WELCOME
to the
Hampton Roads Bird Club
Founded in 1951, The Hampton Roads Bird Club and its members
have been active within the community for over 60 years!
The Club has monthly field trips from September through May
Planned Field Trips
Field Trip to Grandview Nature Preserve
Canceled due to the inclement weather. It may be rescheduled in the future, but no date is available at this time.
Saturday, January 22, 2022: 7:30 AM
Leader: James Abbott
The Hampton Roads Bird Club January Outing will be on Saturday the 22nd to Grandview Beach in Hampton. We should expect to see a variety of birds especially our winter waterfowl and associate species. Species such as snow bunting and snowy owl have been observed here in the past. We will plan to meet at the entrance gate at 7:30am. There is street parking area on the right in front of the entrance. Participants should dress warmly as the wind off the bay will make it colder. You can walk as much of the beach as you want to. A scope is recommended if you have one You can search Grand View Nature Trail Access in Google Maps or use these GPS coordinates to the parking lot: 37.079112, -76.277544 My email is jaa3469@gmail.com and my cell number is 7573209191: email me or leave me a message if you intend to join
Field Trip to Back Bay by Tram
Saturday February 12,2022: 8:30 AM
Leader: James Abbott
On Saturday February 12th the HRBC Back Bay Tram Ride Returns! We have reserved the Tram from 9am-1pm. Arrive at the Back Bay Visitors Center at 8:30am. As in years past this trip has a fee of $8.00 CASH ONLY please bring it with you to the visitor center. This trip also has a capacity limit of 24 participants. We will leave Back Bay Visitors Center at 9am and ride to False Cape State Park. We will then have a short hike to the beach and ride back. Along the way we will have the opportunity to see many winter waterfowl esp. Tundra Swan along with other loons, ibis, rails, and shorebirds. There are other short hikes around the Visitor Center to do before or after the trip as well as Little Island Pier to have a chance to see Gannet and Razorbill. The tram is open and WILL be cold, dress accordingly in layers and bring blankets. A snack and drinks are a good idea as well. To sign up for this trip please send an email to jaa3469@gmail.com to be added to the list. If you can no longer make it for any reason please let me know so I can update availability. I will send you a confirmation email and have emails sent out to the club with updated availability of seats.
Past Field Trips
Field Trip to Fort Manroe
Saturday, November 27, 2021: 8:00 AM
Leader: James Abbott
The Hampton Roads Bird Club had its November field trip on the 27th at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. Weather was cold but clear. Our group met at the Phoebus Waterfront Park and drove to serval locations on the fort and walked the bay wall. Winter activity was just picking up as we observed BUFFLEHEAD and HORNED GREBE along side BROWN PELICAN. The first NORTHERN GANNET have started to arrive along with COMMON LOON. Our best birds of the day were a RUDDY TURNSTONE in a flock of SANDERLING on the rock jetty at Outlook Beach and a SEDGE WREN in a grassy tangle at the very northern tip of the fort past the campground. Species List: 36
Bufflehead
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow
Fish Crow
Sedge Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Shore Birding Sites Trip
Saturday October 23, 2021: 6:30 AM
Leader: James Abbott
The Hampton Roads Bird Club had its October field trip on the 23rd of October in Northampton County on the the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Weather was in the 60s with a cloudy morning that gave way to sun by noon. There was a significant flight of migrating birds the night before. Our group met at the Eastern Shore Visitor center and walked the trails at the National Wildlife Refuge. There was a lot of activity and the best birds at this site were great looks at a BLACKPOLL WARBLER and a flock of migrating TUNDRA SWAN. We also had BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA. We moved on to the town of Oyster, VA and the marsh side trail. High water limited the shorebird activity but we enjoyed great looks at TRICOLORED HERON, AMERICAN BITTERN, SALTMARSH SPARROW, and CLAPPER RAIL. Our last stop was at the Ned Brinkley Preserve at the Cheriton landfill pond. They have done a really nice job here with the parking lot and a wonderful viewing blind at the pond. We had a lot of waterbirds including; BLACK_CROWNED NIGHT HERON and LITTLE BLUE HERON along with some early RUDDY DUCK and RING-NECKED DUCK. Two special notes; on the way to the meeting location in the morning myself and Ryan flushed 3 AMERICAN WOODCOCK on Arlington Chase Rd and the GOLDEN EAGLE reported by the hawk watch at 10:50 was refound along highway 13 feeding on a deer carcass and viewed by group members.
Species List: 83
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Clapper Rail
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Great-black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Royal Tern
tern sp.
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Goldfinch
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Blackpool Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Northern Cardinal Photos by Pete Peterman
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Comments from the outing.
Thank you Pete, great photos. A couple notes, the eagle pictured is a 1st cycle bald eagle. No golden eagle will have that much body white. The juvenile golden visiting the carcass is almost all dark with faint white patches on the under wing and a thick brown tail band with less defined white. There is also tawny feathers on the nape of the neck. If you have any other photos of birds from the carcass, look through them for these characteristics.
