VA BIRDers,
About a dozen people assembled for the Sunday morning Field Trip to Dyke
Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all. Despite the
cold, stiff breeze we were able to find a Scarlet Tanager, which may be a
regional late date.
We started off at the picnic area staring into the cold breeze and fighting
sun glare to search out for ducks - we snared American Black Duck, Gadwall,
Northern Shoveler and Green-winged Teal. Near the boat ramp a Lesser Scaup
was present near the American Coots. Pied-billed Grebes peppered the SAV
mats off the picnic area and 15 were tallied. Two Osprey were flying about
Hunting Creek Bay and 2 Cooper's Hawks were working the picnic area early -
we saw one of the Coops later near the end of the Field Trip. At least 3
Bald Eagles were present, two were adults. A Greater Yellowlegs called as
it flew by. The larids were the typical bunch for this time of year. A
group of Cedar Waxwings flew over the marina - we heard a few others later.
Just before going down Haul Road we came upon a Red-breasted Nuthatch high
in a tree along Ramp Road - scope views were had by several. The stroll
down Haul Road produced both kinglets, calling Winter Wrens, a Hermit Thrush
and an over flying Red-tailed Hawk. The tanager was accompanying a small
group of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Along the dogleg we spotted 7 Eastern
Bluebirds - obvious migrants as this species does not breed at Dyke Marsh -
mixed in with a large group of American Robins. At the viewing platform
near the end of the dogleg, 3 blackbirds alighted in a nearly leafless
Sycamore - 2 were Rusty Blackbirds and one was a Common Grackle. As we
started back, a Red-shouldered Hawk flew past the platform - in the distance
over the trees 3 Black Vultures and the Coops were noted. On the way back
to the cars, one participant found a Palm Warbler.
Since the cold and wind and sun were a bit tough this morning, I went back
after 5pm today and added some more waterfowl - 2 Northern Pintails and 22
Ruddy Ducks. This made the day's species total 64 which seems pretty good
for mid-October at Dyke. The tally is listed below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 300
Gadwall 5
Am. Black Duck 12
Mallard 228
No. Shoveler 7
No. Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal 4
Lesser Scaup 1
Ruddy Duck 22
Pied-billed Grebe 15
DC Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 4
Black Vulture 3
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 3
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Am. Coot 62
Killdeer 18, on the mudflats early AM
Greater Yellowlegs 3
L. Gull 750
RB Gull 40
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 7
Belted Kingfisher 1
RB Woodpecker 3
YB Sapsucker 1
Downy WP 4
No. Flicker 1
Blue Jay 10
Am. Crow 2
Fish Crow 8
C. Chickadee 8
T. Titmouse 1
RB Nuthatch 1
White-br Nuthatch 1
C. Wren 5
W. Wren 3
GC Kinglet 3
RC Kinglet 3
E. Bluebird 7
Hermit Thrush 1
Am. Robin 80
No. Mocker 3
E. Starling 30
Cedar Waxwing 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Palm Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Song Sp 10
White-thr Sp 20
No. Cardinal 7
Red-winged BB 5
Rusty BB 2
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 7
Am. Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 4
