Chincoteague and Pea Island Birding Trip 1

[Rowe, Richard A, 'Dick']

All - I've returned from a birding trip to Chincoteague and Nags Head/Pea Island last week.  Last Tuesday (10 Feb) I headed to Chincoteague - it was a windy and cold day and most of the ponds, inlets, and coves were frozen over.  Once I was across the Bay Bridge, I started birding.  I found a group of Wild Turkeys in the parking area of Sunset beach and the first of many-many Yellow-rumped Warblers.  

Kiptopeke was quiet and to be honest it was difficult to take photos due to the wind out on the fishing pier.  There were few ducks present and most were far off.  There were Surf Scoters, Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, one Black Scoter, 2-3 Common Loons, the ever present gulls, and the male Harlequin duck was near the pier for a few moments before swimming out to join the scoters.

Cape Charles harbor and beach were icy with many areas frozen over.  There were a few Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers in the harbor, Ring-billed Gulls and 3 American Oystercatchers along the beach.  I spotted two Purple Sandpipers out on the jetty (too far for good photos), but then they flew to the beach almost right next to me.  Pure luck.  The PUSA walked/forged along the beach towards me.

Next, I went to Willis Wharf.  There were about 50 Marbled Godwits and 30 Willets out on the sandbars and in the marsh.  Several ducks were swimming in the channel: Buffleheads, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneyes.  Also in the area were a large number of Canada Geese and Mallards in the marsh inland of the wharf.

I'll post more photos tomorrow after I work through the files.

Here are a few photos from the drive up the Delmarva.  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vmibiology

Dick