Enjoy the report and pictures from the VSO field trip to Chincoteague on September 7-9.

The Hampton Roads Bird Club was well represented at the recent VSO field trip in Chincoteague by these 12 members: Lee and Meredith Bell, Harry Carlson, Tom and Gail Claydon, Ben and Mary Copeland, Nick Flanders, Richard Hudgins, Dot Silsby, and Hayes and Joyce Williams.

The "best bird" of the trip was a Franklin's Gull - a lifebird for many, including the two leaders, Bill Akers and Jerry Via.

On the biking field trip, led by Bill and Peggy Opengari, the Bells and Claydons were among those who got rare looks at SIX juvenile Clapper Rails that were out in the open during low tide. Check out Gail's photos below. We also saw juvenile Yellow and Black Night-crowned Herons by the Refuge Inn as we were starting out.

Many of us participated in the two-hour bus trip to Wash Flats and were rewarded with fantastic views of shorebirds and raptors. A pair of Peregrine Falcons flew above us for several minutes, and we watched a Northern Harrier on the ground as it pounced up and down on its prey. It was fun to watch the wild ponies, along with the ever-present Cattle Egret that often sat ON the ponies. On the way out we had clear views of six male Wild Turkeys.

Thanks to Harry Carlson, Dot Silsby, and Tom and Gail Claydon for contributing the photos!

To see the full album with all the photos from the trip, click here.

BIRDS WE SAW ON ASSATEAGUE ISLAND

Dozens of Great Egrets	Short-billed Dowitchers

Clapper Rail (juv.) at low tide	Two other Clapper Rails

Little Blue Heron	Black Skimmers and Laughing Gull

Semi-palmated Plover	Tri-Colored Heron

Great Egret	Oyster Catchers

Cattle Egrets with Pony	Oops! Biking Birders, not birds

BUS "SAFARI" TRIP TO WASH FLATS

A view from the front of the bus	Club members pose by the bus

Leader Jerry Via scoping for birds	Harry, Richard, and Nick with friends

Jerry Via and HRBC friends	Mary and Nick checking out birds