Field Trip Report: Chincoteague 2026

Thumbnail Photo: Glossy Ibis by Gray Richardson

Over 100 avid birders descended on Chincoteague for the annual VSO Chincoteague Field Trip. We had a number of new to Chincoteague birders as well as those who schedule their fall around the trip. We gained 3 new members during the weekend and had two Canadians and their British friend join us on Sunday morning.

The weather (beyond our control) was a mixed blessing. Days were more temperate than is oft the case and the only rain was a light drizzle on Sunday morning. However, the rain did not deter our crew. A number followed Andrew Rapp from Tom’s Cove along the beach, stopping at groups of gulls, terns, and willets to have differential field marks identified as the individuals stood side to side. This nicely reinforced Jerry Via’s Zoom presentation on Tuesday. A Parasitic Jaeger flew by and swooped down on the massed terns and others, a nice reward for those who made it down to the beach. The gatherings at Tom’s Cove are usually productive and this year was no exception.

The downside of the good weather was that although each night showed a huge number of birds migrating overhead, they continued onward without dropping in. Despite the relatively low number of birds seen, there was good diversity with 146 bird species represented. (list of species is below)

A group of folks took advantage of the refuge trolley trip northward. Although this trip is not focused on birding, there were some excellent birds spotted, including a Wilson’s Phalarope. The trolley offered a good chance to see a bit more of the refuge while giving tired legs and feet a rest.

Others took advantage of the relatively mosquito-free loop walk at the Island Nature Trail. Nancy Barnett spotted our only Prothonotary Warbler there; several other warblers were seen there along with the Red-Headed Woodpecker. Those who braved the usually- more-buggy Woodland Trail also had good birds there.

The boat trips were a favorite as usual, with the requisite Bald Eagle spotting. Among others, we saw Marbled Godwits, Black-bellied Plover, and Willets (eastern and western) We struggled with the new split in the Willett species, learning that Chincoteague in September hosts mostly Western Willets.

The wildlife loop had water only on the north side. There we found the long-leggeds, including White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, and Egrets and Herons. The Clapper Rails made their regular appearance in the marsh below the boardwalk crossing the bridge to Assateague.

Many thanks to all who helped with the planning and execution of this field trip.

We are grateful to Jerry Via for his pre-trip Zoom preview of anticipated birds and for arranging details of the boat trips, as well as leading walks. Thanks to our other trip leaders: Bill Akers, Andrew Rapp, Lee Adams, Audrey Whitlock, Clark Olsen, Saundra Winstead and Morocco St. Andre, Charm and Pete Peterson. Special thanks to Nancy Barnhart who stepped in at the last minute to lead a trip and to keep the trip E-Bird lists for both boat rides.

We hope to see you next September 10-12 for the 2027 VSO Chincoteague Field Trip. The Refuge Inn will again be our host hotel.

SPECIES LIST

Canada Goose

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Mallard

American Black Duck

Wild Turkey

Pied-billed Grebe

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Chuck-will’s-widow

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Clapper Rail

Black-necked Stilt

American Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Kildeer

Semipalmated Plover

Piping Plover

Snowy Plover

Wilson’s Plover

Whimbrel

Marbled Godwit

Ruddy Turnstone

Red Knot

Stilt Sandpiper

Sanderling

Dunlin

Least Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Willet (Eastern and Western)

Greater Yellowlegs

Wilson’ Phalarope

Parasitic Jaeger

Bonaparte’s Gull

Laughing Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Least Tern

Gull-billed Tern

Caspian Tern

Black Tern

Common Tern

Forster's Tern

Royal Tern

Sandwich Tern

Black Skimmer

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Brown Pelican

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Little Blue Heron

Tricolored Heron

Cattle Egret

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

White Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Bald Eagle

Red-shouldered Hawk

Great Horned Owl

Belted Kingfisher

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Kestrel

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Acadian Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Carolina Wren

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

House Sparrow

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Seaside Sparrow

Yellow-breasted Chat

Bobolink

Eastern Meadowlark

Baltimore Oriole

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Common Grackle

Boat-tailed Grackle

Black-and-white Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart

Cape May Warbler

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Pine Warbler

Yellow-throated Warbler

Canada Warbler

Summer Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting