Florida Red-shouldered?!

 

These images, taken by Deborah Humphries at York River State Park on May 5th,  appear to show an adult "Florida" Red-shouldered Hawk, a sub-species that I don't think has been recorded in Virginia. There are records of this sub-species in eBird from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, in April and May, so rare wandering does occur. It normally stays within the Florida peninsula, unlike other Red-shouldereds which often migrate long distances.

Unlike the richly-colored Red-shouldereds we see in Virginia, "Floridas" or extimus are extremely pale above and below and are strikingly whitish on the head, as seen here. Another interesting feature is the shortish tail, apparently still growing in, probably indicating a different molting pattern for this southern sub-species.

The color pattern looks just right to me for extimus, which I've seen, so not an abnormally pale individual of our usual Virginia birds. Comments are welcome and may be sent to taberzz@aol.com.

Brian Taber

New Marina Garden

 In October 2017, the Observatory was allowed to restore an overgrown garden at Jamestown Marina. The partners were the then new Billsburg Brewery and James City County. The garden was a magnet for visitors and also for butterflies and other pollinators. It produced 60 species of butterflies, several of which were rare and two that were not previously recorded in our area, Eufala Skipper and Zarucco Duskying.

We always knew that development would eventually happen at the valuable site and since it was becoming more imminent, we moved the garden just across the entrance road in March and April. The new spot is longer and with few paver paths, so the total amount of vegetation for wildlife is greater. It borders the new shoreline of Powhatan Creek established by the County and is next to the woodlands and wetlands, so an excellent location. There are more than 100 plants of more than 40 species. Volunteers will continue to do butterfly surveys there.

Brian Taber