Cindy Hamilton got photos of whale tails while on a daylong tour with Rudee Tours that went up to Northampton County. “Individual humpback whales can be identified by the unique patterns on the underside of their tails,” Hamilton wrote. “We are so lucky to be able to see humpback whales!”
Connie Owen had a lovely day at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. “Many of the usual subjects, and a few exciting ones,” wrote Owen. “The kingfisher was cooperative in having his picture taken,” wrote Owen.
Laura Koubsky sent a close-up photo of a blue-winged teal at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Blue-winged teal are easily recognized by the white crescent shape behind the bill.
Michael Schimmel photographed a colorful American wigeon at Witt Park in Virginia Beach. Wigeons can be found during the fall and winter in wetlands, ponds, and agricultural fields. Males are recognized by the metallic green eye patch and white crown.
Morgan Aspinwall sent a photo of “Elon,” the Muscovy duck that is behind the First Colonial Inn in Virginia Beach. “He’s so beautiful but so far out of his typical territory,” wrote Aspinwall.
Robert Joyner spotted an impressive red-tailed hawk perched on a mailbox at Bennett’s Creek Landing in Suffolk.
Terese Beatty photographed a Cooper’s hawk in Governor Square in Virginia Beach. Cooper’s hawks are frequently seen around backyard bird feeders where they prey on songbirds.
Amresh Vaidya was rewarded with a beautiful sighting of an American kestrel at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Open Roads Day in North Carolina. “The kestrel was hanging around a few trees by the Knapp gravesite,” wrote Vaidya. “I guess it was looking for its morning breakfast.”
James Walton got an interesting photo of a turkey vulture in the Grafton section of York County. The vulture was “sitting on a fence spreading its wings with sun rays coming from different directions,” wrote Walton.
Benjamin Gerber sent a photo of a common grackle perched on a branch in the Western Branch neighborhood in Chesapeake. From a distance, grackles look like blackbirds but up close their colors shine. The head is glossy purple with bronze iridescent bodies.
Reuben Rohn sent a photo of a fox sparrow, a winter migrant here, at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. “It is one of the largest sparrows and one of the prettiest with its bright red/brown plumage,” wrote Rohn.
Steve Daniel got a photo of a yellow-rumped warbler perched on a maple branch at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. Yellow-rumped warblers are a winter resident and arrive about the time the wax myrtle berries ripen, one of their favorite foods.
Harold Winer photographed cedar waxwings that have made their fall appearance at his bird bath in the Kings Grant neighborhood in Virginia Beach. They arrive in the fall for the juniper and holly berry harvest.
Norm Grefe sent a photo of a beautiful eastern mud snake taking advantage of a warm day to sun itself at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk. Mud snakes have a reputation of poking one with their tail rather than biting when picked up.
Mike Weirich sent photos of nutria that was one of three families that he passed while paddling on the Upper North Landing River in Virginia Beach.
Vickie Shufer, wildfood@cox.net
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If you go
What: Two-hour whale watching
When: December-February; 1 p.m.
Where: 200 Winston Salem Ave., Virginia Beach
Cost: $35/adults and ages 12+; $33/military; $28/children 4-11; $5/toddlers 3 and younger
More information: (757) 425-3400; rudeeangler@gmail.com; www.rudeetours.com/whale-watching.
