113th CBC Washington, DC/Virginia Regional Summary

By Teta Kain

Forty-seven counts were held in the Virginia-District of Columbia region this season, one more than the previous years. The new addition is Chatham, situated just north of Danville in the Piedmont. It has held every year since 2008, but this is the first time it has been submitted to the Audubon lineup. Mary Foster is the compiler. Other changes on the compiler roster were Gerald Tracy at Chincoteague, Nancy Gruttman-Tyler at Newport News, Buzz Van Santvoord at Gordonsville, and Jayd Raines at Breaks Interstate Park. Last year I erroneously reported that Mike Boatwright had resigned from Lake Anna CBC compilation duties, but that was not the case. He returned to his post this year.

Temperatures were generally somewhat cooler than average, dipping into the low to mid 20s on at least 12 counts and climbing no higher than the low 60s at Glade Spring, located in the western part Virginia. Counts in the eastern half of the region that were held on 30 December were walloped by record-breaking wind speeds. Cape Charles, Mathews County, Walkerton, Fort Belvoir, Chancellorsville, Lake Anna, and Gordonsville were all battered most of the day with gusts up to 40 mph. In fact, efforts by Cape Charles birders were disrupted by winds so strong that compiler Harry Armistead wrote, “For the first time in the Cape Charles count's 48 years, the boat [party] was cancelled due to sustained winds of 25 mph or higher. The boat cancellation, plus the highest winds in the history of the count, made for record low, or near-record low, counts of many species, plus several species that were missed entirely that are usually found.”

If humans were confused by the odd weather patterns sweeping the country, surely birds must have been too, as evidenced by the astounding array of rarities that turned up in the region. Even though Virginia and DC had their share of drought, rain, and other climatic phenomenon, weather conditions leading up to the count period were not quite as drastic as those occurring in other parts of the U.S. Perhaps that’s why more unexpected species than usual were found. The eastern half of Virginia especially was peppered with species new to counts.

After the astounding discovery of the Brewer’s Sparrow at Fort Belvoir last year, it was hard to imagine that observers of that long-standing count could again come up with any other first-time species, but indeed, they did. This time it was a Swallow-tailed Kite cruising along Mattawoman Creek on the Maryland section of the count circle. Good details of several field marks and behavior were noted. The bird was being harassed by a mob of crows and was closely studied by two observers for over three minutes. On top of that, another first for that CBC, a Louisiana Waterthrush, was well-described by three observers who watched the bird for over 10 minutes as it bobbed along a small stream. At one point, they all watched the bird devour what appeared to be a minnow, a food item known to be part of the diet of this species. A bit of a conundrum occurred to another party on that same count. They observed a flock of about 100 birds that could not be anything but shorebirds, given the manner of their flight. But what kind they were was the unresolved question. That many shorebirds in that area at that time of year was something totally unexpected.

Another first for Virginia counts was two Manx Shearwaters seen by an experienced birder off the coast at Back Bay. Another seabird species sometimes seen in Virginia waters, but reaching unheard of numbers, was the Razorbill. Ten individuals were counted on three different CBCs. The two Western Grebes at Lake Anna had been lingering on the lake for some time and were recorded on count day, the only regional CBC record since 2003. This year the only Trumpeter Swan in the state was spotted on the Calmes Neck count. In years past, the only site recording this species has been The Plains. The bird’s tag number (J53) indicates it was from the Ontario release program.

With all the heightened waterbird activity, one would expect there to be a few unusual gulls but that was not the case. The only noteworthy species was a first-time Glaucous Gull at The Plains. On the other hand, several rare-in-wintertime terns appeared, one was a well-described Caspian at Mathews County and another was two Royal Terns at Nansemond River.

Dismal Swamp N.W.R. racked up three new species: Peregrine Falcon, Short-eared Owl, and Marsh Wren. Compiler Don Schwab attributes their appearance to the drastic alteration of habitat over large areas, due to extensive forest fires in the swamp the last two years.

A Western Tanager appeared at the home of Williamsburg compiler Bill Williams. The bird presented itself nicely for photographs and stayed long enough for many birders to add it to their life lists. The only other CBC record of this species is one bird at a Back Bay feeder in 1972.      

It’s hard to imagine talking about record high counts for a species that was almost unheard of on CBCs in this region 20 years ago, but six Rufous Hummingbirds were photographed and/or banded at six locations: Washington DC, Nansemond River, Hopewell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Blacksburg. Individuals that could be identified only as Selasphorus or Archilochus sp. were at Little Creek (2 birds), Williamsburg, and Fincastle.

