114th CBC Washington, DC/Virginia Regional Summary

By Teta Kain

In spite of the never-ending series of storms that swept across the country during this 2013-14 count season, many areas of Virginia somehow escaped the brunt of that wintery onslaught, thus allowing all 48 counts to be conducted in the Virginia-Washington D.C. region. That total number of counts has varied only slightly in the past seven years, the exception being the season of 2006-2007 when five were cancelled because of severe weather conditions. It is interesting to note that out of those 48 counts, 30 (62%) stretch over a span of 40 or more years.

Because of the massive snow cover and harsh conditions over much of the eastern United States, Virginians were expecting a higher-than-usual influx of northern species to drift into Virginia, but that didn’t happen. Almost no Red-breasted Nuthatches appeared during the season; Purple Finches numbers were the lowest in seven decades; a measly 39 Pine Siskins were found state-wide; and Black-capped Chickadees were far below the numbers expected.

The one great exception was the massive invasion of Snowy Owls. Like so many other states in the eastern part of the U.S., Virginia was host to these impressive raptors in unprecedented numbers. They were found from the Eastern Shore to the western mountains region. Six counts reported a total of eight individuals, four times greater than any previous year.

Even though there were no new species added to the region’s cumulative list, there were some truly eye-popping rarities. The Vermilion Flycatcher at Walkerton was the state’s third CBC sighting. Fort Belvoir recorded the first one in 1994 and Cape Charles chalked up the second record in 2003.

A Western Tanager was photographed on the Cape Charles count, a first for there. And for the third year in a row, a male Western Tanager showed up on the Williamsburg count. In fact, this little fellow has been seen in the compiler’s yard for the past six years, three of those sightings on count days. Thought there are about 20 occurrences of this species on Virginia’s Coastal Plain over the past century, the only other Christmas count record was way back in 1972 on the Back Bay count.

An excellent photograph was taken of a Louisiana Waterthrush on the Waynesboro count. There have been other count reports around the state in recent years, and documentation has been accepted, but this is the first clear photograph that erases any doubts about the rare winter occurrence of this species.  Hopewell birders documented a Pectoral Sandpiper, the first report of this species on any count since 1984. Documentation on a chickadee at Brooke was accepted as a Black-capped, but with reservations. The current thinking by researchers studying this species leans toward calling any suspected Black-capped in the eastern part of the state a hybrid between a Carolina and Black-capped.

For the second year in a row, a Western Grebe was in the state, this time found at Cape Charles. Last year’s sighting was of two at Lake Anna. Extremely rare at any time, and not recorded on a count since 2003, it was a surprise to find this species two years in a row.

The count week (30 Dec) Purple Gallinule at Little Creek is an astonishing record. The report received, along with a photo, states that the bird flew into the window of a condo in Little Creek circle at Virginia Beach. It was taken to a rehab center for care and seemed to be doing well. It appears there are no other winter records for this species anywhere in the state.

The Pectoral Sandpiper at Hopewell was the only one of its kind found in the region since a count-week bird was reported at Cape Charles in 1993. Before that, this species showed up seven times in the 30 years between 1955 and 1984, mostly on the coastal counts. Two highly unusual records of Pectorals were of single individuals at Calmes Neck and Augusta County, both in 1979.

Whimbrels appeared in unprecedented numbers. Seventeen at Cape Charles and three at Wachapreague comprise the region’s all time high count of 20, eclipsing the previous high of 16 recorded in 2006.

Some uncommon gulls wandered into the region this year. The first Thayer’s Gull in 11 years appeared at Little Creek, a Black-headed Gull was at Back Bay, along with a Little Gull, the only CBC sighting of the latter species since 2008.

Bald Eagles continue to spread throughout the area with greatest concentrations along the great waterways of the region - the James, the Rappahannock, and the Potomac rivers with Brooke’s count of 218 birds breaking all its previous totals. For the second time, more than 1000 were recorded, with 40 of the 48 counts reporting them. On the other hand, Golden Eagles were in scarce supply, the only ones found were two individuals at Blackford.

The five Dovekies at Little Creek were the most ever seen in a Virginia count season and they were the only ones that have been recorded on a count since 1994, with the exception of a count-week bird at Chincoteague in 2010.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited the same feeder at Little Creek for the eighth year in a row, and five Rufous Hummngbirds also appeared around the state - one at Blacksburg, one at Lynchburg, and three at Williamsburg. That number equals the all-time high set last year.

