Dave Weaver and I had high hopes for lots of birds Wednesday morning, because the Joppa yard was swarming with Yellow-rumped Warblers and migrating sparrows, and the reports for the island have included lots of birds we don’t usually see. We found a bunch of them! The fun began immediately after arriving on the Island. Along Sunset Drive, the road that leads to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Greenbelt owns salt marsh that is hayed each year. It had recently been mowed; salt hay can be cut at any time of year the conditions allow. After mowing, the marsh is attractive to shorebirds, and there was a flock of about 80 shorebirds, evenly composed of Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers, and about 16 Black-bellied Plovers, along with one Solitary Sandpiper. They were easily able to avoid being caught by a Cooper’s Hawk, perhaps one that lives there year-round. The scene was augmented by a nice flock of Wild Turkeys, and while we were searching through the shorebirds, a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls took off up Plumbush Creek.
Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers and Solitary Sandpiper – Mike Densmore
Before we took off to chase another owl report, we found a different one that MaryMargaret Halsey shared. Our first Snowy Owl of the season was easy to pick out half way across the marsh. Yellow-rumped Warblers were making their flat “check” notes in the background, and once again, seasons seemed to collide on Plum Island.
First Snowy Owl of the season – Patti Wood
Via excited text messages and calls about a different owl, Joppa Flats volunteers at our bird banding station were urging us to find it near the Wardens, then to visit the station, which we can only do when there is an organized group. You can decide how organized a typical horde of Wednesday Morning Birders are, but we felt we needed to hurry along. We were delayed, however, by a flock of American Wigeons on the Main Panne, especially because we expected that a Eurasian Wigeon was among them. Bingo!
American and Eurasian Wigeon – Patti Wood
By the time we got to the banding station, the weather had devolved into a light rain driven by a cold, steady wind. Sadly, the banders had to let all the birds they had netted move on and refuel. The Barred Owl that spurred us to move in that direction was still in the neighborhood, however, so we were happy to see it and then make a rare visit to the station.
Barred Owl – Patti Wood
To be clear, the banding station is off limits to casual visitors, so if you look for the Barred Owl in that vicinity, please do so from the main road. Ben Flemer, the station manager, and Peter Brown, an experienced volunteer bander, gave us a very nice talk on the program. We emerged ready to try for migratory sparrows back at The Wardens, and were serenaded by a Northern Mockingbird on our way out into the open in the increasingly nasty weather. There were lots of sparrows there, and we found both White-crowned and Clay-colored immediately upon inching our way toward the equipment sheds.
Clay-colored and White-crowned Sparrow, both first winter – David Moon
As departing birders that preceded us had found a Vespers Sparrow, we forced ourselves to walk slowly out into the wet, numbing wind and rain, searching through all the Dark-eyed Juncos, Chipping Sparrows, and Song Sparrows for something different. It was not to be, and eventually we retreated, feeling like tough-guys for trying. As they departed the parking lot, some of our birders spotted another (the same?) adult Cooper’s Hawk perched on a utility pole, giving photographers a great opportunity.
Cooper’s Hawk – Bob Minton
With a bit of time left, we went on to Hellcat, where the birders stampeded up to the dike, a rather horrible place to be that day. A couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers and an Eastern Phoebe flew by too quickly for good looks, and a lingering Great Egret searched North Pool. But the wind and rain forced a rather hasty retreat to the parking lot, where again passerines were busy in the trees and thickets. We still had time to explore a bit more, but we had seen so many birds and so many good birds, that for once we ended a few minutes early due to “enough birds,” not to mention the unexpectedly miserable weather.
Our list:
Eurasian Wigeon (1) – drake in full breeding plumage; Main Panne.
American Wigeon (~ 15) – Main Panne.
American Black Duck (~ 25) – pannes.
Mallard (~ 10) – various.
Wild Turkey (~ 15) – roadside, Hay Marsh (north of refuge entrance).
Double-crested Cormorant – common; many migrating flocks.
Great Blue Heron (3) – 2, Hay Marsh; 1, North Pool from Hellcat dike.
Great Egret (2) – 1, North Pool from Hellcat dike; [1, Bob Lobster].
Cooper’s Hawk (1) – adult (probable female) first sitting in Hay Marsh, then harassing shorebirds.
Black-bellied Plover (~ 16) – Hay Marsh.
Solitary Sandpiper (1) – Hay Marsh.
Greater Yellowlegs (~ 9) – pannes.
Pectoral Sandpiper (~ 35) – Hay Marsh.
Dunlin (~ 35) – Hay Marsh.
Bonaparte’s Gull (~ 25) – flying down river toward Plum Island bridge.
Herring Gull – many; Hay Marsh.
Great Black-backed Gull (3) – Hay Marsh.
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Snowy Owl (1) – in marsh 400-500 yards west refuge boat ramp (thanks, MaryMargaret!).
Barred Owl (1) – Bird Banding Station.
Eastern Phoebe (2) – 1, The Wardens; 1, Hellcat.
Blue Jay (5) – Hellcat.
American Crow (1)
Common Raven (1) – north end of S-curves.
Black-capped Chickadee (1) – Hellcat.
Golden-crowned Kinglet (1) – Bird Banding Station.
Gray Catbird (1) – Hellcat.
Northern Mockingbird (1) – The Wardens (“singing in the rain”).
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler – common.
Chipping Sparrow (2) – 1, The Wardens; 1, Hellcat dike.
Clay-colored Sparrow (4) – 2, The Wardens; 2, Hellcat dike.
Song Sparrow – common.
White-throated Sparrow (2+) – The Wardens, plus many, no doubt, roadside.
White-crowned Sparrow (3) – [2 adults, Joppa Flats Education Center]; 1 juvenile, The Wardens.
Dark-eyed Junco – common (many juncos & other sparrows roadside).