Field Trip Report: Outer Banks 2022

Photos, clockwise from top left: Ash-throated Flycatcher - Seth R. Honig, Birders at Pea Island -Laura Mae, Bodie Lighthouse - Laura Mae, Northern Pintail - Doug Pfeiffer

Thumbnail Photo: Common Yellowthroat - Doug Pfeiffer

Meredith Bell, VSO Field Trips Co-Chair

The VSO field trip to the Outer Banks February 4-6, 2022, was a huge success for a number of reasons. We had a record number of registrants (115!), and we were able to have safe, fun field trips in spite of COVID-19. And we had no rain, which is always a plus! We found a total of 145 species over the weekend.

Thanks to our field trip leaders who made sure everyone got to see as many species as possible: Bill Akers, Jerry Via, Lee Adams, Sally Knight, Brenda Chase, and Meredith and Lee Bell. Very special thanks to Jerry Via who spent many hours preparing an excellent presentation for our pre-trip Zoom call. All the tips he gave us for identifying species when perched and in flight were valuable references over the weekend.

As always, we had surprises in addition to the “regulars.” Highlights included:

-        Blue-headed Vireo, Black & White Warbler and Fox Sparrow at Lake Mattamuskeet

-        Vesper Sparrow, Virginia Rail and Sora at Bodie Lighthouse

Vesper Sparrow - Photo by Doug Pfeiffer

-        Sandhill Crane, Golden Eagle, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Rough-legged Hawk and American Woodcock at Alligator River NWR

Alligator River NWR - Photo by Doug Pfeiffer

-        Common Gallinule and Ross’s Goose at Pea Island Visitor Center

-        American Pipit at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center

American Pipit - Photo by Laura Mae

-        White-crowned Sparrow at Oregon Inlet Campground

With the strong NE winds on Saturday, Jennette’s Pier was a challenge! Ocean birds were in short supply compared to other years, but we did have excellent views of Northern Gannet, some Black and Surf Scoters, Common and Red-throated Loons, and Forster and Common Terns. A few lucky participants spotted Razorbills in flight as they viewed birds from the warmth of their hotel rooms.

Most abundant duck of the weekend by far was Northern Pintail. We saw 100s at Pea Island Visitor Center and Alligator River NWR (when scoping ARNWR on Thursday, Meredith estimated more than 1200 in the impoundments on Sawyer Lake Rd).

We’ve already booked the Comfort Inn South Nags Head for February 3-5, 2023. Mark your calendar now, and plan to join us.

Check the VSO newsletter and website for details about two upcoming events that will provide excellent birding opportunities.:

-        VSO Annual Meeting and Dismal Swamp Birding Festival, April 29-May 1, hosted by The Cape Henry Audubon Society and the Friends of Dismal Swamp NWR.

-        Summer field trip in the Blacksburg area June 17-19, hosted by the New River Valley Bird Club and organized by Jerry Via and Bill Akers.

Complete list of 145 species from the Outer Banks weekend follows.

Snow Goose
Ross’s Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Eurasian/Common Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Wild Turkey
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
American Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Wilson's Snipe

Wilson’s Snipe - Photo by Curtis Badger

Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Razorbill
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Forster’s Tern
Royal Tern
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin

Merlin - Sally Knight

Peregrine Falcon
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Pipit
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal