Chincoteague and Pea Island Birding Trip - 2

[Rowe, Richard A, 'Dick']

The channels and marshes along the causeway leading into Chincoteague on Tuesday, 10 Feb, were frozen over.  There was very little open water and the gulls were standing on the ice across the marshes.  By Wednesday afternoon, about 50% of the water was open and by late Thursday only the marsh grass areas had ice on them.  At Queen Sound Landing there was a small amount of open water near the dock and boat launch.  Over the three days, 8-9 Am. Oystercatchers, various gulls (Herring and Ring-billed), and ducks too far out to identify could be seen from the causeway or at Queen Sound Landing.  Near the dock there were a number of Horned Grebes (12), six Brants showed up on Wednesday, and there were two Mallards and a few Boat-tailed Grackles.  The highlight at Queen Sound was the Eared Grebe that I saw only briefly on Wednesday, 11 Feb, before it disappeared, and then on Thursday the Eared Grebe was present and hanging out at the dock and with the Horned Grebes.  Across the main road from the landing I found a small group of Dunlin foraging in the marsh.

I've uploaded a few more photos, if you are interested

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

Dick