&RC). One Swallow-tailed Kite seen from Hwy. 360 from Hockley Neck Rd., King and Queen where one was just e. of Callao, Northumberland (B&JK) provided a great present 3 Jul (EO). One Greater Yellowlegs was in King record and was a highlight for the season in the Region. As George 25 Jul (FA) while other reports of this species in in 2015 the Hwy. 360 bridge over the Rappahannock R., the Region came from e. counties. Counts of 70 Laughing Essex was the site of a Peregrine Falcon observation, with Gulls at the Rappahannock R. off Tappahannock,Essex one present 25 Jul (FA). 16 Jul ( JF, JS) and in King George 25 Jul (FA) were high so far to the w. In 2015 observers reported triple-digit Flycatchers–Thrushes Least Tern counts at Bethel Beach in late Jul, while the The only Willow Flycatcher report came from Wilna high count this year came from Bethel Beach on 1 Jun where one was observed 4 Jun (LA); Wilna was also the when 130-plus incubating adults were observed (EO, ZB). only site where observers found the species in summer Sixty-five Least Terns remained at Bethel Beach 24 Jun 2015. Eight Horned Lark reports were received from the (MA, NN) and 86 were present at the site 23 Jul (AB). Region this season, mostly from w. counties with a high New Point Comfort held a high count of Royal Terns of 19 in Middlesex 25 Jun (MC, JC) but 4 larks were with 147 present 1 Jun (EO). Ten Sandwich Tern reports at Dameron Marsh NAP, Northumberland 16 Jul ( JF, were received from the Region, doubling the number of JS). Bank Swallows were found in small numbers in w. reports of this species received in 2015. As in previous years counties throughout the season, with larger flocks found most Sandwich Tern reports were from Mathews, with 6 in late July. An impressive flock of 1610 Bank Swallows a high at New Point Comfort 1 Jun (EO). The only report at Westmoreland Berry Farm Rd., Westmoreland 25 Jul from a different county came from Dameron Marsh NAP, (FA) was the highest summer count in Virginia reported Northumberland where 3 were present 16 Jul ( JF, JS). As to eBird. The pattern of Cliff Swallow reports this year was usual, few Black Skimmer reports were received from the similar to Bank Swallow reports, although the high was Region, but 22 were in Mathews 29 Jun (EO). only 25 on the Port Royal BBS 12 Jun (FA). Counts from censuses of Cliff Swallows at large nesting colonies in the Loons–Falcons Region were not received this year, but a report of possible Common Loons are rare in the Region in summer, so a nesting at a small colony at the Hwy. 17 bridge over Mount report of one off New Point Comfort 29 Jul (KK) was Landing Cr., Essex (FA) was interesting. Summer House exciting. Two Least Bitterns at North Haven Beach, Wren reports were unusually numerous this year with Mathews 1 Jun (EO) furnished another great record, as most involving small numbers of birds in e. counties. An summer reports typically come from w. counties in the exception to this pattern was a report of one House Wren Region. Reports of single Little Blue Herons came from at Rte. 632, Westmoreland 18 Jun (BH). Two out of three Jul (FR) and Woodbury 30 Jul ( JF, EO). Marsh Wren reports came from Guinea with one observed The number of Tricolored Heron reports was down from 24 Jun (H&RC) and 2 present 22 Jul ( JS). A count of 29 2015, but one was at Bethel Beach 1 Jun (EO) and one Marsh Wrens came from near Naylor’s Beach, Richmond was at New Point Comfort 5 Jun (MS). One Cattle Egret 20 Jun (FA). Eleven was the high count for Wood Thrush at Perrin Creek Rd., Gloucester 9 Jun ( JM) was a great with this number reported on the Port Royal BBS 12 Jun find. Any night-heron report in the Region is notable, and on the Truhart BBS 21 Jun (FA) and differing only so for both Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Black- slightly from Regional highs the prior two years.

