FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Dyke Marsh Field Trip, Frfx Co, 2/11/07

["Kurt Gaskill" <KurtCapt87@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

VA BIRDers,
 

A cold morning with little or no wind - 17 F (-8 C) and lots of ice greeted
a small turn out today (up to 5 at one point) for the regular Sunday morning
Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and free to
all.   The day's highlight was the obvious (and seasonal) build up of Common
Mergansers on the Potomac; we estimated about 500 birds.  The Bald Eagles
were down from last time I was here, 2 adults and 3 immatures.  Close in to
the picnic area was the open water channel flowing out of Hunting Creek and
this attracted many Mallards, 2 American Black Ducks and the typical 3 gull
species. More American Black Ducks were out off the mudflats.  Our trip down
into the marina netted our first look at a first cycle Red-shouldered Hawk
plus Bufflehead and Red-breasted Mergansers.  The walk down Haul Road was a
constant feast of close in sparrows, including the leucistic (partially
white-headed) Song Sparrow that allowed us to get as close as 12 feet.  A
single Gray Catbird called along the trail, and a couple of Winter Wrens and
Ruby-crowned Kinglet were along the first half of the trail.  A surprise
just north of the dogleg was a Hermit Thrush - never common at Dyke.  Along
the way we were met with many Red-winged Blackbirds singing "kok-a-lee";
northbound migrants that were putting in some practice on territory songs.
A single Common Grackle - another northbound bird - was near the bike trail.
The end of the trail near the boardwalk brought us more ducks and two
Red-tailed Hawks.  On the way back we spotted a Fox Sparrow by the little
bridge on the dogleg.  After the trip I checked the mudflats by the Stone
Bridge and added 2 Killdeer.  The list of today's 47 species follows.

 

Kurt Gaskill

 

C. Goose 860

Am. Black Duck 50

Mallard 60

Bufflehead 35

Hooded Merganser 2

Common Merganser 500

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Great Blue Heron 6

Turkey Vulture 1

Bald Eagle 5

Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 2

Killdeer 2

Ring-billed Gull 1000

Herring Gull 25

Great Black-backed Gull 15

Mourning Dove 8

Belted Kingfisher 2

Red-bellied WP 3

Downy WP 6

Hairy WP 2

No. Flicker 4

Blue Jay 4

Am. Crow 2

Fish Crow 15

crow sp. 50

C. Chickadee 5

T. Titmouse 6

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Brown Creeper 1

C. Wren 5

W. Wren 2

GC Kinglet 1

RC Kinglet 1

Hermit Thrush 1

American Robin 1

Gray Catbird 1

No. Mockingbird 3

E. Starling 5

Fox Sp 1

Song Sp 45

Swamp Sp 12

White-throated Sp 55

No. Cardinal 18

Red-winged BB 25

Common Grackle 1

Am. Goldfinch 2

House Sparrow 6


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