Saturday, March 18, 2023, 9:00am - Regular monthly bird walk - Weyanoke Sanctuary
1501 Armistead Bridge Road in the West Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk. The sanctuary is open once a month for a guided bird walk, except during our summer break (June, July, August).
Saturday, March 25 – Dwarf Trillium (Trillium pusillum) trip to Great Dismal Swamp
Meet at the Jericho Ditch parking lot at 8:00 am, at the end of Jericho Lane (1325 White Marsh Road, Suffolk). The plan is to walk north along Jericho Ditch to look for dwarf trillium and arriving spring birds, as well as wintering birds. Birds we can see in late March include several species of woodpecker, cedar waxwings, possible early arrivals of warblers (such as yellow-throated and prairie warblers) wild turkey, wood ducks, nuthatches, hermit thrush, several species of sparrows, hawks, and eagles. Hopefully, some of the bird species will be practicing their songs. Bring water and snacks, if desired. Those who wish, can continue on the Lake Drummond via the wildlife drive/Railroad Ditch. Call Judy Hinch with any questions 757-816-8989.
Saturday, April 15, 2023, 8:00am - Regular monthly bird walk - Weyanoke Sanctuary
1501 Armistead Bridge Road in the West Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk. The sanctuary is open once a month for a guided bird walk, except during our summer break (June, July, August).
Saturday, April 22 – CHAS/VBAS joint field trip to Great Dismal Swamp.
Saturday, April 22 meet at 8:00 AM in the parking lot for the boardwalk at Washington Ditch, 3100 White Marsh Road, Suffolk. This will be a joint trip between the two Audubon groups, to look for the arrival of vireos and warblers such as the prothonotary (golden swamp warbler) and other beautiful migrating warblers. Common yellowthroat, hooded, black and white, parulas and waterthrush could also be seen and heard. Call Judy Hinch with any questions, 757-816-8989."
Tuesday, May 16 – Swifts at Sunset
Night Roost at St. Patrick’s Catholic School - led by Laura Mae (rain date: Thursday, May 18)
Saturday, May 20, 2023, 8:00am - Regular monthly bird walk - Weyanoke Sanctuary
1501 Armistead Bridge Road in the West Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk. The sanctuary is open once a month for a guided bird walk, except during our summer break (June, July, August).
Six CHAS members joined the Williamsburg Bird Club for a walk at New Quarter Park on Queens Creek. Very pretty place. Lots of bluebirds and eagles, nesting great blue herons. Lots of water birds.
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve - January 14, 2023
On a cold winter morning we had 21 to show up at Hoffler; however, only 8 hardy birders made it all the way to the end at 10:15. See Saundra and Morocco's list of the 32 species seen by clicking here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126109958
Back Bay NWR Field Trip - December 3, 2022
A hardy group of nine birdwatchers arrived at Back Bay NWR around 8 am with a light rain falling. The bay behind the visitor’s center had a nice variety of waterbirds including Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, a few swans, a group of coots, some Gadwall, and a Pied-billed Grebe. A walk around the parking lot and along the boardwalks produced some White-throated Sparrows, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, a hunting Northern Harrier, more swans flying over, a Marsh Wren, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Wilson’s Snipe.
Moving south along the road we passed two Great-blue Herons and heard a few Swamp and Song Sparrows. At that point Tracy Tate spotted a pale sparrow that was something unusual and became the bird-of-the-day. After careful study the group concluded the bird was a Le Conte’s Sparrow, a rare wintering bird to our area that breeds in the upper Midwest. The group continued south to the blind where Mallard, Black Ducks, and a Northern Pintail were added to the trip list.
Returning toward the visitor’s center we walked over the dunes to the beach where we spotted many fishing Northern Gannets plunge-diving among the large group of cormorants that were also fishing. Both Common and Red-throated Loons were seen as well as gulls, Forster’s Terns, and a flock of Red-breasted Mergansers.
The species checklist totaling 49 species can be viewed by clicking here.
NC Outer Banks Field Trip - November 26, 2022
Highlights: A large variety of waterfowl including Eurasian Wigeon; Common Gallinule; American Avocet; Marbled Godwit; and a brief appearance by a Lapland Longspur. For a complete report click CHAS OBX Field Trip - November 26, 2022.
Lone Star Lakes Park Field Trip - October 8, 2022
Highlights included: Scarlet Tanager, a variety of warblers including an adult male American Redstart, and several newly arriving winter residents such as White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. For a complete report, click here: CHAS Field Trip - Lone Star Lakes October 8, 2022 eBird Trip Report
Chimney Swifts at Sunset - September 25, 2022
17 people witnessed the spectacle of hundreds of Chimney Swifts rallying at sunset and entering their night roost. The chimney is located on Alson Drive across from St. Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk. It is a few stories high, and might be the largest known roosting site of Chimney Swifts in Norfolk. For a complete report, click here: CHAS Field Trip - Chimney Swifts at Sunset September 25, 2022 eBird Trip Report.
13 birders showed up on a beautiful late summer morning at Mackay Island NWR in North Carolina on Sept. 5, 2022. The caravan of cars spent 4 hours at the refuge. Highlights included great views of King Rail, Prairie Warbler, Summer Tanager, Blue grossbeaks, Red-headed woodpeckers; also, hundreds of shorebirds including plovers and sandpipers, tricolored heron, dowitcher and yellowlegs. A few ducks were seen. Complete list can be seen here:
Greensprings Interpretive Trail Field Trip - May 14, 2022
Highlights included: Blue-winged Warbler, close-up views of many Prothonotary Warblers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and sightings of a wide variety of other birds, with a total of 61 species seen. For a complete report, click here: CHAS Field Trip - Greensprings Trail May 14, 2022 eBird report
Highlights included: Rusty Blackbird; early returning migrants such as Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush; early butterflies including Tiger Swallowtail and Zebra Swallowtail; and a successful search for Dwarf Trillium. For a complete report, click here: CHAS Field Trip - Dismal Swamp NWR Mar. 26, 2022 eBird Trip Report
CBBT and Eastern Shore Field Trip - February 12, 2022
52 Species total - Highlights included excellent views of King Rail & Merlin, hundreds of Tundra Swans, Orange-crowned Warbler, and out-of-season Prairie Warbler and, for those who opted to continue with an impromptu addition to the outing, a cooperative Western Kingbird.