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 15 Mimids–Warblers pair in King George 25 Jul (FA). Bobolinks were detected Small numbers of Gray Catbirds were commonly reported in King George at both the beginning and end of the season in the Region but 9 near Naylor’s Beach, Richmond 20 Jun with one Bobolink reported 4 Jun and 5 counted 25 Jul (FA) was the high count. Fewer Worm-eating Warbler (FA). One Baltimore Oriole in King William 25 Jul (FA) reports were received this summer compared to 2015, but furnished the only summer record of the species from the as in 2015 Wilna and nearby areas hosted the species. Visits Region and may have been an early southbound migrant. to Wilna and Wright resulted in reports of one Worm- eating Warbler 4 & 26 Jun with the latter report including Contributors: Lee Adams, Matt Anthony, Fred Atwood, an observation of possible nesting behavior (LA). A count Roy and Eirlys Barker, Arun Bose, Zach Bradford, Maeve of 8 Black-and-white Warblers on the Truhart BBS 21 Charlesworth, Joey Coker, Rochelle and Harry Colestock, Jun (FA) was down from 2015 but still the high for the Leslie Fellows, James Fox, George and Rosemarie Harris, Region. Three Kentucky Warbler reports this summer was Bruce Hill, Jonathan Horst, Bill and Julie Knight, Kim higher than average for the Region; single birds were noted Kozella, Richard Moncrief, Jane Mushinsky, Nick at James Monroe Birthplace, Westmoreland 18 Jun (BH), Newberry, Ellison Orcutt, Julia Patterson, Felicity Rask, in King George 4 Jun (FA), and on the Truhart BBS 21 Northern Neck Audubon Society, Mark Sopko, Jason Jun (FA). Summer American Redstart reports are never Strickland, and Clark Trader numerous in the Region; this year only two were received with one American Redstart found in King George 4 Jun and 2 present in Middlesex 21 Jun where breeding was confirmed (FA). Eight Yellow Warbler reports this summer was higher than average, with most coming from w. counties in Jun. Two Yellow Warblers in Jul (FR) was the only report from an e. county. Sparrows–Orioles As usual, small numbers of Grasshopper Sparrows were frequently reported from w. counties. Grasshopper Sparrow counts from Wilna were lower than in previous years, and the high this year came from Middlesex where 16 were observed 25 Jun and breeding was confirmed (MC, JC). Grasshopper Sparrow reports from e. counties are typically sparse so it was great to see small numbers reported at Coles Landing Dr., Gloucester throughout the season ( JS, G&RH, MA, NN). One Grasshopper Sparrow at Guinea 22 Jul ( JS) was very interesting so far from appropriate breeding habitat. Reports of Seaside Sparrows involving double-digit counts came from Bethel Beach and Guinea throughout the season, and breeding was confirmed at both sites. The high for the Region came from Guinea where 25 Seaside Sparrows were counted 2 Jun (EO). Only one report of Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrows was received this summer, but it involved a higher count than the previous two years with 13 near Naylor’s Beach, Richmond 20 Jun (FA). One Painted Bunting in Lancaster 4 Jul ( JH) provided an amazing summer record. The downward trend in the number of Dickcissel reports from Wilna that began in 2014 continued this summer with no reports received. The sole Dickcissel observation for the Region was of a

16 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 Coastal Editor: Bill Williams 154 Lakewood Drive Williamsburg, VA 23185 [email protected] Accomack and Northampton counties; Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel; Pelagic area; the cities/towns of Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Chincoteague, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach

