Chincoteague, VA - a fall trip
Dates - Friday, November 10 to Sunday, November 12, 2006
Participants - Diane Boyd and myself, Sandra Keller
Motel - the Refuge Inn located ¼ mile or so west of the entrance to the refuge
along Maddox Blvd. The place was on the pricey side, but quiet, clean, and they
did provide coffee and a continental breakfast. Unfortunately, the breakfast
didn't start until 7:30AM. Diane and I came back from a few hours birding and
would eat.
Bird species seen - 99 including our targets of Sedge Wren and Brown-headed
Nuthatch
Mammal species seen - 7 with Sika Elk and the Delmarva Fox Squirrel as
highlights
This trip was actually my second this year to Chincoteague and Diane's first ever foray to the place. It's really rather close to south Jersey being only a short 4 ½ hour drive away making it a great weekend getaway destination. My last trip was back in early April. Diane and I hit a lot of the same areas, and as expected with the change in season, had different birds and even different habitat. For example, the Snow Goose Pool was basically dry last trip.
Diane and I left the south Jersey area - my house in Barrington - at 9:00AM.
We couldn't leave any earlier because of my work. We decided to hit some
Delaware birding spots very quickly for a break in the drive more than anything.
Cartanza Rd. off of Rt. 9 was slow. The fields still had crops on them making it
difficult to spot stuff on the ground. Two NORTHERN HARRIERS play fighting, 5
HORNED LARKS, and 2 SAVANAH SPARROWS perched atop soybean stalks were our
highlights. Next up, Port Mahone Rd. for any staging waterfowl. Not too much,
but close RUDDY DUCKS
were nice, hunting OSPREY, etc. We had wanted to spend time at Ted Harvey WMA
since neither of us gets down this far much. It was closed for hunting! Well, a
short lunch break did produce a PRAIRIE WARBLER - which I would consider late
for Cape May, so probably late for this area of DE as well. Next up, Deal WMA
near Princess Anne, MD. The write-up in the book "Finding Birds in the
National Capital Area" by Claudia Wilds suggested we might have some sought
after birds here. For example "Deal Island is at its best at the end of the
day, when it is alive with marsh birds." Many species are quite common here
like AMERICAN BITTERN, SEDGE WREN, and SHORT-EARED OWL. All of which we had.
After a few hours birding here, we continued on to the Refuge Inn - about an
hour further south. If anyone happens to be around Deal Island, please stop and
get us a picture of the little church and the above ground graveyard. We were
both intrigued with the issues of living in this marshy area. Most of the houses
we passed were on tiny elevated sections of the slightly flooded lands. Hence
the above ground graves I presume! Start digging a hole and it's probably full
of water before you can do anything with it…..
On Saturday our birding was strictly in Chincoteague NWR. The Woodland Trail
had all the passerines we could expect. Not too many numbers wise though as
south winds the past few days had migration at a standstill. I had heard from
other birders down here that the big HERMIT THRUSH movement in early Nov. in
Cape May was also experienced here. One couple suggested over 1000 on the island
that first day. Maybe in a year or two I can make migration down here. Kiptopeke
State Park - another 40 miles or so south on 13 - is an organized hawk count
site and impressive. I was there years ago on NW winds but haven't made it back
since. Anyway, we had two flocks of BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES along this trail. We
just listened for their distinctive nasal calls and then patiently scanned the
Loblolly Pine Trees for them feeding. We also kept watch for them flying in
between trees. That small nuthatch flight look is distinctive. These birds move
around quite frequently in between feeding spots, but once in a feeding tree,
they can be surprisingly difficult to spot. The Woodland Trail was our best for
looks at the Delmarva Fox Squirrel. Some close enough for small scenery camera
shots - if either of us had thought to bring it along the 1½ mile loop hike.
And, yes, the Pony Overlook did have ponies! We had nice looks at them feeding
in the marshes here. Back to the Refuge Inn for brunch. Back out for some water
birding. GANNETS heading south off the ocean. BROWN PELICANS flew right over us.
One BLACK SCOTER in one of the impoundments - I believe unusual. MALLARD, BLACK,
PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and RUDDY DUCKS were by far the most numerous
waterfowl species. Also around were 7 MARBLED GODWITS, and a lone SNOW BUNTING.
Picture taking opportunities abound in the refuge. The birds were fairly close
all day long for us. Here are two of my digiscope shots. I would have loved a
Brown-headed Nuthatch shot, but I never took my scope along on our hikes. The
Nuthatches actually didn't move much when feeding (one of the reasons so hard to
locate) so a shot through a scope would have been quite feasible.
Great Blue Heron
Snow Bunting
We took a cultural side trip and toured a decoy museum in mid afternoon while
waiting for the Wildlife Drive around the Snow Goose Pool to open at 3:00PM.
Quite convenient being right across the street from the Refuge Inn - that's also
another way of saying I forget the name of the place! Anyway, after picking up a
decoy weighing 15 pounds or so, I knew more was involved than just attracting
the ducks to a hunter! Turns out the heavy decoys were used to weigh down those
lightweight boats the early duck hunters used. Diane and I both thoroughly
enjoyed that place and would highly recommend a visit.
The Snow Goose Pool is aptly named! We enjoyed the sight and sound of the SNOW
GEESE flying into roost. The dabbling ducks here were like we had in the
morning. Our looks at the Sika Elk were probably the best along this loop road.
The TUNDRA SWANS calling could be heard around the loop drive.
We had a GREAT HORNED OWL calling briefly, but not much else for our night
birding. The winds had kicked up so much by then with the coming cold front that
is was hard to hear. Dinner this night was takeout at Maria's Family Restaurant
on Maddox Blvd. Not gourmet, but quite good and filling! Both Diane and I needed
bed early.
Sunday was cloudy, but no rain yet. The wind was still strong though. We
decided to walk a few trails to stay out of the wind if possible and then head
home. The Lighthouse Trail was short and non-birdy, but the lighthouse history
was nice! A short trail near the headquarters yielded yet more BROWN-HEADED
NUTHATCHES. But my favorite trail was the Marsh Trail - accessed from the
parking lot for the Wildlife Loop Trail. Three more SEDGE WRENS in the tall, wet
grassy areas were nice. We thoroughly worked a mixed feeding flock of Sparrows
and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS for anything out of the ordinary. No luck with that.
Almost back to the parking lot we came across a small mixed flock of CAROLINA
CHICKADEES, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, TUFTED TITMICE, and maybe our surprise of
the trip - 2 BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES feeding on Sweet Gum seed balls. I have
never had this species anywhere but in Loblolly Pines before. We both felt this
trail has good night birding possibilities depending on season with the wet
grassy areas. Next trip. We left for home around 11:00AM and it still wasn't
raining yet. We got lucky!
We made one stop on our way home as by then it had started to rain. Not heavy at
first, but it got much worse. Shad Landing State Park off of Rt. 113 in Maryland
is well worth a visit any time of year. We walked the Trail of Change for 30
minutes in the light rain and had still more BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES! I like the
Bald Cyprus Swamp along this trail and try to walk it in different seasons just
for the botany possibilities.
Any questions, suggestions for future trip driving stops, comments, etc. should be sent to me at the address below.
Sandra Keller
sandrakeller@verizon.net
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