VA BIRDers,
Seasonably weather this morning at Dyke Marsh - that is, if you discount the
strong wind from the north! The wind made it chilly but the birds continue
to do their thing. An Osprey was reported carrying sticks to the Hunting
Creek Bay nest site. Three Osprey sites were occupied with an Osprey
sitting in last year's nest - the aforementioned Bay platform, the Port
O'Vecchio site, and the root site near the marina. Another Osprey was
spotted near Pipeline Bay. The cold wind did not stop the Tree Swallows as
several were spotted flying back and forth near the shoreline. A good duck
show with many divers coming close to the group for good looks (fortunately,
we had a scope for some of the other, more distant, looks!). Highlights for
this group were Gadwall (8), American Wigeon (18), Redhead (4), Bufflehead
(6) and Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. Plus 3 Horned Grebe with one
displaying obvious plumage change. As we started down Haul Road we were met
by a single Rusty Blackbird which came in pretty close - about 20 feet near
eye level. We all got fine looks at various Song Sparrow plumages as this
species was foraging along Haul Road along nearly its entire length. And as
we were scanning waterfowl from the first platform a migrating Eastern
Bluebird was heard. After the Field Trip - sponsored by the Friends of Dyke
Marsh and open to all comers every Sunday at 8AM - I went to the Hunting
Creek mudflats to check on gulls. No unusual gulls but there was one Field
Sparrow singing at the little wetlands by the apartment building. The day
ended with 50 species tallied.
By the way, since the Osprey activity signals the beginning of the breeding
season at Dyke Marsh, let me note that Friends of Dyke Marsh conduct a
breeding bird survey at Dyke. This will be the fourteenth year that the
survey using full BBS protocol employed will be done. Volunteers are always
welcome. Contact the coordinator, Larry Cartwright (prowarbler at
verizon.net) for more information. By the way, this is a brilliant
opportunity to paddle a canoe into the marsh and find Marsh Wrens and Least
Bitterns! New birders are ALWAYS welcome!
Kurt Gaskill
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