Saturday, December 3, 2022– Field Trip to Back Bay NWR
On Saturday, December 3, Bob Ake will lead a half day field trip to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Meeting time is at 8 am at the parking lot near the Visitor’s Center. We’ll walk the trails looking for winter land birds and marsh birds, scan the bay for incoming waterfowl, wander south to the blind where there may be swans and geese. We’ll complete the loop by walking over the dunes to the ocean where we will scan for loons, grebes, gulls, terns, gannets, shorebirds, and sea ducks. Bring a lunch, your binoculars, and a scope if you have one. For questions, contact Bob at rake@cox.net.
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 - Annual Holiday Social Dinner Meeting – 6:00p.m.
After several years our annual Holiday Dinner is returning on Wednesday December 14, 2022, at 6:00pm. The dinner will take place at our usual meeting place – the fellowship hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - and is a potluck dinner in which we all participate. There will be tables with place settings for everyone with the food being contributed by the members. Appetizers before the dinner are planned. Everyone should bring the necessary serving utensils for their dish and a way to keep foods hot if appropriate. Saundra will have a few chafing dishes and sterno on hand. Please be prepared to take away any leftovers or dispose of your excess food. Saundra will also have some plastic take out containers available for leftovers.
Contact Saundra Winstead for any questions, saundrawinstead@gmail.com, 757-513-7994.
So far the following food items have been offered:
ALL DRINKS, utensils for eating, plates, cups, napkins, salt and pepper. If you have a specific drink you want to bring, please let Saundra know what it is. Drinks available will include water, coffee, lemonade, and iced tea.
MEATS: a ham and a turkey
SIDES: (servings for 6 or 8) sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, roasted cranberry almond cauliflower rice
DESSERTS: pie of unknown type, pumpkin cake
APPETIZERS/starters: shrimp cocktail with sauce, a cheese ball, spinach squares
Please bring some of your digital photos on a thumb drive to share with attendees following dinner. Pictures of birds or of photos taken at CHAS events are appropriate.
Morocco is organizing and directing a silent auction. Bring any items you would like to donate to Cape Henry Audubon Society for the auction. Proceeds go to the Cape Henry Audubon treasury.
Saturday, December 17, 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).
Christmas Bird Count dates
December 18, 2022 – Great Dismal Swamp NWR: Compiler Cynthia Morris, cynthia_morris@fws.gov.
December 29, 2022 – Back Bay NWR: Compiler, Rob Bielawski; Contact, Cindy Hamilton, hamiltonhouseva@gmail.com.
December 30, 2022 – Cape Charles: Co-compilers, Ellison Orcutt, mr.ellyo@gmail.com, and Dan Cristol, dacris@wm.edu.
December 31, 2022 – Little Creek: Co-compilers, Nick Flanders, flicknanders@hotmail.com, and Elisa Flanders, elisaenders@hotmail.com.
January 3, 2023 – Nansemond River: Compiler, Bob Ake, rake@cox.net.