Horned Grebes appeared in an unusual pattern this year. Back in the 1970s, it was normal that the state total of this species was in the thousands, but from 1979 to 2005, no more than 800 or so were found, and often, many less than that. In 2005, Nansemond River birders discovered a record 900 birds on that count. Combined with 12 other counts, most of those on the Coastal Plains, the state total shot up to well over 1400 individuals, than dropped back to mid-three-digit numbers until this year when a total of over 1000 was again recorded. What was even more surprising was that where this species has not seen for years at time, counts all over the Piedmont and Mountains and Valleys regions came up with grebes. Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Augusta County, and Blacksburg all found from one to three birds.

Greater Scaup was another species that displayed an odd distribution pattern. Well-described accounts, citing diagnostic field marks, were submitted from Williamsburg, Hopewell, Lake Anna, and Shenandoah-Luray N.P., counts that had not recorded this species on a CBC for five or more years. What’s more, Fort Belvoir chalked up a total of 30 individuals, the most for that count in 11 years.

Another oddity was the unusual influx of Common Mergansers. The regional total was not record-breaking, but the number of different counts (20) that recorded the species was. The five individuals at Blackford was a first for there; record highs were counted at Central Loudoun County (184), Calmes Neck (127), and Lexington (40). The one at Banister River W.M.A. and three at Lynchburg were not firsts, but the Banister River bird was the only sighting there in 15 years.

A surprising number of Redheads appeared around the region. Most notable was the 848 individuals at Fort Belvoir, far surpassing the previous high for that count of 503 set in 1967. Record highs of this species were also set at Walkerton, Rockingham County, and Waynesboro, but the overall total does not begin to approach those massive numbers of Redheads observed at Back Bay in the late 1940s when state totals swelled to 5-digit numbers. Never again have they ever appeared in such huge flocks.

Sadly the lowest count of Loggerhead Shrikes in 72 years was recorded this year. Only three individuals were found at Blackford. Not since 1942 has this species been so scarce and it would appear that this precipitous decline will not be reversed. Compared to this year’s pitiful showing, it is hard to imagine that 170 birds were counted in 1974 on 25 of the 33 counts conducted that season.

Double-crested Cormorants broke all records with almost 24,000 birds counted state-wide. This species continues to push westward during the winter. Roanoke chalked up its first Xmas count record and Northern Shenandoah Valley birders found a record-high four birds. Until 1998, this species was never found there, but in the last 16 years it has been recorded on count day or count week nine times.

Even though their numbers have been increasing around the state for some time, this year’s state total of more than 2000 Wild Turkeys outstripped all previous numbers. Records were broken everywhere - 12 counts racked up all-time highs with Lynchburg leading the fray with an eye-popping 281 birds. The only part of the region not enjoying this resurgence is the extreme southeastern corner of Virginia. Little Creek and Back Bay birders have seen nary a one, except for a lone individual at Back Bay in 1993. From 1996 through 2007 Newport News enjoyed good numbers, from three to almost 60 birds most years, but for unknown reasons, none have been recorded there in the past six years. For the rest of the state, populations seem to be mushrooming, with the northern and central areas experiencing the greatest increases.

An all-time high of 220 White Ibises were found on two counts. Usually Cape Charles has been the stronghold of ibises, but for the past three years Back Bay has held sway with 212 individuals found there this year.

Combined totals of Willets on the four Eastern Shore counts comprised and all-time high for the region. Added to that was two other unusual occurrences of this species - five birds at Newport News for its sole record since 1992, and one at Mathews County, only the sixth sighting in its 45-year history.

In the past 20 years or so, Red-breasted Nuthatches have displayed a steady two-year cyclic pattern in the region. Off seasons tally 30 to 50 individuals state-wide every other year, but totals rocket to as many as 500 or more birds in the alternating seasons. This year a total of 35 were found as compared with nearly 700 last year.

An increase of more than a thousand Carolina Wrens in the region was somewhat of a surprise. During winters of sustained cold weather, this species has not seemed to fare well, but even though temperatures were lower than usual on many counts this year, Carolinas were found in high numbers in many places, with seven counts - Washington DC (702), Williamsburg (294), Walkerton (218), Manassas-Bull Run (442), Northern Shenandoah Valley (337), Lexington (181), and Blackford (56) chalking up significant records.

Three Painted Buntings were the most ever seen in one season. The one in Newport News was a first for that count. Even though this species is seen with some frequency in the southeastern corner of Virginia during the winter months, the individuals seen at Back Bay and Little Creek were the only records for either count in 10 or more years.

The 374 Rusty Blackbirds in the region were the fewest counted in five years and their absence on most of the Piedmont CBCs was notable. Lastly, Boat-tailed Grackles have been in noticeable decline for the past 10 years and this season’s total of 407 was the lowest since 1957. None were recorded at all at Back Bay and Mathews County where they are usually found in large numbers.