Bird Sightings: Eared Grebe,Snowy Owl,Black-tailed Gull
odonnellj.ggd@gao.gov
Mon, 26 Jan 98 21:42:47 EST
On Sunday, Jan 25, we saw an EARED GREBE at Chincoteague. We got
it on videotape. The black on the head came down to and covered
the eye and the neck was dusky, not at all bright white like a
Horned Grebe. It was seen in a ditch leading into Swan Cove and
then later in Swan Cove. It was with a raft of Ruddy Ducks. We
saw it at around 8:30 AM and again at 1:15 PM.
Also at Chincoteague, we saw a SNOWY OWL on the beach south of the
parking lots. It was between the 15th and 16th black-and-white
pole on the beach on the way to the coast guard station (4-wheel
drive area). This was about 3/4 mile down and a 15-20 min walk.
The owl was sitting on a low dune west of the black and white
poles about 50 yards in from the ocean.
Again on Sunday, the 25th, at the CBBT, we saw 7 HARLEQUIN DUCKS
on Is. # 3.
On Monday, Jan 26th, we saw the BLACK-TAILED GULL on Is. # 4 on
the west (bay) side sitting on the rocks. We took pictures of
it and got it on videotape as well. We could clearly see the red
tipped bill with a black band near the tip, the slate-colored
back (darker than the Ring-billeds around it) and the black band
on the tail when it flew. The dark wingtips can also be seen on
the videotape. There were a few white spots on the wingtips that
could be seen when it was sitting. The iris was light yellow.
Also on IS. # 4, we saw 8 COMMON EIDERS (3 adult males), 1 adult
male KING EIDER, and 12 BRANT.
On Is. # 3, we saw the HARLEQUIN DUCKS again as well as 5 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS and 10 COMMON EIDERS.
We saw NORTHERN GANNETS from most of the islands. GREAT CORMORANTS
were at Is. 2, 3, and 4. SURF SCOTERS were all over as were
OLDSQUAW. There were about 6-8 BLACK SCOTORS (mostly female).
Matt O'Donnell
Burke, VA
mo'donne@lan.tjhsst.edu OR odonnellj.ggd@gao.gov
703-250-2719