SHEARWATERS GULLS, TERNS BIRDLIFE at the SOUTHERN TIP ABUNDANCE DESIGNATIONS & STORM PETRELS J F M A M J J A S O N D PLOVERS J F M A M J J A S O N D & SKIMMERS J F M A M J J A S O N D FLYCATCHERS J F M A M J J A S O N D __ Sooty Shearwater __ Black-bellied Plover __ Laughing Gull^ __ Olive-sided Flycatcher OF VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE COMMON: Virtually certain to be found in proper habitat __ Wilson's Storm-Petrel __ American Golden-Plover __ Little Gull __ Eastern Wood-Pewee^ __ Wilson's Plover^ __ Bonaparte's Gull __ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher FAIRLY COMMON: Will usually be found in proper habitat On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, some 439 bird species PELICANS & ALLIES __ Semipalmated Plover __ Ring-billed Gull __ Acadian Flycatcher^ have been recorded. Of these, 406 have been found in the UNCOMMON: Probably present, but will often be missed __ Northern Gannet __ Piping Plover ^ __ Herring Gull^ __ Willow Flycatcher Southern Tip of Northampton County, at the Eastern Shore OCCASIONAL: Not always present; may require several visits to fi nd __ American White Pelican __ Killdeer ^ __ Iceland Gull __ Alder Flycatcher __ Brown Pelican^ __ Lesser Black-backed Gull of Virginia and Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuges, ******* RARE: Not recorded annually __ Least Flycatcher __ Double-crested Cormorant OYSTERCATCHERS __ Glaucous Gull __ Eastern Phoebe Kiptopeke State Park, Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve, VERY RARE TO ACCIDENTAL: __ Great Cormorant __ American Oystercatcher^ __ Great Black-backed Gull^ __ Great Crested Flycatcher^ Fewer than 10 records since 1985 (see end of list) Mockhorn Island Wildlife Management Area, and surrounding __ Magnifi cent Frigatebird __ Black-legged Kittiwake __ Ash-throated Flycatcher lands. The twin refuges lie at the mouth of the Chesapeake ^ Nesting has been recorded in the checklist area. STILTS & AVOCETS __ Gull-billed Tern^ __ Western Kingbird Bay, gateway to the largest estuary in North America, and the BITTERNS & HERONS __ Black-necked Stilt __ Caspian Tern^ __ Eastern Kingbird^ __ American Bittern __ American Avocet Atlantic Ocean. The meeting of ocean and bay produces an J F M A M J J A S O N D __ Royal Tern^ abundance of food for birds, as do the other habitats: coastal GEESE, DUCKS & SWANS __ Least Bittern __ Sandwich Tern^ LARKS * ^ SANDPIPERS beaches, salt marshes, pine and hardwood forests, wooded __ Snow Goose __ Great Blue Heron __ Common Tern^ __ Horned Lark^ __ Ross's Goose __ Great Egret^ __ Greater Yellowlegs swamps, grasslands and agricultural areas. __ Forster's Tern^ __ Canada Goose^ __ Snowy Egret^ __ Lesser Yellowlegs __ Least Tern^ SWALLOWS __ Cackling Goose __ Little Blue Heron^ __ Solitary Sandpiper __ Black Tern __ Purple Martin^ ^ __ Brant __ Tricolored Heron^ __ Willet __ Black Skimmer^ __ Tree Swallow^ BIRDING through the SEASONS __ Tundra Swan __ Cattle Egret^ __ Spotted Sandpiper __ N. Rough-winged Swallow^ __ Wood Duck^ __ Green Heron^ __ Upland Sandpiper SWIFTS __ Bank Swallow Birding can be fascinating on any day of the year in __ Gadwall^ __ Black-crowned Night-Heron^ __ Whimbrel __ Chimney Swift^ __ Cliff Swallow southern Northampton County. In autumn, large numbers __ Eurasian Wigeon __ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron^ __ Hudsonian Godwit __ Cave Swallow of birds of many species can be observed during their __ American Wigeon __ Marbled Godwit OWLS __ Barn Swallow^ __ American Black Duck^ IBISES __ Ruddy Turnstone __ Barn Owl^ southbound migration, especially during and just after the __ Mallard^ __ White Ibis^ __ Red Knot __ Eastern Screech-Owl^ CHICKADEES & TITMICE passage of cold fronts. Most southbound birds of prey and __ Blue-winged Teal^ __ Glossy Ibis^ __ Sanderling __ Great Horned Owl^ __ Carolina Chickadee^ other landbirds are reluctant to make the 17-mile crossing __ Northern Shoveler __ Semipalmated Sandpiper __ Short-eared Owl __ Tufted Titmouse^ of the Chesapeake Bay, and so under certain conditions, __ Northern Pintail^ VULTURES __ Western Sandpiper __ Long-eared Owl __ Green-winged Teal __ Turkey Vulture^ __ Least Sandpiper NUTHATCHES they become concentrated by the narrowing geography __ Northern Saw-whet Owl __ Canvasback __ Black Vulture^ __ White-rumped Sandpiper & CREEPERS of the southern tip of the Peninsula. Winter is an excellent __ Redhead __ Pectoral Sandpiper HUMMINGBIRDS __ White-breasted Nuthatch season to see waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and sparrows. __ Ring-necked Duck HAWKS, EAGLES & FALCONS __ Purple Sandpiper __ Ruby-throated Hummingbird^ __ Red-breasted Nuthatch Spring offers the welcome return of colonial nesting birds __ Greater Scaup __ Osprey^ __ Dunlin __ Rufous Hummingbird __ Brown-headed Nuthatch^ __ Swallow-tailed Kite such as terns, herons, egrets and ibises; warblers and other __ Lesser Scaup __ Stilt Sandpiper __ Brown Creeper __ King Eider __ Mississippi Kite __ Buff-breasted Sandpiper KINGFISHERS Neotropical migrants also return, though their numbers are __ Common Eider __ Bald Eagle^ __ Short-billed Dowitcher __ Belted Kingfi sher^ WRENS small compared to the counts of the autumn. During the __ Harlequin Duck __ Northern Harrier^ __ Long-billed Dowitcher __ Carolina Wren^ summer months, June and July, many birders seek out __ Surf Scoter __ Sharp-shinned Hawk __ Wilson's Snipe WOODPECKERS __ House Wren^ __ Red-headed Woodpecker^ migrating shorebirds. __ White-winged Scoter __ Cooper's Hawk __ American Woodcock^ __ Winter Wren __ Northern Goshawk __ Red-bellied Woodpecker^ __ Sedge Wren This checklist has been organized by month. Within __ Black Scoter __ Long-tailed Duck __ Red-shouldered Hawk^ JAEGERS __ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker __ Marsh Wren ^ each monthly box are bar-graphs showing species abundance __ Buffl ehead __ Broad-winged Hawk __ Parasitic Jaeger __ Downy Woodpecker^ by week. In addition to the time of year, abundance is based __ Common Goldeneye __ Red-tailed Hawk^ __ Hairy Woodpecker^ MIMICS ^ ^ on the habitats where the species are most likely to be found. __ Hooded Merganser^ __ Swainson's Hawk DOVES __ Northern Flicker __ Gray Catbird ^ __ Common Merganser __ Rough-legged Hawk __ Rock Pigeon^ __ Pileated Woodpecker^ __ Northern Mockingbird ^ __ Red-breasted Merganser __ Golden Eagle __ Eurasian Collared-Dove^ __ Brown Thrasher __ Ruddy Duck __ American Kestrel^ __ White-winged Dove VIREOS __ Merlin __ Mourning Dove^ __ White-eyed Vireo^ STARLINGS, PIPITS LOONS & GREBES __ Peregrine Falcon^ __ Yellow-throated Vireo^ & WAXWINGS __ European Starling^ __ Red-throated Loon CUCKOOS __ Blue-headed Vireo __ American Pipit __ Common Loon RAILS & ALLIES __ Black-billed Cuckoo __ Warbling Vireo ^ __ Yellow-billed Cuckoo^ __ Philadelphia Vireo __ Cedar Waxwing^ Eastern __ Pied-billed Grebe^ __ Clapper Rail __ Horned Grebe __ King Rail __ Red-eyed Vireo^ J F M A M J J A S O N D Meadowlark NIGHTJARS __ Red-necked Grebe __ Virginia Rail^ __ Sora __ Common Nighthawk^ JAYS & CROWS __ Chuck-will's-widow^ ^ GALLINACEOUS BIRDS __ Common Gallinule __ Blue Jay Royal Terns __ Northern Bobwhite^ __ American Coot __ Eastern Whip-poor-will __ American Crow^ __ Wild Turkey^ __ Sandhill Crane J F M A M J J A S O N D __ Fish Crow^ J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D WARBLERS J F M A M J J A S O N D SPARROWS & ALLIES J F M A M J J A S O N D VERY RARE SPECIES continued For further information, contact __ Blue-winged Warbler __ Eastern Towhee^ __ Golden-winged Warbler __ Chipping Sparrow^ Snowy Owl Northern Wheatear Eastern Shore of Virginia National __ Tennessee Warbler __ Clay-colored Sparrow Barred Owl Mountain Bluebird Wildlife Refuge __ Orange-crowned Warbler __ Field Sparrow^ __ Nashville Warbler __ Vesper Sparrow Burrowing Owl Townsend’s Warbler 5003 Hallett Circle, __ Northern Parula __ Lark Sparrow Black-chinned Cerulean Warbler Cape Charles, VA 23310 __ Yellow Warbler^ __ Savannah Sparrow Hummingbird ^ Black-throated Gray BIRDS __ Chestnut-sided Warbler __ Grasshopper Sparrow (757) 331-2760 __ Magnolia Warbler __ Nelson's Sparrow Allen’s Hummingbird Warbler A guide to abundance and birding __ Cape May Warbler __ Saltmarsh Sparrow Western Wood-Pewee Swainson’s Warbler or visit our website __ Black-throated Blue Warbler __ Seaside Sparrow^ through the seasons on the __ Yellow-rumped Warbler __ Fox Sparrow Say’s Phoebe MacGillivray’s Warbler __ Black-throated Green Warbler __ Song Sparrow^ Pacifi c-slope Flycatcher Bachman’s Sparrow www.fws.gov/refuge/Eastern_Shore_of_Virginia/ Eastern Shore of Virginia __ Blackburnian Warbler __ Lincoln's Sparrow Gray Kingbird American Tree Sparrow __ Yellow-throated Warbler^ __ Swamp Sparrow __ Pine Warbler^ __ White-throated Sparrow Northern Harrier Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Henslow’s Sparrow ^ __ Prairie Warbler __ White-crowned Sparrow Fork-tailed Flycatcher Le Conte’s Sparrow __ Palm Warbler __ Dark-eyed Junco __ Bay-breasted Warbler __ Lapland Longspur Loggerhead Shrike Harris’s Sparrow __ Blackpoll Warbler __ Snow Bunting Northern Shrike Western Tanager __ Black-and-white Warbler^ __ American Redstart^ CARDINALS & ALLIES Bell’s Vireo Black-headed Grosbeak __ Prothonotary Warbler^ __ Northern Cardinal^ VERY RARE SPECIES Common Raven Brewer’s Blackbird __ Worm-eating Warbler __ Rose-breasted Grosbeak ^ ^ Brown-chested Martin Red Crossbill __ Ovenbird __ Blue Grosbeak Black-bellied Whistling- Purple Gallinule __ Indigo Bunting^ __ Louisiana Waterthrush Duck Black-capped Chickadee White-winged Crossbill __ Northern Waterthrush __ Painted Bunting Long-billed Curlew Bewick’s Wren Evening Grosbeak __ Kentucky Warbler __ Dickcissel^ Fulvous Whistling-Duck Baird’s Sandpiper __ Connecticut Warbler Greater White-fronted BLACKBIRDS & ORIOLES Sharp-tailed Sandpiper __ Mourning Warbler Goose __ Common Yellowthroat^ __ Bobolink^ Wilson’s Phalarope __ Hooded Warbler^ __ Red-winged Blackbird^ Mute Swan __ Eastern Meadowlark^ Red-necked Phalarope ADDITIONAL SPECIES __ Wilson's Warbler Garganey __ Yellow-headed Blackbird __ Canada Warbler Red Phalarope Recorded at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel __ Yellow-breasted Chat^ __ Rusty Blackbird Pacifi c Loon ^ Franklin’s Gull __ Common Grackle Eared Grebe Barrow’s Goldeneye __ Boat-tailed Grackle^ Black-headed Gull Western Grebe TANAGERS __ Brown-headed Cowbird^ Northern Fulmar Black-tailed Gull __ Summer Tanager^ __ Orchard Oriole^ Black-capped Petrel Clark’s Grebe __ Scarlet Tanager __ Baltimore Oriole California Gull Great Shearwater Herald (Trinidade) Petrel Black and White Warbler (top) Thayer’s Gull Black-throated THRUSHES & ALLIES FINCHES Cory’s Shearwater Bulwer’s Petrel Cape May Warbler (bottom) __ Golden-crowned Kinglet __ Purple Finch Roseate Tern Blue Warbler __ House Finch^ Manx Shearwater Leach's Storm-Petrel __ Ruby-crowned Kinglet Arctic Tern __ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher^ __ Common Redpoll Audubon’s Shearwater Band-rumped Storm-Petrel ^ __ Pine Siskin Brown Noddy __ Eastern Bluebird White-tailed Tropicbird __ American Goldfi nch^ Red-billed Tropicbird __ Veery Sooty Tern Illustrations by Marian Watts __ Gray-cheeked Thrush J F M A M J J A S O N D Wood Stork Sabine’s Gull Bridled Tern and Margaret Barnaby __ Bicknell's Thrush Brown Booby Mew Gull __ Swainson's Thrush Long-tailed Jaeger __ Hermit Thrush Anhinga Great Skua Printed January 2012 EASTERN SHORE OF American Pomarine Jaeger __ Wood Thrush^ White-faced Ibis Ruff __ American Robin^ Woodcock Dovekie White-tailed Kite Rock Wren VIRGINIA Razorbill OLD WORLD SPARROWS Ferruginous Hawk __ House Sparrow^ Common Murre Southern Tip J F M A M J J A S O N D Gyrfalcon If you fi nd a species that is not on this checklist, Thick-billed Murre or that is not listed as occurring at the time of the Yellow Rail Common Ground-Dove month, please report your sighting as quickly as Black Rail possible via eBird at www.ebird.org.