A fine Mothers Day at Dyke Marsh, Alexandria. Sixteen or so birders
wound thru the environs of Dyke Marsh this morning, starting around
8am and finishing up just before noon. The weather was shirt sleeve
perfect w. a slight breeze that kept us in comfortable temps
throughout the walk. Hit 50 species today but missed a few "gimmies" -
hard to imagine a spring day w/o a Red-eyed Vireo!
We were greeted in the parking lot by two singing EASTERN WOOD PEE-A-
WEES that provided fine scope views as they were posted up on bare
branches. BALDy type EAGLES and mucho OSPREYS dotted the bayscape,
punctuated by CANADA GEESE, one lone RINGNECKEed DUCK and our
everpresent, omnipotent TUNDRA SWAN. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS flitted about
and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS played hide and seek in the treetops.
Increasing leafiness kept us from getting a good look at the Eastern
Screech Owl abode but ORIOLES of both types kept us entertained on our
stroll down Haul Road. Ferrets on Leashes appeared - a first for many
on the hike - and two types of SKINKS - Five Striped and one
unidentified - were sunning themselves on the wooden bridge by the
Little Gut.
Here's the list... Rich Rieger
C. Goose 20
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard (some w. babes) 12
RingNeck Duck 1
DC Corm (just) 1 !
GB Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 12
Bald Eagle 2Ad, 2imm
RedTail Hawk 1
yellowlegs (sp) 1
Spotted Sandpiper 5
RB Gull 30
MoDo 2
YB Cuckoo 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red belly Wp 4
Downy WP 2
Eastern WoodPeewee 4
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 6
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 10
No. Rough Wing Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 4
Car. Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 4
BlueGrayish Gnatcatcher 4
Robins 12
Gray Catbird 1
Blue Catbird 1
No. Mockingbird 1 (Larry C... saw one right where bike path crosses
Marina Rd)
Euro Stars x
Cedar Waxwings 5
No. Parulas 4
Yellow Warbler 4
Yellow Rumps 2
Blackpolls 7
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
No. card 6
Indigo Bunting 2
RW Blackbird 30
C. Grackle 14
Orchard Oriole 12
Baltimore Oriole 6
House Finch 2
Am. Goldfinch 8
House sparrow 6
