VA BIRDers,
Great weather, blue skies and a few birds met up with participants at the
regular Sunday morning Dyke Marsh field trip, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke
Marsh and free to all. The day's highlight was undoubtable the large
unseasonable numbers of Orchard Orioles - a dozen - that were passing through
the picnic grounds and along Haul Rd. Other species of interest were Bald
Eagle, Ruby-throated Hummers, E. Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested
Flycatcher, many Eastern Kingbirds (10), a half dozen Gray Catbirds, and 3
Baltimore Orioles. Both Caspian and Forster's Terns were noted.
A trip to the Hunting Creek mudflats afterwards netted few species with
Semipalmated Plover being the highlight. This location has greatly reduced
numbers and diversity compared to previous years. It is not understood why
this is the case. Is it the bridge construction? Habitat change? or the
generally poor shorebird year?
Kurt Gaskill
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
