From Eastern Shore Birding – There really is no better place to be than the Eastern Shore of Virginia during Fall migration. This migration season at the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch has been phenomenal, with bigger numbers than the more famous Cape May, NJ, hawk watch. The small falcons are making a showing – 2,173 American Kestrels and 1,226 Merlins so far. Ospreys are at 1,863 with more to come. Accipiter migration is picking up, and Broad-winged Hawks are trickling in. If you can’t make our Hawk Watch field trips, stop by the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch any time and there will be at least one counter/educator from the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory available to help you identify the birds; they’ll be there right through the end of November.
There are some field trips and a speaker program coming up in the next few weeks. These are free and open to the public. We require pre-registration with the trip leader as per the contact information below.
Sept. 28 Field Trip: Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, Parksley, VA 28565 Baker Rd.
Join leaders Maggie Long and Joette Borzik for a walk around the trails at Mutton Hunk Fen, a Virginia DCR Natural Area Preserve. The Preserve is managed for migratory bird habitat and supports a variety of passerines and raptors. To Register, contact Maggie Long 610-500-9971.
Sept. 30 Field Trip: Monday, 8:00 a.m. Kiptopeke Hawk Watch at Kiptopeke State Park
Join veteran birders Roberta Kellam and Paul Anderson to experience the spectacle of fall migrating raptors. The unique topography of the Delmarva Peninsula provides a narrowing bottleneck of land that funnels the raptors toward the Hawkwatch Platform at Kiptopeke State Park. Species expected include various falcons, buteos, accipiters, osprey, and eagles. We’ll also walk the trails to search for migrating passerines.
WHEN: Monday, September 30, at 8:00 A.M.
LOCATION: Meet at Kiptopeke State Park Hawk Watch Platform Parking Lot.
The Program is free and open to the public, but admission to the Park is required. Always be prepared for ticks, the sun, mosquitos, and the weather.
To register, email trip leader Roberta Kellam at info@birdingeasternshore.org
***October 4 Deadline for signing up to attend Fisherman’s Island Tour on 10/18/2024***
Tuesday, October 8 Speaker Program
Meet at 5:00 Social Time; Program begins at 5:30 pm
Location: Eastern Shore Community College, Main Building, Room 145
Joanne Laskowski: 15 Endemic Bird Species of the USA: Joanne will share her knowledge of 15 “All American” birds; those endemic species that are found only in the Continental United States. Learn which of these special birds are found on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
**Thursday, October 10, from 6:00 to 7:30, the Friends of Kiptopeke State Park are holding a speaker program at the Big Water Visitor Center at Kiptopeke State Park that would be of interest to birders….Marina Pierce, a local wildlife and bird photographer will give a presentation on ways you can improve your photography, whether you shoot with a phone camera or a DSLR. Marina exhibits her work at the Local-ISH Art Gallery in Cape Charles and seeks to use her photography to further conservation efforts by educating people about the amazing world around them here on the Eastern Shore. The Friends have opened this event to the public and it is free of charge.
October 12 Field Trip: Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Migratory Bird Day Walk, Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
Meet at the Visitor Center Parking Lot and join Roberta Kellam and Joette Borzik as we hike various trails and habitats at the height of Fall migration. To register, contact Roberta Kellaminfo@birdingeasternshore.org.
October 18 Field Trip: Friday, 8:00 am to Noon Fisherman’s Island Tour, Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
Restricted area; special walk through coastal maritime forest to the Chesapeake Bay.
(Limited to 25 Participants; Registration Required by 10/4/2024)
Text or email Lydia Hansen and leave your name and phone number and mention that you are with the bird club: cell 948-202-1676; lydia_hansen@fws.gov)Leaders: Joanne Laskowski, Joette Borzik, and Mario Balitbit
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