Close Encounters: Heermann’s gull spotted in Virginia Beach

Katie Hecht spotted a Heermann’s gull at the North End of Virginia Beach. “They are not native to the area and normally reside on the Pacific coast,” wrote Hecht. “I’m hoping it makes some friends and decides to make Virginia Beach its home!”

Joe DiGeronimo sent a photo of an osprey fishing in the Chesapeake Bay just west of First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. In the background is a flock of buffleheads that have not yet departed for their northern breeding grounds.

Mike Weirich got a photo of a pair of ospreys in a nest at False Cape State State Park in Virginia Beach. “Looks like dad was successful in his hunt and got a fish,” wrote Weirich.

Jim Melchor photographed an osprey having lunch on a piling on the Lafayette River in Norfolk.

Laura Joksaite photographed a brown pelican in the act of preening its feathers at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. Pelicans waterproof their feathers by distributing preen oil from a gland at the base of the tail to the feathers.

A brown pelican preens its feathers at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Laura Joksaite)

Joseph Robbins captured a great photo of a double-crested cormorant that was swimming peacefully at Lake Smith/Lake Lawson in Virginia Beach.

A double-crested cormorant swims peacefully at Lake Smith/Lake Lawson in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Joseph Robbins)

Fred Curry got a photo of a Canada goose posing at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach.

Ed Obermeyer sent beautiful photos of a pileated woodpecker in the Castleton neighborhood in Virginia Beach. “Went everywhere to find birds this week but to my amazement, they were right here in our backyard,” wrote Obermeyer.

A pileated woodpecker visits a backyard looking for insects in the Castleton area in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Ed Obermeyer)

Connie Owen sent a photo of a tufted titmouse in her backyard in the Robinhood Forest area of Virginia Beach. “My birdbath had gone dry, and I refilled it (the weather had been dry) and the rush of birds wanting a drink of fresh water was amazing,” wrote Owen. “Many people feed the birds, but not so many put out water for them.”

A tufted titmouse visits a backyard in the Robinhood Forest area in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Connie Owen)

Nylia Laney photographed a beautiful female bluebird that is now nesting in her yard in the Castleton neighborhood in Virginia Beach.

A female bluebird perches on a branch near her nest in the Castleton area in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Nylia Laney)

Jane Hughey sent photos of a male and female bluebird feeding on live mealworms at her feeder in the Indian River area of Chesapeake. “Try and do this at the same time every day and they are usually waiting for their treat,” wrote Hughey.

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Cindy Morrison got a photo of a cardinal at her backyard feeder before it flew away in the Ridgely Manor neighborhood in Virginia Beach.

David Clark sent a photo of a common yellowthroat vigorously singing at the new Blackwater Park in Franklin.

A common yellowthroat sings vigorously at the new Blackwater Park in Franklin. (Courtesy of David Clark)

Jeanette Winsor spotted her first hummingbird of the season in Abingdon Village in Virginia Beach. “We have been keeping track of arrival and departure dates for over 20 years, and this is five days earlier than our previous earliest sighting!” wrote Winsor.

Jean Broughton reported on hearing prothonotary warblers in the Morgans Walke neighborhood in Virginia Beach. “The prothonotary warblers that arrive every spring are here (18th consecutive year!),” wrote Broughton. “I haven’t seen them yet but they’re in the woods behind my house singing.”

Paul Kotarides sent a photo of sliders on the tidal mudflats in a creek that runs behind the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary in Norfolk.

Rich Thiesfeld ran across a canebrake rattlesnake at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. “They’re generally not aggressive but, of course, it’s best to keep a safe distance,” Thiesfeld wrote. Canebrake rattlesnakes are the southern species of timber rattlesnakes and differ in their coloration with hues of pink, yellow, orange, and a brown stripe running lengthwise down the back.

A canebrake rattlesnake makes an intimidating appearance at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. (Courtesy of Rich Thiesfeld)

Vickie Shufer, wildfood@cox.net