Katherine Wychulis, Nick Nichols, and I visited Dyke Marsh, Jones Point,
Daingerfield Island, and Gravelly Point along the Potomac River in the
Alexandria area today to do some fun birding while searching for Rusty
Blackbirds as part of the March Rusty Blackbird Blitz. Only Dyke Marsh and
Daingerfield Island held a real possibility for Rusty Blackbirds. We found
none at Dyke Marsh, but encountered a small flock of 18 Rusty Blackbirds on
the periphery of a Red-winged Blackbird/Common Grackle flock in the wetland
on the south side of Daingerfield Island. We heard one Rusty singing, which
attracted my attention to the small group that was near, but detached from
the main blackbird flock.
We had a 3 grebe day as well, with a Pied-billed Grebe tallied at Dyke
Marsh, a Red-necked Grebe at Jones Point, and a Horned Grebe at Gravelly
Point. Other birds of note included a Hermit Thrush at Dyke Marsh (we don't
get many there), a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Dyke Marsh, and an American
Kestrel at Gravelly Point.
Dyke Marsh also hosted a handful of Canvasbacks, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy
Ducks, an American Black Duck, and perhaps 2 dozen Mallards. The
Daingerfield Island wetland contained 3 Wood Ducks.
Congratulations to Katherine and Nick, who shared the Red-necked Grebe as a
life bird today. It was a fun day with great friends.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
