Azalea Flies to Potomac River in Virginia
August 16, 2011Camellia Back in Va Beach 8/18
August 19, 2011
Just like Azalea, Camellia has been on the move. Perhaps the satellite has had a time keeping up, but I finally got a new Camellia map. He left Indian River off Providence Rd about 10:00am and flew to Lake Whitehurst near the northeast corner of the Norfolk Airport and the original nest site of his parents in 2002-03. He left Lake Whitehurst and flew 50 miles across Norfok Harbor to the US Army Fort Eustis on the James River where he stayed overnight. About 10:00am he left there flying north over Williamsburg to King William County, another 50 miles, where he overnighted just off Route 30. The next morning Aug 15 he flew across the Mattaponi River into King & Queen County then did a sharp U-turn and flew southeast directly to the Gloucester County landfill. As of this map at 10:00am today Aug 16, that is where Camellia is located – white arrow.
5 Comments
Thank you
Reese, thank you for reporting on Camellia and Azalea. Could their extended travels north be due to the Dismal Swamp fires or perhaps the slightly cooler weather?
Response – Last year both Azalea and Camellia headed north near the end of August. I suspect we will see both of them return southward again this season. Azalea likely to return to TRS, but we will just have to wait to see. We are still learning about their movements.
Thanks, Reese.
I have 2 questions: 1. Would Azalea and Camellia be travelling with other eagles, or do they travel solitary? 2. Do you know some great eagle watching sites in Va? Are there any places along Skyline drive in Shenandoah National park where eagles are sited, especially during their migration?
Thanks so much. I’d really like to spend a day eagle watching this fall.
Response – Bald eagles travel independently, but do concentrate in certain places along rivers or lakes. Skyline Drive would not be a good place to see bald eagles, since there are no large bodies of water for them to forage for food. Better places would be near Hog Island on the James River, near Tappahannock on the Rappahannock River, or at Caledon Natural Area on the Potomac River.
Thank you!