February 16, 2025

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The day began with left over drizzle, very cloudy skies and the threat of high winds reaching 40-60 mph by mid morning but temperatures in the 60’s.  Marc Nichols, Tina White, Rachel and William McKellar, Sue Tomlin and Jane Frigo were determined to make the most of the time they had and were able to identify 55 species before 10 AM.  Ducks were the first to be checked out.  11 species were seen with Ruddies, Hoodies and Gadwall making up the most numerous species but American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Common Loon and Pied-billed Grebe added to the mix.  Surprisingly, no Ring-necked Ducks were spotted.  Several Great Egret remained but not nearly in the numbers seen on the last walk.  6 sparrow species were identified with multiple Field Sparrows fluttering in the meadow area under the power lines at the Discovery Center.  Notable misses were Brown-headed Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and Northern Flicker.  A complete species list follows.   Also a special note…..The next park walk will be held on Saturday insste

 

The trip report is: https://ebird.org/tripreport/333463

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Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Lesser Scaup

Hooded Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Mourning Dove

Killdeer

Ring-billed Gull

Pied-billed Grebe

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

White-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

American Goldfinch

Field Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Eastern Towhee*

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Pine Warbler*

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Northern Cardinal

 

February 2, 2025

 

February 2025 has arrived and last week’s frozen waterways are gone.  However, the morning temperature remained in the 30’s and conditions were cold enough to pass out hand warmers.  VSO (Virginia Society of Ornithology) was having their Winter Retreat to the Outer Banks this weekend and so a smaller group was expected at the park.  That turned out not to be true.  21 people showed up for the Sunday walk and identified 55 species. Those participating included Elizabeth Wilkins and Jacques van Montfrans, Nichole and Chris Kruegar, Bill Boeh, June Hartzler and Gary Wright, William and Rachel McKellar, Cindy Schulz, Todd Trousdell, Marilyn and John Adair, Stuart Sweetman, Karthik Krishnamurtny, Sue Tomlin, Marc Nichols, Mickey Simonds, Melissa Freudenberg, Jane Frigo and first timer Oriana Palumbo from South Carolina.  The group began with a spectacular sighting of over 20 Great Egrets sheltering in the inlet by the Ranger Parking Lot.  The count for egrets for the morning totaled over 30!  Next the search was on for ducks.  The Common Goldeneye, seen during the last walk, was found again along with many Ruddy Ducks and Gadwall.  Several Northern Shovelers were found and that circling feeding behavior was observed.   Elizabeth and Jacques walked a bit farther past the Swamp Bridge looking for the swans but were unsuccessful.  However they did see Wood Ducks. A lone Laughing Gull was found among the Double-crested Cormorants and Ring-billed Gulls on the pipeline.  Sparrows were well represented with Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throats, Song and Swamp seen and also Eastern Towhee.  Hermit Thrush remained along their road to the Spawning Pond and silently watched as the group walked by.  There was talk of a pair of Tundra Swans being seen at the park but they could not be found by the group.  However, John Adair, on his return from the Swamp Bridge, may have flushed them but we can’t be sure.  Definitely something to keep looking for next time.  A complete species list follows.

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The trip report is: https://ebird.org/tripreport/326874

 

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Mallard

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Mourning Dove

Virginia Rail*

Laughing Gull 

Ring-billed Gull

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egrets

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker*

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

White-breasted Nuthatch* 

Brown-headed Nuthatch*

Brown Creeper

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

American Goldfinch

Field Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Northern Cardinal

 

January 19, 2025

 

The day began with very overcast skies and even fog in some areas.  The temperature was above freezing and rose to the mid forties.  Winds were calm but still there was a distinct chill to the air.  15 people participated in the Newport News Park bird walk.  They included Bill Boeh, Pete Peterman, Dianne Snyder, Rachel and William McKellar, Danny Smith, John and Marilyn Adair, Stuart Sweetman, Chris Kruegar, Mickey Simonds, Marc Nichols, Hannah Montalvo, Karthik Krishnamurtny and Jane Frigo.  Over the morning the group identified 58 species.  Areas of the reservoir remain frozen and will certainly increase with the frigid temperatures predicted for next week.  Waterfowl made up a big number of species.  Large numbers of Hooded Mergansers, Gadwall and Ruddy Ducks were identified.  Other ducks identified included Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, American Coot and Pied-billed Grebe and a fly-over Wood Duck.  Ring-billed Gulls were plentiful both resting on the water and circling in the air.  Several Bald Eagles were seen and one pair was observed coupling.  Great Egrets missing in recent walks numbered 10 or more.  Woodpeckers were also abundant with all but the Red-headed seen.  Hermit Thrush continue to be seen and actually follow the group through the park.  Kinglets and Titmice were busy foraging.  A complete species list follows.

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The trip report is: https://ebird.org/tripreport/321995

 

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

American Black Duck

Green-winged Teal

Ring- necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Mourning Dove

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Winter Wren*

Carolina Wren

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

House Finch*

American Goldfinch

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Northern Cardinal

 

January 5, 2025

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Happy New Year 2025!  January 5 began another year of birding at Newport News City Park.  The weather was freezing with the morning temperature  24 degrees and only warming to the low 40’s by the end of the day.  Although skies were clear for most of the day, winds were variable and made hand warmers and gloves a necessity.  Still, nine hardy birders met the challenge and identified 55 species for the morning.  Those facing the cold were Marc Nichols, Pete Peterman, Danny Smith, John Adair, Cindy Schulz, Stuart Sweetman, Mary Jane Hall, Melissa Freudenberg and Jane Frigo.  Right off the bat, Marc Nichols spotted a hen Common Goldeneye! The rare visitor sparked excitement and led to a chase to insure everyone got to see her and discuss field marks, etc.  Overall the cold weather brought an abundance of ducks to the water.  Those species seen included Canada Geese, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, American Black Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck and Pied-billed Grebe!  All woodpecker species were seen with the exception of Red-headed.  Sadly, they have been missing for some time.  Sparrows were also abundant including a Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Eastern Towhee and a possible Savannah Sparrow.  A single Rusty Blackbird was glimpsed near the Swamp Bridge.  Ice dotted the area and future weather forecasts more cold weather and possible snow for the coming week.  A complete species list follows.

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The trip report is:  https://ebird.org/tripreport/317411

 

Canada Goose

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

American Black Duck

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Mourning Dove

Ring-billed Gull

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow-billed Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay*

American Crow

Fish Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch*

Winter Wren

Carolina Wren

Brown Thrasher

Northern Mockingbird

 

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