Chincoteague Winter Weekend – February 6-8, 2026
With sand in our eyes and frostbitten fingers, we clung to our binoculars and tallied an impressive 82 species over the weekend at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and around town.
Carpooling in seven cars and armed with walkie-talkies, we headed to the beach Friday afternoon, where we were rewarded with a full scoter trifecta, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Mergansers, and the usual diversity of winter waterfowl — though shorebirds were notably scarce.
Saturday morning at the Boardwalk Bridge produced two Common Goldeneye, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and single sightings of Ruddy Duck, Black-bellied Plover, and Willet. Sadly, Clapper Rails remained silent and hidden. While overall bird numbers were low throughout the weekend, the diversity kept things exciting.
At the Town of Chincoteague School Ponds, we enjoyed eight Black-crowned Night-Herons and a stunning, cooperative American Bittern. American Woodcocks stole the show when we spotted them in broad daylight only a few feet away — both along the Wildlife Loop and near the Woodland Trail parking area.
Saturday evening, we thawed out and shared a wonderful meal at Bill’s Prime Seafood & Steaks, swapping highlights and comparing windburn.
On our final morning, we birded Pine Drive behind the hotel and were delighted to finally locate the adorable Brown-headed Nuthatches. We wrapped up the trip at Queen Sound Landing, where brutal winds knocked over a tripod (before the scope was even mounted!). Still, we logged American Oystercatchers and several Horned Grebes to finish strong.
In total, 24 members visited nine birding hotspots. Our planned stop at Ocean City Inlet had to be canceled due to extreme winter weather.
Temperatures hovered in the upper teens, with 26-mph winds and gusts exceeding 50 mph. Wind chills plunged to –3°F at sunrise and dropped to –11°F by day’s end.
Whether that makes us brave and dedicated birders — or completely out of our minds — is still up for debate.
– Joan Mashburn
https://ebird.org/tripreport/478065
