Six people joined me today for a very lovely walk sponsored by the Friends
of Dyke Marsh and open to everyone. An unexpected surprise was the sighting
of a Yellow-throated Warbler, perhaps an early migrant since this species
does not breed at Dyke Marsh. The tide was high so shorebird sightings were
sparse. A vocalizing Lesser Yellowlegs flew along the riverbank early in the
morning. We observed 2 Caspian Terns flying downriver and over a dozen
Forster's Terns perched on pilings at the marina or on a snag lying in the
water just off Haul Road. Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Northern Cardinals,
and Red-winged Blackbirds are still feeding recently fledged young and a
Gray Catbird carried food to probable nestlings. Three Marsh Wrens were
singing. A Great Crested Flycatcher chased a juvenile Baltimore Oriole
around the picnic area. The injured Tundra Swan is still present as well as
a pair of Coots hanging out with Mallards and Canada Geese. Of the 5 Osprey
nests that we encounter during our walk, 3 have fledged young, 1 nest
failed, and 1 nest built on a sailboat will probably have fledged young next
Sunday.
The list of birds seen for those who may care are below:
Canada Goose 170
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard 90
Osprey 14
Bald Eagle 1
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 40
American Coot 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 9
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 13
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 12
Blue Jay 5 (Feeding fledged young: FY)
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 7
Purple Martin 8
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 17
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 10 (FY)
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 8
Marsh Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 30
Gray Catbird 4 (Carrying Food: CF)
European Starling 30
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Northern Cardinal 15 (FY)
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20 (FY)
Common Grackle 11
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 5
American Goldfinch 13
House Sparrow 1
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
