1,000th Bird at College Creek Hawkwatch

Today we recorded our 1,000 bird of the season...a milestone we like to track to see how the season is progressing, compared to other years. Last year, our record season total was 1811 and we reached our 1,000th bird on the record early date of March 20th. It's usually in early-to-mid April, so this year is very late.

As a bonus, today, though, we again saw a flock of 20+ American White Pelicans...and our first Least Tern flew low right over our heads!

Brian Taber

More American White Pelicans!

This very high flock of 21 American White Pelicans is one of several groups seen over Hog Island WMA and College Creek Hawkwatch, over the past couple of weeks, including a new State high of 33...photo by Bill Williams.

Brian Taber

Pileated!

Songbird Bander Calvin Brennan with a spectacular and rarely captured Pileated Woodpecker at our First Landing Songbird Station this morning.

Brian Taber

Harvester

Very rarely seen in Virginia, this Harvester was in my yard today in James City County. Its caterpillar is the only carnivorous one in North America, feeding on woolly aphids on greenbriar and beech, among other plants. The adult butterfly doesn't nectar on flowers, but instead feeds on aphid honeydew, dung, sap and mud.

Brian Taber

American White Pelicans!

Very exciting this week were 24 American White Pelicans on April 4th and 11 today, seen from College Creek Hawkwatch. The previous local high count was 8, as they are very rare here, mostly seen from the hawkwatch over the years.
Brian Taber

Prothonotary Warbler Program

Prothonotary Warblers are due back any day from their winter stays in the tropics...volunteers Adrienne Frank, Gary Driscole and I paddled the pristine Dragon Run river today to repair and clean out nest boxes, which are placed over the water. Warbler progress will be monitored throughout the nesting season. The program is a partnership with Friends of Dragon Run and is part of a large Virginia network of hundreds of boxes.

Brian Taber