This is a great photo of the saltmarsh sparrow! I sent this photo over to a colleague of mine who works on a marsh sparrow banding project at UNCW and she confirmed this as a saltmarsh sparrow. However she said this individual sparrow is an interesting one. Nelson’s and Saltmarsh were lumped as Sharp-tailed sparrow before being split. The now two species do hybridize and they have been studying this. She says that this individual definitely is showing traits of “Nelson’s” genetics. She cited the the presence of the orange bib like in Nelsons but it is uneven and inconsistent on this individual unlike a classic Nelson’s. She also cited the heavy streaking characteristic of “Saltmarsh” is slightly reduced on this individual.
James Abbott
Hog Island WMA Birding Site Trip
Sunday, September 12, 2021; 7:00 AM
Leaders: James Abbott
The Hampton Roads Bird Club had its first fall excursion beyond the Peninsula on September 12 to Hog Island Wildlife Management Area. Weather was in the 70s with a SSW wind around 12mph. Participants included Christiana Wilson, Wendy and Ellis Maxey, Lesley Meng, Eric Mathews, Gary Wright, June Hartzler, Bill Boeh, Cindy Schulz, Dianne Snyder, Rex Holmlin, John and Marylin Adair, Pete and Charm Peterman, Ryan Walsh, Elizabeth Wilkins, Jacques van Montfrans, and Jeanette and Brian Weinberg.
HRBC at Hog Island (photo by Dianne Snyder)
Water levels were high in the impoundments which limited our shorebird opportunities but great looks at American White Pelican, Northern Harrier, American Redstart, and Bobwhite were the highlights. We also had a Tricolored Heron which is a good catch that far inland.
Species list for Hog Island (9/12/2021)
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Spotted Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Great black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Forster’s Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Summer Tanager
Northern Cardinal
All participants must have identification to pass through the gate. They are serious about this, I have seen people arrive to a walk unable to participate. Most of the time it was because they rode with other people and did not bring their drivers license. We will drive the two mile access road stopping at various points along the way. We can also walk around the impoundment areas for more viewing. Participants can walk as much as they feel comfortable with.
We will plan to meet at the entrance gate around 7:00am. There is a parking area on the right and in front of the guard house. All cars that will be entering the WMA will be subject to an inspection since we will be driving through Dominion's Surry Nuclear Power Plant to access Hog Island. You can search (Hog Island Wildlife Management Area) in Google Maps or use these GPS coordinates to the parking lot:
37.163174, -76.700857
My email is jaa3469@gmail.com and my cell number is 7573209191: email me or leave me a message if you intend to join
Results of the York River State Park Birding Sites Trip
Saturday, May 8, 2021
Leaders: Harry and Rochelle Colestock
Jane Frigo and Marilyn and John Adair met up with the Colestocks at the visitors’ center at 8:15 on a lovely Saturday morning. The area near the center was busy with Eastern Bluebirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Northern Mockingbird, Tufted Titmice, a Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Buntings and a Blue Grosbeak, which posed very nicely at the top of a tree. Jane was first to spot two Cedar Waxwings. The river overlook provided views of a Bald Eagle, Ospreys and 4 Ruddy Ducks that hadn’t yet flown north with their companions.
The pond area was fairly quiet except for the Great Blue Heron rookery, which had about a dozen herons in residence. Nearby we spotted an Indigo Bunting and Brown Thrashers and heard Blackpoll Warblers and a Common Yellowthroat.
The trail through the woods yielded lots of bird sounds, but not many good views of Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated Warblers, Carolina Wrens, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Ovenbirds, a Pileated Woodpecker, a Yellow-throated Vireo, a Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Parulas, and a Downy Woodpecker, among others. Two birds that we got good looks at were a Summer Tanager and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. We also had close, fleeting views of an Acadian Flycatcher that seemed to be following us along the trail.
The drive back out of the park afforded more opportunities to see and hear multiple bird species.
Ruddy Duck
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Laughing Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Blue-headed Vireo
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blue Grosbeak
Red-shouldered Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Fish Crow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Osprey
Red-bellied Woodpecker
08 May 2021
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
European Starling
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Summer Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Results of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge birding sites trip
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Leaders: Harry and Rochelle Colestock
The Colestocks met up with Bill Boeh, Dave Brown and Pete Peterman at 07:30 at the Jericho Ditch parking area. It was a lovely sunny morning with temperatures just right for birding. We set off to walk Lynn Ditch where Prairie Warblers were in abundance. We also saw or heard (mostly heard, due to the thick foliage) multiple White-eyed Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Prothonotaries, Northern Parulas and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Two surprises were a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a flying Wood Duck. Next, we ventured a bit down Jericho, Hudnell and Williamson trails, which were much quieter than Lynn Ditch. Among the birds we saw or heard were Common Yellowthroats, Eastern Towhees, Great Crested Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Warblers and a Louisiana Waterthrush.
