Five friendly folks joined me today for this Sunday's bird walk at Dyke Marsh
(Fairfax County), sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh. I was surprised at
the lack of shorebirds even at an exceptionally low tide. Although Wood Ducks,
American Black Ducks, Northern Shovelers, and Blue-winged Teal had been
reported, our little group was only able to find the Blue-winged Teal. While
scanning for Black Terns, also reported, we were rewarded with one flyby
Bonaparte's Gull. Forster's Terns and Belted Kingfishers displayed their
diving and fishing techniques quite well today. Haul Road was rather quite,
except for a singing Eastern Wood-Pewee and a few Eastern Kingbirds. Three
swallow species were present at the marina. A slow day perhaps, but it was
absolutely gorgeous!
Today's totals for our records
Canada Goose 450
Mallard 240
Blue-winged Teal 8
Osprey 9
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 11
Great Blue Heron 42
Great Egret 63
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 3
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 350
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Caspian Tern 4
Forster's Tern 18
Mourning Dove 4
Chinmey Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 25
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 1 (only 1! No kidding.)
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 150
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Common Grackle 6
American Goldfinch 5
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
