Late afternoon Sunday I stopped by Dyke Marsh to see if I could spot the
Warbling Vireo nests (which I didn't find in my short stay). On the river,
I saw what I guess might have been an albino adult duck swimming downstream
toward the marina. It was all white, with an orange-yellow bill (more
orange than a male mallard) and yellow legs. The eye appeared to be dark
but I did not have a scope. I don't know if my guess is right and/or if
this is a common occurrence.
-----Original Message-----
From: KurtCapt87@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 6/2/2002 11:41 PM
Subject: [va-bird] Dyke Marsh, Frfx Co, 6/2/02
VA BIRDers,
Erika Wilson lead the regular Sunday morning Birding Field Trip at Dyke
Marsh
today (free to all, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh) and the
group of
20 or so people were me with the treat of a beautiful plumaged male
Ruddy
Duck hanging out near the picnic area. Osprey, Eastern Kingbird,
Warbling
Vireo and Orchard Oriole breeding was noted by participants as easily
seen
nests were viewed. White-eyed Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers treated
observers with good displays as well as fine sightings of two Indigo
Buntings
and a few Marsh Wrens along the peninsula of Haul Rd - the dogleg.
Yellow
Warbler gathering food for young in nest was also observed as well as a
late
migrant Am. Redstart. Additional late waterfowl in the form of American
Coots were noted off the island beyond the end of the boadwalk.
While the group birded the Haul Rd area, others were visiting the
southern
regions of the marsh looking for breeders with Prothonotary Warbler
found for
a second week along the bike trail at the big bridge where it crosses
the
"gut". Further south, a pair of Acadian Flycatchers were noted, the
female
apparently scouting the area out for nest sites as the male sang nearby.
Earlier in the morning, the keen eyes of Jon "Hawk Nest" Little spotted
one
of the prizes of the day - a group of seven Sanderlings on the west side
mudflats of Hunting Creek. Later that evening near sunset this same
area
yielded up 2 Willets on the eastside mudflats. Also found: a
Black-crowned
Night Heron, the male Canvasback thats been hanging around for a while,
a
couple of Caspian Terns and some Laughing Gulls.
We also note the nearly explosive increase in Canada Goose and Mallards
foraging in the area this week - although nearly 1/4 of the geese were
young
only a few Mallard ducklings were noted. Since most of the Mallards
noted
were pairs, perhaps this unbalance is due to unsuccessful nesting???
The statistics of today's discovery are reported below. Species and
numbers
in parenthesis are those found outside of the regular Field Trip, many
of
which were noted near sunset.
Kurt Gaskill
Double-crested Cormorant 18 (82)
Great Blue Heron 8 (41)
(Great Egret 2)
(Black-crowned Night Heron 1)
Canada Goose 50 (209), FL
(Wood Duck 8)
Mallard 15 (83), FL
(Canvasback 1)
Ring-necked Duck 1, aka Firestone
(Hooded Merganser 1)
Ruddy Duck 1
Osprey 4, ON
American Coot 2
(Killdeer 4)
(Willet 2)
(Sanderling 7)
(Laughing Gull 7)
(Ring-billed Gull 39
(Great Black-backed Gull 4)
(Caspian Tern 2)
Mourning Dove 5, ON
Chimney Swift 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 (4)
Downy Woodpecker 2 (3)
No. Flicker 1
(E. Wood Pewee 1)
(Acadian Flycatcher 4, P)
(Great Crested Flycatcher 1)
E. Kingbird 4 (6), ON
White-eyed V 1
Warbling V 3, ON
Red-eyed V 2 (7)
Blue Jay 1
Am. Crow 6
(Fish Crow 2)
(Purple Martin 5)
Tree Swallow 4
(No. Rough-winged Sw 1)
Barn Swallow 6 (4)
C. Chickadee 3 (5)
T. Titmouse 7 (5)
C. Wren 5 (4)
M. Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8 (3)
Am Robin 4 (4)
Gray Catbird 1, ON
No. Mockingbird 1
E. Starling 14, FL
Cedar Waxwing 6, NB
No. Parula 4 (4)
Yellow Warbler 3 (1), FC
Am Redstart 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1 (1)
Com. Yellowthroat 4 (1)
Song Sparrow 3 (2)
No. Cardinal 20
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Com Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard Oriole 6 (1), ON
(Baltmore Oriole 2)
House Finch 1
Am Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 5, FL
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