VA BIRDers,
Larry Cartwright led the regular Sunday morning Field Trip to Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to the public. Only a few
people showed up for an amazing spring spectacle - Blackpoll Warblers were
EVERYWHERE (yes, even flying over the little bays). Truly an abundant
species today with 65 tallied, often in groups of 5 and 4. The balance of
the warblers were OK diversity-wise but the group was pleased with the
Black-throated Blues and American Redstarts and the Yellow Warblers were in
better than average numbers. We started out looking over a mixed
warbler/vireo flock in the picnic area as a Red-tailed Hawk had caught a
rabbit early in the morning and the local and migrant passerines were very
much into mobbing the scene. Swainson's Thrush were in good song in several
places and a Veery popped up and fed in the berry tree near the beginning of
Haul Rd. The Osprey put on the usual great show, a single adult Bald Eagle
held forth on the mudflats despite the rising tide, and we finally notched a
few Laughing Gulls near the end of the trip as the birds headed south down
the Potomac. Unexpected! Cedar Waxwings were in very good numbers today
making the top 5 in numbers with a tally of 50 from several flocks. Swallow
numbers are down suggesting the bulk of the swallows have moved through the
area and the remainders are mainly local breeders. We also heard and
briefly saw a Marsh Wren on the island across from the boardwalk terminus.
One participant dug out a very wonderfully colored Orange-variant Scarlet
Tanager. Orioles were often heard but were mainly seen near the end of the
trip so it was a bit hard to pin down their numbers, but we suspected that
mainly breeders remained. Lastly, Warbling Vireos seem to have made a good
push as the picnic area and marina finally had singers. The regular Field
Trip netted 63 species. Visits to the Stone Bridge early and late in the
day added 13 more species including shorebirds, American Black Duck, Greater
Black-backed Gull, Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Northern Waterthrush.
Today's tally at Dyke Marsh is listed below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 38 plus 26 goslings
Wood Duck 1
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 59 plus 5 ducklings
Blue-winged Teal 3, incl a pair!
DC Cormorant 14
Great Blue Heron 2
Osprey 12, at least
Bald Eagle 1, ad
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Spotted Sandpiper 12
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 42
Dunlin 1
L. Gull 4
RB Gull 102
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 3
Rock Pig3
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 4
Belted Kingfisher 1, male, like last week, prob. unsuccessful breeder as
Dyke has no BEKI habitat
Red-bellied WP 6, NY
Downy WP 4
Pileated WP 1
E. Wood Pewee 2
Acadian Fly 1
Willow Fly 1, at the end of the dogleg
Great Crested Fly 2
E. Kingbird 10, 2 NB
Yellow-throated V 1, well-described by another birder
Red-eyed V 12 or more
Warbling V 5
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 6
Purple Martin 1
Tree Sw 10
No. Rough-winged Sw 1
Barn Sw 8
C. Chickadee 10
T. Titmouse 8, FS
White-br Nuthatch 3
C. Wren 6
M. Wren 1
BG Gnatcatcher 6
Veery 1
Swainson's Thrush 3
Am. Robin 14
Gray Catbird 4
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 14, CF
Cedar Waxwing 50
No. Parula 2
Yellow 10
Magnolia 3
Black-thr Blue 3, great study of female
Yellow-rumped 4
Blackpoll 65, amazing, highest number in years
Am. Redstart 3
Prothonotary 2
No. Waterthrush 1
Com. Yellowthroat 8
Scarlet Tanager 1
E. Towhee 1
Song Sp 3
No. Cardinal 12
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged BB 15
Com. Grackle 10, CF
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard O 4
Balto O 7
House Finch 6
Am. Goldfinch 12
House Sp 8
