Three birders, including leaders Dave Boltz and myself, birded at Dyke Marsh
on this sunny but cold and windy winter morning. The conditions probably
kept the passerines down, as we were missing many of the common birds. A
very nice view of a Winter Wren was good compensation. We also spotted an
American Tree Sparrow about 2/3 way down the Haul Road, and debated a bit
about the ID. Calling it ATSP based on the pale breast and belly with dark
spot, rufous cap and gray supercilium. Unfortunately it flew before we got
a bead on the bill color. Another highlight was 7 Canvasbacks resting with
a group of Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks, seen off the platform at the end of
Haul Road.
Waterfowl numbers on the Potomac and flats near the mouth of Hunting Creek
were low, except for a large group of Canada Geese hugging the shore, and a
group of American Black Ducks. Nice views of three Bald Eagles including
watching one immature fishing.
Northern Virginia Bird Club walks are posted at
http://www.nvabc.org/trips.htm ;
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Jan 28, 2015 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Northern Virginia Bird Club walk. 23 degrees at start. Windy,
clear skies.
31 species
Canada Goose 1000
Wood Duck 1
American Black Duck 50
Mallard 150
Northern Shoveler 4
Canvasback 7
Lesser Scaup 330
Bufflehead 16
Common Goldeneye 5
Hooded Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 120
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 4
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1 Heard
Northern Flicker 1
Carolina Chickadee 5
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 5
American Tree Sparrow 1 Pale breast and belly with dark spot, rufous
cap and gray supercilium. Did not get bill color before it flew.
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 3
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21578573
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
