Brant
Instead of taking the most direct route to Chincoteague, I drove to the Ocean City Inlet to look for the Harlequin Duck that had been seen there. Along the way, I saw my third Red-tailed Hawk of this trip. At the Ocean City Inlet, I saw quite a few gulls, a Common Loon, and some Sanderlings, but not a single duck at this inlet. But it wasn't a wasted stop, as I got some of my best ever photos of Brants.
Brant
Brants
Brant
Brants
Common Loon
On the way south to Chincoteague, I made a short stop at Assateague State Park. There were lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Song Sparrows along the roads, as well as a Field Sparrow and a gray morph House Wren.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
House Wren
House Wren
I crossed over onto the beach area, but didn't see much there. I did see both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and seeing them next to each other really highlighted their size difference. There were a few horseshoe crabs on the beach.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull
Horseshoe crab
I arived in time to spend most of the afternoon there, and knew that I was going to be there all the next day. I was surprised to see so few ducks in Swans Cove Pool. When I was there in February 2014, this lake was loaded with ducks. But I did see a few there on this afternoon, as well as some wading brids. There was a small channel next to the Toms Cove Visitor Center, and I got my best ever photos of a male and female American Black Duck.
Male American Black Duck
Female American Black Duck
Female American Black Duck
Male and female American Black Duck
Male and female American Black Duck
American Wigeons
Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Heron
Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Ring-billed Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Late in the afternoon, I drove onto the Wildlife Loop that is only open to vehicle traffic from 3 p.m. to sunset. I saw Tundra Swans and Green-winged Teals, but it was getting dark, so I decided to do the drive again starting at 3 p.m. the next day.
Sunset view from the Wildlife Loop