THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407190147
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Coastal Journal
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
If you see an unusual wading bird that looks like it flew in from outer space, it's probably one of the immature white ibises that have been seen around town.
A flock of seven or eight have been roaming the waterways just inland from the resort area, said Chris Mast, an education specialist at the Virginia Marine Science Museum. She's seen the ibises in Owls Creek and in the Linkhorn Bay area.
Unlike its all-white parents, an immature white ibis has a mottled brown body with a white breast. Both adults and immatures have the large characteristic down-curved bill.
The white ibis's normal range is farther south, but the youngsters are known for their wanderlust and are seen occasionally in this part of Virginia in the summer.
THE ODD BIRD Esther Grahambent saw under her bird feeder could have come from outer space also, for all she knew.
``At the beginning I didn't know what it was,'' said the Lago Mar resident. ``I thought it was a wild turkey.'' Turns out Grahambent's space alien was a guinea hen, a domesticated fowl. It has become a regular afternoon visitor dining on seed dropped from the feeder. Guinea hens, larger than chickens, are mottled gray and black. They have a red crest on their tiny heads, white cheeks and turkey-like crops.
``It has a small ugly head; pardon me, but it is very ugly,'' Grahambent said. ``It waddles in all by itself, looking miserable, and it's not very good looking either. And then it waddles off.''
When surprised, it makes a ``racket, a loud clacking noise,'' Grahambent said.
She wonders where the guinea hen came from. Did it escape from a hatchery? she asks. She would like to find its home.
``It's all alone,'' she said, ``and it makes me feel a little sad.''
A BLACK BEAR WAS SIGHTED last week down on Mill Landing Road in Pungo. Debby Reinke of Prospect who was visiting with friends on Mill Landing saw the bear crossing a wooded section of the road not far from its intersection with Princess Anne Road.
``My son, who was here visiting with us thought we were full of baloney,'' Reinke said. ``But the next night he was driving down the road and there the bear was sitting up in front of someone's house.
``It was distinctly and undoubtedly a bear,'' she said.
It was probably another case of youthful wanderlust. Young bears tend to stray far from home when ousted from their dens. At least this one didn't cause the stir that another young bear did when it was found in an Oceana neighborhood in late May.
SINCE ``BARROW'' IS MY NAME, I should have known what John ``Bruddy'' Baillio was talking about recently, but I didn't. He was gently chastising the newspapers for referring to a ``barrow pit'' as a ``borrow pit.''
And Baillio really should know. He owns Baillio Sand Co. which operates out of a barrow pit down on Princess Anne Road.
``In the dictionary `barrow' is a description for the material,'' Baillio said, ``a heap of earth or rocks.''
My American Heritage Dictionary does give barrow as the definition for a mound of earth, but it does not give a spelling at all for barrow pit or borrow pit. Webster's gives ``borrow'' as an alternate spelling for a ``barrow pit.''
INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE ARRIVAL of a fleet of sleek Jaguars, these days the folks at Checkered Flag Lynnhaven Jaguar, Porsche, Audi, BMW on Virginia Beach Boulevard are awaiting delivery of a flock of downy baby ducks.
Seems a female mallard duck is nesting in the shrubbery in front of the salesroom, reported Checkered Flag sales consultant Steve Reid. The folks there are preparing for the big day.
They have a box ready to capture mama and her babies as soon as they are born. Then they will transport the new family to a safe waterway far from Virginia Beach Boulevard - a great place for Jaguars, but not for ducks.
IF A WHITE PARAKEET with blue streaks on its back lands on your shoulder and says, ``Hello, how are you?'' don't be surprised.
It might even get fresh. ``Give me a kiss,'' it often squawks.
Not to worry. Your visitor will be a little budgie that escaped from Remi Dubois' North End home. Needless to say, the family is very upset that their sociable bird is gone.
If anyone sees a white parakeet flying loose, please call Dubois at 422-2794 and leave a message. They are sure they can recapture their pet, Dubois said, because the parakeet always comes when Dubois' daughter calls it.
P.S. CHILDREN OF THE PLANTATION, a program at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Francis Land House, is being presented in conjunction with a new exhibit, ``Once Upon a Time: Memories of Childhood.'' Following the program visitors can play Colonial games and make crafts. The program is free with admission to the museum. Call 340-1732 for reservations.
MYTHS, MAGIC AND MIRRORS is the topic of a tour at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Adam Thoroughgood House. Learn about the folk tales and legends that lie behind mirrors. The cost is $2. Call 664-6283 for reservations.
KIDS' CRAFT NIGHTS for children 6 to 8 take place at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 30 at the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Call 437-4949 for weekly topics and to register. The fee is $6 for museum members and $8 for non-members. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen this week? And what do you know about
Tidewater traditions and lore? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter
category 2290. Or, send a computer message to my Internet address:
mbarrow(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
by CNB