FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Dyke Marsh Field Trip, 1/7/07

["Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

VA BIRDers,

 

The first of the new calendar year Dyke Marsh Field Trip took place today
with nearly a dozen folks in attendance, and relatively mild January
weather.  The highlight of the trip was a Peregrine Falcon perched on a low
branch stuck into the Hunting Creek mudflats (river side) first thing.  We
also noted 4 Bald Eagles - all adults and two of which were perched in the
Maryland/Wilson Bridge nest.  Red-breasted Mergansers put on a fine display
in Hunting Creek Bay as well as near the end of the board walk - great scope
views were had and their red eyes were easily seen!  The walk down Haul Road
was mostly uneventful, both kinglets showed up and a Red-shouldered Hawk
perched on a tree on one of the islands.  And over flying Gadwall was noted,
a couple of Bufflehead were in the river, a good-sized kettle of vultures
were noted over Maryland, a couple of north bound DC Cormorants were spotted
(huh?), a single Pied-billed Grebe off the boardwalk was observed and at
least 8 Winter Wrens were tallied, including 2 that actually showed
themselves for a sum total of 5 seconds and one singing.  We tallied 40
species for the day.

 

The Friends of Dyke Marsh sponsor the Sunday morning Field Trips that start
at 8AM and are free to all.

 

Kurt Gaskill