Bald Eagle
November 16; Eastern Shore
I had hoped that this would be a big birding day for me. Walt Childs and I had birded on the eastern shore of Virginia before. Walt had been there many times, and I had been there a few times, but neither of us had birded along Magotha Road in Northampton County. All three salt marsh sparrow species could be found there, and both Marsh Wrens and Sedge Wrens had be recorded there in the past week. I had seen and photographed Marsh Wrens on a few occasions, and had heard Sedge Wrens a few times, but the only time I had seen a Sedge Wren was in Michigan when one of them popped up from tall grasses for about one second, and then went back into hiding. We stoped first for a short look at CBBT #1, but didn't see much more than some gulls, Sanderlings, and American Oystercatchers. We passed by the Eastern Shore NWR, and went straight to Magotha Road, hoping to be at the shore line just at high tide. We stopped for a minute after turning on Magotha Road to view a Basic I, sub-adult Bald Eagle.
Bald Eagle
We arrived at the shore line a few minutes later, and quickly spotted a few Nelson's Sparrows.
Nelson's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
And then I got really lucky. A beautiful Saltmarsh Sparrow popped up right in front of me and stayed there for several minutes.
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
We continued birding in the area and saw several more of them.
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
We saw a few interesting bugs as well.
Huge grasshopper
Polygonia interrogationis Butterfly
We looked up and saw another Bald Eagle, and then there were two of them.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
We drove a short distance from the shore and stopped when we saw a tree with a small flock of doves perched in it. They were all Eurasian Collared-Doves. We also saw Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, and several other avian species.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove
We drove to the Eastern Shore NWR, stopping along the way to view two American Kestrels, and to take a hike at the Mockhorn GATR Tract, which was non-productive for seeing birds.
American Kestrel
We didn't see much at the Eastern Shore NWR, either, except for a Common Loon, a few gulls, and lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Common Loon
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Immature Great Black-backed Gull
Immature Great Black-backed Gull
Where to next? We decided to try the Kiptopeke State Park - again nothing much to see and a wasted fee to enter. It was now low tide, and we decided to go back to Magotha Road to see what mught be there. In the morning, I had heard Carolina Wrens in the wooded area just before reaching the tall grasses near the shore line, and what sounded like a different wren calling in the tall grasses. Sure enough, we saw a Marsh Wren, and later a second one.
Marsh Wren
Marsh Wren
Marsh Wren
Marsh Wren
Marsh Wren
But the real surprise of the day was a Sedge Wren. This species is usually quite secretive, but one of them popped, starting calling, and stayed there for about a minute. It didn't completely show itself in the open, but well enough for me to get some photos.
Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
And then we heard a very loud commotion. A large flock of Brants took off. We hadn't seen them over a small ridge before they took off.
Brants
The sun was starting to set, and we made a quick stop once again at the CBBT #1, where we met a couple of birders from Michigan. The four of us were really surprised to see an American Coot in Chesapeake Bay. This usually fresh water species was swimming in salt water.
American Coot