The season began with rain from the remnants of Tropical (MY) , a m. Bufflehead on Metompkin Is., Accomack 5 Depression Bonnie 5 June followed by more inclement Jun (ph. RBi, NN, JF, JS), and a f. Hooded Merganser at weather as Tropical Storm Colon skirted the Carolinas 7 Chinc. also 5 Jun (KK). The only Ruddy Ducks reported June. By 30 June rainfall across the Region was one inch were at Craney where the count peaked at 35 on 15 Jun (LS above normal for the month and 6 inches above normal et al.). Two Pied-billed Grebes were at Craney 7 through for the year. Early June Seabirding trips off the Virginia 21 Jul (BW, AM, DY) and one was in the Lynnhaven Capes gave birders exceptional experiences documenting Dr. wetlands, Virginia Beach 11 Jul (AB). Two different the little known seasonal timing and distribution of some Black-billed Cuckoos were seen and heard; one in Cape of the state’s pelagic species. Folks in the field who pursued Charles 12 Jun (ESB) and one in Oyster, Northampton 28 VBBA2 data were somewhat distracted by Black-bellied Jun (EO). Common Nighthawk sightings included one Whistling-Duck, Long-bill Curlew, and White-faced Ibis. over the intersection of West Norfolk Rd. and Cedar Ln., So much for summer-times blues! Portsmouth 11 & 13 Jun (EF) and 5 ads. plus 2 feathered, unfledged young at Craney 14 Jul (ph. BW, AM, LS). Two Abbreviations: Back Bay (Back Bay NWR, Virginia Beach); Common Gallinules were spotted along the edge of L. Cape Charles (town of Cape Charles, Northampton); Tecumseh in a restricted access area of Dam Neck Combat Chinc. (Chincoteague NWR, Accomack); Craney (Craney Training Center, Virginia Beach 11 Jul (K&TB). An Island, Portsmouth); CVWO (Coastal Virginia Wildlife American Coot was noted during Back Bay bird surveys Observatory); PHP (Pleasure House Point Natural Area, 6 through 24 Jun (RW); another was at Craney 9 Jun Virginia Beach) (AM, LS). Preliminary results of the VDGIF-coordinated Virginia Plover Survey estimated there were 40 Wilson’s WATERFOWL–SHOREBIRDS Plover and 291 Piping Plover breeding pairs (RBt et al.), A BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK found at L. the latter the highest total since the survey began in 1986. Joyce and Shore Dr., Virginia Beach 14 Jun (ph. KG fide American Avocets were at Craney 9 Jun (11) through the RBi) was enjoyed by m. obs. through 28 Jun. Elsewhere, end of July with a peak count of 207 there 28 Jul (LS et 7 took flight from a pond at Brownsville Seaside Farm, al.); one was at Chinc. 13 Jul (AH). Two Black-necked Northampton 2 Jun (MB), 6 were at Bay Cr., Cape Stilts at Chinc. 3 Jun ( JB, CM) may have been among Charles, Northampton 24 Jul (SG, ph. RW) three days those that bred off the Chincoteague causeway,Accomack . before 5 were at the Cheriton Landfill, Northampton 27 The peak count at that site was 16 (apparently 8 pairs) 29 Jul (ph. DC), the same site that hosted up to 6 in May. A Jun (CR); 8 ads. plus 2 sets of 2 downy chicks were at/ VBBA2 exploration of Pitts Cr., Accomack documented 6 near this location 23 Jul (HA). At least 17 Black-necked ad. Wood Ducks plus 5 downy young 23 Jun (HA et al.). Stilt pairs successfully produced young at Craney, the first Four Northern Shovelers and a m. Green-winged Teal brood detected 23 Jun (AM, LS, ph. BW). A Long-billed were at Craney through at least 30 Jun (AM, LS, BW). Curlew was on Wreck Is., Northampton 11 (ph. MC) & 19 Black Scoter reports chronicled 25 at Chinc. 3 Jun (JB, Jul (MC, ZP), possibly one of the 2 that lingered into April CM), 17 off Metompkin Is., Accomack 5 Jun (TD et al.) at Marsh, Northampton. Quite noteworthy for mid- and 2 (one m., one f.) off Back Bay 29 Jun (ph. CB). Other summer were 10 Marbled Godwits at Chinc. 4 Jul ( JL). late waterfowl were a m. Long-tailed Duck at Chinc. 6 Jun A Spotted Sandpiper at PHP 6 Jun (ph. RBi) extended

Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 17 that species late date by one day. A Solitary Sandpiper at Bay 1 Jul (ph. RBi). An estimated 120 active Double- Craney 23 Jun (AM, LS) and 7 Jul was quite unexpected. crested Cormorant nests were on the transmission towers The season’s first reported “Western” Willets (3) were at adjacent to the James R. Bridge, Newport News/Suffolk Chinc. 24 Jun (ph. BO). There were 3 Wilson’s Phalaropes 15 Jun (BW). Seventy-three Double-crested Cormorant at Craney 21 Jul (BW, AM, BT) followed by 8 there 28 chicks and 545 Brown Pelican chicks (~95 % of the young Jul (DY et al.). Four Red-necked Phalaropes were off present) were banded on Shanks Is., Accomack 19 Jul (HA, Northampton at 36.9103722, -74.9377441 (36°54'37.3"N; JW et al.). The pelican colony also had 19 occupied nests as 74°56'15.9"W) 1 Jun (ESB et al.); 2 were at Chinc. 4 Jun follows: six 1-egg nests; two 2-egg nests; seven 3-egg nests; (SS) and one was at Craney 14 Jul (BW, AM, LS, BT). one with 1 egg & 1 chick; one with 2 eggs & 1 chick; and two with 1 egg & 2 chicks (HA). Late season observations JAEGERS–IBIS at the Wreck Is., Northampton Brown Pelican colony Two Pomarine Jaegers were over Norfolk Canyon, found young in nests 3–4 m above ground in Myrica sp. Northampton 1 Jun ( JF, MS et al.). Early June counts of (ph. RBt). Nest placement in vegetation this high above gull species nesting on the HRBT were: 3234 Laughing the ground is unprecedented for the state and was believed Gull nests, 23 Herring Gull nests, and 5 Great Black- to be a re-nesting response to an early season colony wash- backed Gull nests. A Bridled Tern was over Norfolk out (fide RBt). A nest-monitoring team was surprised to Canyon, Northampton 1 Jun ( JF, MS et al.). The 1–15 find 10 active Snowy Egret nests in low shrubs on the Jun VDGIF-coordinated Virginia Atlantic Coast Least HRBT in early June (fide RBt), a first for that facility, and Tern Survey documented 915 incubating ads. among the the first known occurrence of this species nesting on a Region’s 43 colonies (RBt et al.). Roof-top-nesting was man-made structure in Virginia. Two WHITE-FACED IBIS once again confirmed at Lynnhaven Mall, Virginia Beach were at Black Narrows Channel, Chincoteague, Accomack (115 pairs). Although nesting was not confirmed at the site, 9 Jul (MA, ph. JF). circa 50 ad. Least Terns were frequenting the roof of the Care-a-Lot Pet Supply Store at the junc. of Oyster Pt. Rd. RAPTORS–WARBLERS and Warwick Blvd., Newport News 8 Jun (LS, BT). Single The Region’s Mississippi Kite saga continued to evolve this Black Terns were at Craney and Chinc. 14 (ph. BW et al.) & season. An ad. was over Munden Pt. Pk., Virginia Beach 15 Jul (VK, JL), respectively; 4 were at Back Bay 29 Jul (ph. 4 Jun (DC) and a sub-ad. was near Eastville, Northampton RBi). Peak counts of nesting ad. terns and skimmers on the 5 Jun (ph. NN, JS). For the second consecutive year a pair HRBT were 14 Gull-billed Terns, 593 Common Terns, produced at least one young (ph. 22 & 28 Jul PM) off 4467 Royal Terns, 57 Sandwich Terns, and 292 Black Burroughs Rd. in the Thoroughgood section of Virginia Skimmers. A Red-throated Loon was at Chinc. 4 (ph. JL) Beach. The 2 ads., joined at times by 2 imms., were seen by & 15 Jul (VK, JL). Common Loon reports included one off m. obs. throughout the season as they foraged widely over Back Bay 16 & 22 Jul (ph. RBi) and one at Chinc. through adjacent communities. 24 Jul (VK, JL). Of an estimated 850 Cory’s Shearwaters over Norfolk Canyon, Northampton 1 Jun ( JF et al.) 65– 70% were recorded as Calonectris diomedea borealis; 30–35 % as C. d. diomedea (Scopoli’s). A Sooty Shearwater was in the surf off 85th St., Virginia Beach 1 Jun (TT). In addition to 13 Sooty Shearwaters over Norfolk Canyon, Northampton 1 Jun there were 50 Great Shearwaters, one Manx Shearwater (ph. JF), 2 Audubon’s Shearwaters, 450 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, 28 Leach’s Storm-Petrels and one BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL ( JF, MS, et al.). A single Great Shearwater was off Virginia Beach 30 Jun (ph. AR) the same day a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel was at Back River Reef, Hampton (AH). Five Wilson’s Storm-Petrels were in Burton’s Bay near Wachapreague, Accomack 6 Jul (SG). A Northern Gannet was off Back A Mississippi Kite nest with chick photographed by Pam Monahan in Virginia Beach 28 Jul

