Ring-billed Gull
It was supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds today, but there was light rain when I awoke. I had to make a decision of where to go birding this day. I've been trying for years to see a Harlequin Duck, and have been unsuccessful. This species is common in Alaska, and when we were there last July, I did not see one. Even in the aviary in Seward, the male Harlequin Duck had its heads under its wing so I couldn't see its colorful features. Well, a female Harlequin Duck has been reported for multiple days at Little Island Park south of Virginia Beach and just north of Back Bay NWR. That park is 67 miles from the Williamsburg hotel, and should take less than 1-1/2 hours to get there. I really want to see and photograph a colorful male Harlequin Duck, but am still haunted by not making the effort to see a very rare species close to my home soon after I started birding, so I decided to try for the female Harlequin Duck. At least I could get a life bird if I could see it. I had contacted a Virginia Beach birding friend about this duck, and was advised to try to get there before 10 a.m. Even if I missed the duck, Back Bay NWR was just down the road from this park, and was always loaded with ducks, sometimes swans, and lots of other good bird species. There was a posting that the duck had been seen this morning at 6:55 a.m.
I left the hotel at 8:50, and hoped to get to Little Island Park shortly after 10:00. Logistics at the hotel, and not wanting to get to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel during rush hour, set my departure time. I got onto I-64 and headed east. Shortly later, I saw an electric highway sign that stated that I-64 eastbound had three lanes blocked because of a crash near mm. 263. When I got to mm. 263, I didn't see any lane blockage, and thought that the crash had been cleared. But either I misread the sign, or some of the lights on the sign were out, because the accident was at mm. 268. A short time later, I found myself in a five mile long, bumper to bumper, traffic jam that took about an hour to get past it. Finally, I thought I could get to Little Island Park. A mile farther down the road, there was another sign. The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel was blocked because of debris. I couldn't believe it. After waiting for what seemed forever for the HRBT to re-open, I wondered, what next? I finally arrived at Little Island Park at 11:35. It had taken me 2-3/4 hours to go 67 miles. Of course, the female Harlequin Duck was nowhere to be seen. I saw a few gulls, a Willet, a Brown Pelican, and some Rock Pigeons. Wow! (sarcasm).
Ring-billed Gull
Well, Back Bay NWR should make this day trip worthwhile. Wrong again! Not a single duck in the bay. Nothing! I hiked a bit on the trails, and saw two Bluebirds and two Yellow-rumped Warblers. I then hiked a bit along the road, saw two White Ibises, two Great Blue Herons, and two Killdeers.
White Ibis
Great Blue Heron
White Ibis and Killdeers
I went back to Little Island Park to look for the Harlequin Duck again, but it wasn't there. I did add a Common Loon and some Boat-tailed Grackles.
Common Loon
Boat-tailed Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
At this point, I decided to head back to Williamsburg, but also had a little time to stop at Newport News Park on the way. Most of the avian activity there was near the Swamp Bridge.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Black Ducks
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
By then end of the day, I made up my mind to be like actors in the play Macbeth that will only refer to it as "That Scottish Play," because of the superstition of conjuring up something bad if they say "Macbeth." From now on, if I'm on a birding trip where Harlequin Duck is a target species, I will only refer to it as "That _____ Duck." I will fill in the blank as appropriate :-)
Click here to continue to birding on February 5