Today was the DC Christmas Bird Count, which included the Dyke Marsh area.
Three teams covered Dyke Marsh and the surrounding area.
My team surveyed the southern marsh from an area just north of the Big Gut to
south of Pipeline Bay. While walking along the big gut about 30 yards north of
Pipeline Bay (the area of the George Washington Parkway overlooking the water
just north of Morningside line) we came across a small group of goldfinches
foraging on the ground. As they flushed into the surrounding bushes, a
heavily-streaked, goldfinch-sized (or slightly smaller) bird with a pointed
bill and yellow wing patches followed them. A Pine Siskin, a bird rarely
encountered at Dyke Marsh!
A Common Loon was observed off pipeline Bay and we were treated to a pair of
Wood Ducks in mouth of the Big Gut.
We also observed Rich Rieger's Great Horned Owl pair just north of where the
Big Gut flows under the bridge. Park at the 3 car parking lot and walk north
past the big gut. As you cross the north shoreline of the gut, begin looking
toward the northeast. We saw the birds about halfway down this stretch of the
wooden boardwalk. The birds were engaged in mutual preening. It was fun to
watch these top of the line predators being so gentle with each other.
Finally, I got a report from Paula Sullivan of a Blue-winged Teal in her sector
along the Haul Road.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxx
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