VA BIRDers,
I wait with anticipation for these really nice, golden days in late summer.
A cold front comes through, low humidity results with blue skies and before
you know it, the first few migrants pass by your bins. That was what the
regular Sunday Field Trip at Dyke Marsh was like today, sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all. Top bird today was a Least
Flycatcher in very handsome, crisp new plumage.
We started out at the picnic area scoping waterfowl and gulls and herons and
such. Lots of activity. Over half the ducks on the bay were Wood Ducks
including the one female that STILL has 7 young - amazing! Working through
the ducks we found a Northern Shoveler. I had spotted a Blue-winged Teal
earlier before the group formed, but was unable to re-find it with the
group. Yet, the nice treat was a Ruddy Duck just coming out of juvie
plumage. I had noted this bird Friday late pm (and mis-ID'ed it!) but the
light was more forgiving today and the little "stiff tail" actually stiffen
its tail! Two Pied-billed Grebes were nearby. The Great Egrets were still
big with about 70 strong noted as well as many Great Blue Herons. Not too
many gulls but the terns were Forster's and a couple of Caspians. Osprey
put on the usual great show - nearly all are hatch year birds now (check the
backs for spots) but a few adults are here and there. Mainly Barn Swallows
flew past during our river watch.
We then checked the picnic area and found a nice mixed feeding flock - no
doubt migration is close at hand! This group was mostly Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers and Warbling Vireos with a few Tufted Titmice, Carolina
Chickadees and one Great Crested Flycatcher mixed in. Nearby, a Baltimore
Oriole sang aloud and we soon spotted him.
We moved to another location and got very lucky with an Orchard Oriole group
- not too long before this species is gone! Then another Blue-gray and then
the Baltimore's came by. Lovely!
We moved to ramp road and found another feeding flock which brought us more
Orchard Orioles, some House Finch, another Great Crested Flycatcher, 2-3
Gray Catbirds and a bunch of starlings. As we walked away, Cedar Waxwings
coursed overhead.
The walk down the trail was mostly uneventful until we got to the dogleg,
when bird activity picked up. More Blue-grays were noted, some Mockers,
more Catbirds, Barn and Rough-winged Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, a
Cooper's Hawk (and later, another), and a few Eastern Kingbirds. At the
boardwalk we joked about Beethoven and the Song Sparrow song and checked the
forest edge for hawks - Turkey Vulture and Coopers Hawk were the payoff.
And then, whilst trying to drum up another Catbird at the boardwalk, motion
in some leaves produced the Least Flycatcher, in stunning fresh plumage
(hatch year) at a confiding distance of 15 to 30 feet. Life bird for many
and a few camera shots for another! Wonderful!
On the way back along the trail, a Yellow Warbler dropped by - young female
by the looks.
At the end of the day, I returned to Dyke checking out the ducks. Nothing
new but the mudflats added about 500 Laughing Gulls and a couple hundred
Ringed-billed Gulls. Plus one Great Black-backed and a Black Tern. A few
shorebirds were seen, including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and
Semipalmated Sandpipers.
A very pleasant day!
The morning Dyke Marsh Trip bird list of 55 species is reproduced below.
The Friends of Dyke Marsh Field Trip meets every Sunday at 8am (sometimes
someone is there earlier) and has been on-going for about 18yrs. Join in
and find a bird or two!
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 15
Wood Duck 19
Mallard 32
Blue-winged Teal 1
No. Shoveler 1
Ruddy Duck 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
DC Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 70
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 7
Coopers Hawk 2
L. Gull 2
Ringed-billed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 5
Forster's Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 7
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 5
RT Hummer 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 1
Downy WP 2
No. Flicker 1
Least Fly 1
Great Crested Fly 2
E. Kingbird 3, going, going..
Warbling V 3 - all fresh hatch year plumage
Red-eyed V 1
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 2
No. Rough-winged Sw 6
Barn Sw 14
C. Chickadee 5
T. Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nut 1
C. Wren 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9
Am. Robin 7
Gray Catbird 9
No. Mocker 3
E. Starling 18
Cedar Waxwing 12
Yellow Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sp 2
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged BB 40
Com. Grackle 2
Orchard O 5
Baltimore O 3
House Finch 2
Am. Goldfinch 14
House Sp 2 or 10 or ..
