Nobody joined me for today's walk at Dyke Marsh. It was perhaps too hot, too
humid, and definitely too quiet, especially in terms of passerine
vocalization. Most of the action was over the water where 4 swallow species
accompanied by Chimney Swifts were busy foraging on flying insects. Great
Egrets significantly outnumbered Great Blues. Young Fish Crows were still
being fed by parents in the picnic area. An Eastern Kingbird breeding pair
was tending to a begging youngster at the marina while another brought food
to young still in the nest at the end of the Haul Road peninsula. At least
it brought food to the same location 3 times. I could never find the nest.
A fledged Yellow warbler in the company of its parents was near the
boardwalk.
The highlight of the day was being stopped by the Alexandria Police just
south of the Stone Bridge. Apparently the speed limit is 25 north of the
Stone Bridge and switches to 35 south of that point. I was clocked at 41.
He asked where I was headed. I said I was a Friends of Dyke Marsh volunteer
enroute to lead the Sunday bird walk. He asked a few questions about birds
and let me on my way with just a warning. SO BE CAREFUL ON THIS ROAD. The
officer was polite and respectful. I responded in the same fashion. I was
wrong and he gave me a break. Can't complain.
Anyway, today's list for the records. I had a hard time getting to 41
species. Obvious big misses: both oriole species, Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian
Flycatcher.
Canada Goose 200
Mallard 150
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 43
Osprey 18 (including FL- Fledged
Young)
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Forster's Tern 1
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 7
Eastern Kingbird 4 (FL and CF- Carrying Food)
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 6 (FY- Feeding Fledged Young)
Purple Martin 9
Tree Swallow 100
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 18
Barn Swallow 85
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 6
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
American Robin 8
European Starling 25
Common Yellow throat 4
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 30
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Common Grackle 6
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 18
House Sparrow 2
Larry ("The Kid") Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