The flycatcher family was well represented this year. An Ash-throated Flycatcher was at Hopewell. All other CBC reports of this species, accept one at Williamsburg, have come from the Eastern Shore, so it was surprising to find it so far inland. Two reports of Western Kingbird, one in Mathews County, the other at Waynesboro, comprised only the third and fourth CBC records since 2000. They occurred just about every year or so in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, but in the 21st century, they have been scarce indeed. The Waynesboro bird is only the second Mountains and Valleys CBC record. Almost all other occurrences have been on the Coastal Plain. An intriguing photo of what appeared to be a medium-sized flycatcher at Brooke did not reveal enough details to be identifiable.

The Tennessee Warblers found at both Washington DC and Hopewell were firsts for both counts. The Audubon’s race of the Yellow-rumped Warbler at Nassawaddox was the second CBC record for the region, the other being one found at Cape Charles in 12 years ago. The Nashville Warbler at Cape Charles was a count-week bird only. A very photogenic Wilson’s Warbler that posed for birders at Huntley Meadows Park was the second record for Fort Belvoir, the first being an individual found in 1984. Another nice find was a Yellow-breasted Chat at Newport News.

It was hoped there would be more sightings of crossbills since there had been many occurrences across the region during the months leading up to the count period, but that was not the case. There were only three reports of White-winged Crossbills: one individual at Calmes Neck, eight at Manassas-Bull Run, one at Cape Charles. There were also fewer reports of Red Crossbills than expected with only one seen at Fort Belvoir, one at Big Flat Mountain, two at Roanoke and a count-week-only bird at Cape Charles. One Common Redpoll was spotted at Central Loudoun County and another during count-week at Chincoteague. It is nice to report that after a 7-year absence on any Virginia-DC count, Hopewell, Nokesville, and Manassas-Bull Run had Evening Grosbeaks and count-week birds were reported at a Walkerton feeder the day after that CBC.

Other firsts around the state were two Common Loons at Big Flat Mountain, a Sedge Wren at Williamsburg, Blue-winged Teal at Fincastle, Wood Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes at Mount Rogers-Whitetop, a Bonaparte’s Gull and Forster’s Tern at Walkerton, a Northern Goshawk at Waynesboro, and a Double-crested Cormorant on the Wise County count.

Though several compilers mentioned that waterfowl numbers were down considerably, overall totals of most species were fairly consistent with previous years. The only two with noticeably less individuals were Redheads and Long-tailed Ducks.

There were some very interesting high counts scattered throughout the region. Over the years, single American White Pelicans have been recorded here and there, but it was a surprise when seven individuals showed up at Back Bay. On that same count, an Anhinga made an appearance for the first time in three years.

Even though the 155 White Ibises at Back Bay were the only ones found this year, their numbers constituted a record high for the region. Two Glossy Ibises, also at Back Bay, were the only ones around this year. Marbled Godwits occurred on all three Eastern Shore counts, plus one bird at Mathews County. Over 29,700 Dunlin appeared on 10 Coastal Plain and Eastern Shore CBCs, the most since 1973.

Bald Eagle numbers were not as high as the record set in 2010, but this year was the second time that over 1000 birds were reported. Osprey numbers were down by half, but Red-shouldered Hawks set an all-time high count with 800 counted on all but two counts.

Bonaparte Gull numbers were low, and for the sixth year in a row, Ring-billed Gull numbers were lower than usual by 10,000 or more individuals. There were more Laughing Gulls than there had been around for 13 years,

Blue Jays were around in record numbers. Their 12,600+ numbers were exceeded only in 1988 when just over 13,000 were recorded on all 40 counts held that year.

This was a great year for woodpeckers.  Red-bellied Woodpeckers attained a state-wide record high of more than 4200 individuals, 500 more than last year’s total.  Pileated numbers reached the second highest state total with more than 1250 birds detected. Downy Woodpeckers are also flourishing, their total numbers exceeding 2000 individuals almost every year for 24 years. Red-headed Woodpecker numbers were also higher than usual. Hairy Woodpecker numbers remain stable, staying close to the 500/year total every year except one in the last 10 years.

Nine Virginia CBCs racked up record highs of Red-breasted Nuthatches, but even at that, the numbers were less than expected when considering impressive invasion of this species during the months preceding the count period. The regional total fell short of the record highs set back in the 1970s when over 1000 Red-breasteds were found on counts held in the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

For the second year in a row Chipping Sparrows set a record high; 52 Seaside Sparrows were the most in 20 years and the Swamp Sparrows were the most numerous in 19 years. Lastly, for the past seven years from seven to 15 Baltimore Orioles have been detected around the region, but this year only one appeared, that at Williamsburg.