18 Virginia Birds Volume 13 • Number 1 Most intriguing however, was this report from Siksika’s Contributors: Matt Anthony, Harry Armistead, Andrew Nature World, Suffolk (ph. PW) where “6 of them showed Baldelli, Karen and Tom Beatty (K&TB), Rob Bielawski up July 4th weekend. They soared up with twigs and (RBi), Ruth Boettcher (RBt), Edward S. Brinkley, drop[ped] them and the others would sweep in and catch Mark Brown, Charlie Bruggerman, Joelle Buffa, Maeve them.” A Northern Harrier was on Shanks Is., Accomack 19 Charlesworth, David Clark, Todd Day, Shirely Devan, Jul (HA). Two Warbling Vireos, one actively singing and Elisa Flanders, James Fox, Kim Garcia, David Gibson, pursuing the other, were at Craney 9 Jun (ph. BW et al.). Stephen Grimes, Andy Hawkins, Victor Klein, Kyle Klotz, The CVWO’s Northwest River Prothonotary Warbler Joanne Laskowski , Alex Minarik, Pam Monahan, Clyde Project monitored 102 nest boxes, 99 (97%) of which had Morris, Nick Newberry, Brooks Onley, Ellison Orcutt, nesting activity. Among the 225 nestlings banded were Zak Poulton, Alexis Rabon , Chris Risley, Lee Schuster, two clutches of 6 young each (SD et al.). The project team Stephanie Smith, Mike Stinson, Jason Strickland, Brian estimated there were 189 fledglings. Taber, Tracy Tate, Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas 2, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Rebecca Walawender, John Weske, Paulette Wickert, Bill Williams, Ron Wrucke, Dave Youker, Matthew Young

The tables below are checklists from a 4 June “Paulagic” trip out of Lewes, DE with the eBird location posted as Worcester Co., MD. These two lists from that trip appear to have taken place in Virginia waters, hence an inclusion here.

0930–1030 circa 160 km (~100 mi.) e. of Wachapreague, Accomack at 37.609204 N; -73.900259 W (37° 36" 33.1 N; 73° 54" 00.9 W) Cory’s Shearwater Great Sooty Audubon’s Wilson’s Leach’s Red-necked Pomarine (borealis) Shearwater Shearwater Shearwater Storm Petrel Storm Petrel Phalarope Jaeger 1 1 3 (ph. ML) 10 50 4 (ph. ML) 1

1130-1230-circa 100 km (~60 mi.) e. of Chinc. at 37.873209 N; -74 211407 W (37° 52’ 23.6 N; 74° 12" 41.1 W) Cory’s Shearwater Great Sooty Audubon’s Wilson’s Leach’s Red-necked Pomarine (borealis) Shearwater Shearwater Shearwater Storm Petrel Storm Petrel Phalarope Jaeger 1 1 (ph. ML) 7 (ph. ML) 2 215 10 5 (ph. ML, AL) Mikey Lutmerding, Alex Lamoreaux

Corrigendum: The sentence “Two Yellow Warblers confirmed by sonogram at Dismal 26 Mar (BB, RBi, SB) reset that species’ Coastal Plain extreme early date by three days.” that appeared in the Spring 2016 Virginia Birds issue (Vol 12: 4, p. 26) was factually incorrect. It will be removed from the electronic version of Vol 12: 4 that will be posted in the Virginia Birds online archives.

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