VA BIRDers,
A small turn out for the regular Sunday morning Field Trip to Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all. Beautiful blue
skies, a slight breeze, seasonal temperatures and a day with very active
birds met us this morning at 8am. The day's highlights were Osprey, Common
Yellowthroat and White-crowned Sparrows.
We started at the picnic area and after viewing the waterfowl - many
Northern Shovelers and American Coots were out there - we found an Osprey
which flew out over Hunting Creek Bay. The 2 Bald Eagles (one an adult) were
nonplussed. Other waterfowls were American Black Duck and Ruddy Ducks plus
Pied-billed Grebes. There were 2 Great Egrets near the marina and we later
saw 2 more Great Egrets which we believe were different. Lots of Blue Jay,
American Robin and Yellow-rumped Warbler action in the picnic area and along
the trail. We spotted several large groups of Red-winged BB heading north
to forage with one Common Grackle mixed in. Haul Rd produced both kinglets,
with Ruby-crowned more numerous than Golden-crowned. We heard two Greater
Yellowlegs fly by. The sparrows were mainly Song and White-throated until
the dogleg bend where we found the 2 White-crowneds. Down the dogleg we
found the Common Yellowthroat. The marsh held many Swamp Sparrows. We
spotted more waterfowl off the dogleg and something kicked up ducks in the
Big Gut - a bunch of Mallards flew out and were joined by 4 Wood Duck and a
few Green-winged Teal.
I came back about a half hour before sunset and, although the river was only
an hour away from high tide, found 2 new waterfowl for the day's list - a
Ring-necked Duck and 3 newly arrived Hooded Mergansers. The day ended with
55 species at Dyke.
Kurt Gaskill
