VA BIRDers,
Here is a summary of the regular Sunday morning field trip to Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all. Seasonally low
temperatures started the 8am hour off and we noted many Great Egrets (>50)
plus Great Blue Herons, Osprey, several Bald Eagles plus bird of the year,
DC Cormorants, Mallards, Canada Geese and a Pied-billed Grebe. Many
Forster's Terns, a couple of Caspian Terns and Ring-billed and Laughing
Gulls made up the balance. Swallows were mainly Barn although two Northern
Rough-wingeds were briefly noted. The picnic area held the first of quite a
few Eastern Kingbirds - 6 for the day. Near the southern end we heard a
House Wren, noted 2 Orchard Orioles, and spotted an Eastern Wood Pewee.
Diligent searching produced a Warbling Vireo beating the life out of a
caterpillar and nearby was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Grassy areas held
American Robins, some of which were quite spotted.
Haul Rd was mostly silent save for a few Gray Catbirds and the dogleg area
produced not one but two Ruby-throated Hummers. A Yellow Warbler was further
down the dogleg along with another Blue-gray. At the overlook we scanned
the skies and eventually found a pair of Black Vultures and a nearby perched
Belted Kingfisher. On the way back to the cars, Larry Cartwright finds a
juvie Prothonotary Warbler with adults and a Northern Parula. We end the
day at 50 species, not bad for the middle of August.
Kurt Gaskill
