FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Dyke Marsh, Frfx Co, 5/5/02

[KurtCapt87@xxxxxxx]

VA BIRDers,

The participants to this Sunday's Birding Field Trip at Dyke Marsh  (free to 
all, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh) had great opportunities to see 
many orioles in various flavors: Orchard, Baltimore, male, female, first 
year, and after first year.  The action was sometimes fast, what with this 
Orchard chasing that Orchard or this Baltimore getting in the way of that old 
timer!  We were also treated to the sight of the Tundra Swan hanging out in 
Hunting Creek Bay near the Stone Bridge.  On the nearby mudflats, sharp eyes 
found a group of 5 Dunlin feeding on the river side of the flats.  A few 
Lesser Scaup and one Ruddy were noted on the river.  Shorebirds put on a nice 
show with participants seeing many Spotted Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs, 
Solitary and Least Sandpipers.  A pair of White-eyed Vireos put on a great 
show for all along the trail.  Rich Rieger pointed out a lichen-covered 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest in a gum tree over Haul Road which we all viewed 
through his scope.

On the warbler side of things, we got scope looks at a No. Parula pair high 
in the trees.  We came across Visiting educator and naturalist Fred Atwood, 
who pointed out a possible nest location that a No. Parula pair was 
repeatedly investigating.  He also told of Blackburnian and Black-throated 
Blue sightings along the trail.  We found that a few Yellow-rumps persisted 
and a Blackpoll called in the picnic area.  The Yellow Warblers put on the 
usual great show but we only got glancing looks at a northbound Hooded 
Warbler.

At the end of the trail, we watched swallows and swifts fill the air but were 
unable to find or hear any Marsh Wren.  Fortunately Paula Sullivan told us of 
an American Bittern in the gut near the Hike/Bike Trail which was a fine 
consulation prize.

After the walk, Ron Staley and I visited the mudflats and found Greater and 
Lesesr Yellowlegs, many Spotted Sandpipers, more Least Sandpipers and 
first-of-the-season Semipalmated Sandpipers.  A return trip by yours truly at 
3 pm found the 5 Dunlin spotted earlier - looking quite fine in breeding 
plumage - feeding in the shallow water west of the Stone Bridge.  Nearby were 
3 Black-bellied Plovers also dressed in there best spring finery.  A great 
way to end the day!

Below are the statistics of today's discovery.

Kurt Gaskill

DC Cormorant 50
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 6
Turkey Vulture 5
C. Goose 24

Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 8
"Firestone" the Ring-necked Duck 1
Lesser Scaup 3

Ruddy Duck 1
Osprey 6
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Am. Coot 3
Black-bellied Plover 3

Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Spotted Sandpiper 16
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2

Least Sandpiper 5
Dunlin 5
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 1

Great Black-backed Gull 5
Caspian Tern 17
Forster's Tern 4
Rock Dove 18
Mourning Dove 8

Chimney Swift 75
RT Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
No. Flicker 1

E. Kingbird 10
White-eyed V 2
Red-eyed V 4
Blue Jay 15
Am Crow 8

Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 2
Tree Sw 14
No. Rough-winged Sw 2
Barn Sw 12

C. Chickadee 12
T. Titmouse 6
C. Wren 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Am Robin 6

Gray Catbird 4
No. Mockingbird 2
E. Starling 24
Cedar Waxwing 2
No. Parula 6 + 2

Yellow 3
Black-thr Blue 1
Yellow-rumped 3
Blackburnian 1
Blackpoll 1

Com. Yellowthroat 7
Hooded 1
E. Towhee 1
Song Sp 4
Swamp Sp 1, still singing

White-throated Sp 10
No. Cardinal 25
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 36
Com. Grackle 20

Orchard O 10
Baltimore O 10
House Finch 8
Am Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 8



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