Seven birders joined me for a beautiful, if rather slow day at Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, and open to all. The last walk in
2011 will be on December 11 and they will resume on January 8 after the
Christmas Bird Count season is over.
Not a lot of diversity today, but persistent scanning of the river yielded a
hen American Wigeon among a flock of shovelers. Two small groups of Tundra
Swans flew southbound while the active, but flightless bird that has been
with us all year was located in its usual spot. A huge convention of Fish
Crows formed over the marina, but they didn't seem to be targeting a raptor.
just flying over the marina in circles vocalizing. We were pleased to see a
small flock of Cedar Waxwings on Ramp Road. A Sharp-shinned Hawk instantly
caused a small group of passerines to suddenly fall silent. We received
wonderful looks at a cooperative Winter Wren east of the Haul Road dogleg.
At the end of the walk, I ran into Gerry Hawkins, who added a few species to
our list.
Today's observations:
Canada Goose 1,000
Tundra Swan 7
American Wigeon 1
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 42
Northern Shoveler 14
Green-winged Teal 3
Red-breasted Merganser 3 (Gerry Hawkins)
Double-crested Cormorant 115
Great Blue Heron 11
Great Egret 2 (Gerry Hawkins)
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 40
Laughing Gull 40
Ring-billed Gull 150
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 9
Rock Pigeon 1 (flyover)
Mourning Dove 13
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1 (Gerry Hawkins)
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 50 (marina)
crow, sp. 3
Carolina Chickadee 17
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 7
Winter Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 50
Cedar Waxwing 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbirds 15 (all females)
American Goldfinch 25
House Sparrow 5
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
