VA BIRDers,
Highlights of today's Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of
Dyke Marsh and open to all were Common Goldeneye (male), Red-necked Grebes,
Peregrine Falcon, and Tree Swallows. Good northbound migratory movements of
Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were also noted.
We started at the Potomac River's edge at the picnic area, braving a stiff
northern breeze which really put a wind chill on exposed skin (gloves were
the order of the day). Here we picked up the Peregrine perched on a sunny
Wilson Bridge abutment overlooking the Potomac. We noted nearby Gadwall,
Mallards, Canvasback and Common Mergansers plus Bald Eagle. From the marina
we spied a Red-necked Grebe - with quite a red-neck! - nearby were DC
Cormorants and another Bald Eagle. A few passerines were noted as we
traversed Haul Road including Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern
Towhee and Swamp Sparrow. From the dogleg, we viewed the new eagle nest and
occasionally saw her white head as she incubated. At the southern end of
the boardwalk we picked up more Canvasback, a pair of Lesser Scaup and
Bufflehead, a first year male Common Goldeneye thanks to David Ledwith and
his trusty scope, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Horned Grebes,
another Red-necked Grebe and - saving the day - 2 Tree Swallows. We also
noted Turkey Vultures and 2 Red-tailed Hawks.
At 6pm, I returned and did a gull count at the Stone Bridge adding Killdeer
to the day list. We tallied 48 species with Osprey conspicuously absent; the
results are tallied below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 600
Gadwall 9
Mallard 6
Canvasback 6
Lesser Scaup 2
Bufflehead 2
Common Goldeneye 1
Common Merganser 10
Red-breasted Merganser 4
Ruddy Duck 12
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 3
Red-necked Grebe 2
DC Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 4 - nest near Haul Rd occupied and the nest on the metal pylon
over the beltway occupied
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Peregrine 1
Killdeer 2
Ring-billed Gull 850
Herring Gull 28
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pig 2
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied WP 3
Downy WP 3
No. FLicker 1
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 8
Tree Swallow 2
C. Chickadee 4
T. Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
C. Wren 6
W. Wren 1
GC Kinglet 1
Am. Robin 8
No. Mocker 2
E. Starling 12
E. Towhee 1, new this week, prob. migrant
Song Sp 9
Swamp Sp 4
White-thr Sp 3
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged BB 375
Common Grackle 330
House Sp 5