Williamsburg and Norfolk Areas; Louisa County, VA, 2/29-3/6/16

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

March 1

My first stop was at the Grandview Nature Preserve. I had been there last January with Walt Childs when the temperature was in the teens with 25 mph winds. It was just as windy this morning, but the temperature was in the mid-40s. The best birding there is at the four jetties at the north end of the beach, but it's close to a half mile hike on deep, loose gravel to get to the beach, and then two miles along the beach to the first jetty. Most of the smaller birds were hunkered down to stay out of the wind, and after hiking a little more than a mile on the beach and not seeing a lot of birds, I was getting tired and decided to head back.


Sanderling


Sanderling and Dunlin


Dunlin


Dunlin


Red-throated Loon


Common Loon


Northern Gannet


Bonaparte's Gull


Double-crested Cormorant

My next stop was at Guinea Marsh where Walt and I had seen Saltmarsh Sparrows last November. It was a sad sight when I arrived. The marsh field adjacent to the north side of the point had been burned, and the marsh on the south side of the road was barren. I then drove north to the Roanes area where a Le Conte's Sparrow was reported a couple of weeks ago. I didn't expect to see one, but wanted to try anyway. When I got to the reported location, it was private property, so I drove around some of the local farm fields there. A small flock of Turkey Vultures was feasting on a dead deer in one of the fields, and four Bald Eagles were standing in the field hoping for a turn at the carcass. Three of them were far from the road, but one was fairly close.


Bald Eagles


Bald Eagle


Bald Eagle


Bald Eagle


Bald Eagle

I decided to try again for the Western Tanager at Bill's house, but after another half hour with no success, I thought that it was going to be another no-show for me like it was last year.


Northern Cardinal

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