On the way back out on Jericho Ditch Road, we made multiple stops to see or hear a Hooded Warbler, a Black and White Warbler, Swainson’s Warblers, Marsh Wrens, Yellow-throated Warblers and a flock of Rusty Blackbirds—the “bird of the day”.
On the way to Washington Ditch along White Marsh Road we saw Eastern Meadowlarks, a Red-shouldered Hawk and a Kestrel. On Washington Ditch road we heard an Ovenbird. The boardwalk provided another Ovenbird, a Pileated Woodpecker, Prothonotary, Palm and Hooded Warblers, Gt. Crested Flycatchers and a big surprise: we heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
By the time we started walking down the road towards Lake Drummond, it was close to noon and getting warm, so we did not go very far past the downed trees. The last few birds were Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Black and White Warblers, a Red-headed Woodpecker, more Prothonotaries and, finally, a Belted Kingfisher. We all agreed that it had been a good morning for birding. The full list of species seen was:
American Crow
American Kestrel
American Robin
Belted Kingfisher
Black Vulture
Black-and-white Warbler
Blue Jay
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
European Starling
Fish Crow
Great Blue Heron
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Egret
Hooded Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Parula
Ovenbird
Palm Warbler
Pileated Woodpecker
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-shouldered Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rusty Blackbird
Swainson's Warbler
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-eyed Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
Wood Duck
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Results of the Virginia Beach Birding Sites Trip
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Leaders: Harry and Rochelle Colestock
It was another cold, windy morning when four intrepid birders (Dave Youker, Bill Boeh, the Colestocks) met at Little Island Park Saturday morning. The ocean was choppy, but we got glimpses of Horned Grebes, American Oystercatchers, Razorbills, Surf Scoters, Red-throated and Common Loons, and Red-breasted Mergansers. Northern Gannets and Brown Pelicans soared over the water in the morning sunlight. Double-crested Cormorants, Great Black-backed Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls clustered on the beach while a bevy of female Boat-tailed Grackles lined the pier. Away from the beach, birds were not in abundance; but we saw or heard Killdeer, Northern Mockingbird, Fish Crow, Yellow-rumps and a Gray Catbird, among others.
The next stop was Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The wind seemed to be hindering much bird activity, with Robins being the most common bird on the trails. Other sightings included a Northern Harrier, Kingfisher, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Yellow-rumps. Another hike to the beach revealed Sanderlings, more Gannets, Razorbills, Loons, Grebes and RB Mergansers.
Next, we tried the Harris Teeter retention pond, which had good results in recent weeks, but not when we went. A pair of Mallards swam in the pond and a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk soared over the fields. Field and Song Sparrows were seen or heard, along with a Flicker, Fish Crow and Carolina Wren.
Nearby at Sherwood Lakes had more water birds. We got a close view of a Kingfisher near the entrance and a distant view of an immature Bald Eagle. Red-breasted Mergansers, Ring-billed Gulls and a Common Loon were spotted on the lake. Incidental sightings included Song Sparrows and a Mockingbird. At that point, we concluded the trip and headed home.
Sylvan Heights Bird Park Birding
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Leaders: Harry and Rochelle Colestock
•Sign-up: Please contact Harry or Rochelle Colestock at hcolesto@hotmail.com if you intend on going on this trip. We will only need additional information if there are more than 30 people interested.
•Timing: The park will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM. Attendees can work their own schedule. We will not be going as group. Please check the Sylvan Heights Bird Park website at www.shwpark.com for ticket prices and much additional information on this unique bird facility. Note the dining information on the site if you are looking for facilities in the area.
• Walking the trails of the park should take about two hours.
•Social distancing and other health maintenance items related to COVID-19 are found also in the facility website.
Results of the Field Trip to Beaver Dam Park
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Leaders: Harry and Rochelle Colestock
The weather cooperated with us with clear, calm conditions with temperatures in the 40’s. These conditions helped us look at great distance over the water to find Ruddy Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Ringed-Necked Ducks, Canvasbacks, and a large number of Pied-Billed Grebes and Coots. Many of the ducks that had originally migrated to Beaverdam pond areas this season have been leaving for other areas in the past six weeks, so we were lucky to see the variety still left in the area. Naturally, we were welcomed in the parking lot by resident Muscovy Ducks. Several Bald Eagles and a Red-Shouldered Hawk also made appearances.
After spending a lot of time on the water birds, we ventured on the trails. By this time, the sun had started to warm up the forest and numerous bird species were vocalizing and feeding in the trees, brush piles, and ground areas. These species included Juncos; Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers; Brown Thrasher; Downy, Red-Bellied, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers; Eastern Phoebe; and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. As we continued on trails near the water, it was clear that the rainfall in the last six months had saturated the soil and there were numerous water and muddy patches along the way.
Following the trip conclusion, Cindy Schulz invited participants to visit her home at which a small flock of Evening Grosbeaks have been feeding for several days. This showing capped a day in which we identified 38 other species.
Canada Goose
Muscovy Duck (dom.)
Mallard
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
