Accomac and Cobb's Island

Accomac, Va., June 20th.

rec_birding

Curlew fly here from the 1st to the 20th of May, and return for about the same length of time in September. With them come all the variety of birds that we have, both transient and stationary. The willet, the American rail, the black head gull and striker breed here, and remain all summer. The eggs of the latter varieties are very numerous, and can be found at the rate of (one man for a day's work) about one bushel per day. Many of the long bill curlew stay here all summer, but in not one instance have I known of their propagating here.

At Cobb's Island there are in summer all the kinds of birds to be found anywhere, whose habits tend to a salt meadow: curlew, long and short bills (the latter called marlins), willet, plover, black breasts, robins, snipe, brown backs, American rail (mud hen) and sand birds. The latter congregate in large flocks, and are down on the seashore following the breakers down and running up as the sea washes back. All the above birds are also to be found here in winter, but not in so large quantities.

T. G. E.