Ten persons joined me this morning for the free weekly walk at Dyke Marsh WP
sponsored by The Friends of Dyke Marsh, which starts at 8 a.m. every Sunday
except during the Christmas Bird Count season. Light rain and fog hampered
our efforts early but conditions improved later in the morning. Highlights
included almost 100 GADWALL and small numbers of AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN
SHOVELER, RUDDY DUCK and BUFFLEHEAD among the waterfowl, a large number of
PIED-BILLED GREBES, BALD EAGLES at several locations, including two perched
pairs, an adult RED-TAILED HAWK perched at close range in the picnic area, a
single GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL among the expected gull species, a calling
GREATER YELLOWLEGS and several distant yellowlegs species, a young
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at the edge of the picnic area, many GREAT BLUE
HERONS and GREAT EGRETS, a WINTER WREN, a late TREE SWALLOW, GOLDEN-CROWNED
and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, two groups of CEDAR WAXWINGS in flight, DARK-EYED
JUNCOS, SWAMP SPARROWS, a late TENNESSEE WARBLER and many YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS.
For those interested a complete list of the 50 species encountered during
the walk may be viewed at the following link:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S40326532
Thanks to regular field trip leader Larry Cartwright and all other persons
who joined me on this enjoyable walk.
Gerry Hawkins
Arlington, VA
