VA BIRDers,
Here are notes on the route we (Sherman Suter, Jay Keller, Marc Ribaudo,
Rich Rieger and I) covered for the DC CBC. The route is approximately the
following: we walk from the Dyke Marsh picnic area along GW Parkway to Jones
Pt. Then we travel to Dangerfield Is and cover that location. We visit a
few waterfront locations and then drive to the National Cemetery area of the
city and bird that location for a short while before posting up at the Stone
Bridge to count the gulls and waterfowl coming in to roost for the evening,
leaving near 5pm.
This year was close to an average year with 64 species found (average = 61,
N = 8). In addition, nocturnal birding produced a Great Horned Owl near
Dyke Marsh and E. Screech Owl at Dangerfield Island. Highlights were 6
Great Egrets, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Gray Catbirds, Chipping Sparrow and Purple
Finch. Other species of interest also tallied were Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, and Fox Sparrow. New to the route was Black
Vulture, 2 were spotted flying over Oxon Hill (so there may be duplication
by the team over there).
High counts for this route were Red-shouldered Hawk (4), Killdeer (27),
Laughing Gull (790, previous high was 200), Herring Gull (440, previous was
217), Mourning Dove (227), Blue Jay (21), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (29), E.
Bluebird (5), Song Sp (130), Swamp Sp (18), and House Sparrow (168). Low
points were waterfowl (only the following for us: C. Goose, Am. Black Duck,
Mallard, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck and Pied-billed Grebe). Pied-billed Grebe,
Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse totals are still significantly low
compared to 6+ years ago. Big Miss was Black-crowned Night-Heron; none were
at the traditional Mirant Power Plant site.
In addition, there was a count week selasphorus hummer reported in the
Sector, about a mile from Dyke Marsh and last seen Thursday, Dec 13. We
pealed off a sub team to stake out the feeder on count day and got goose
egg.
Kurt Gaskill
