Good Morning All,
I just got back from Dyke Marsh, where I began at 6:30 a.m. and stayed for 3
hours. Highlights of the day were many. My first good bird was a WINTER WREN
singing not long after entering the park. Later I observed an AMERICAN COOT in
the open water near the middle of the park. I took one of the side paths to
the left of the trail as you are walking toward the river to see it, and it was
then that I heard the characteristic call of 7 incredible TUNDRA SWANS flying
low over the marsh, about 50 feet off the groud. I could see the stains on
their faces from probing around the mud on their Summer grounds. They
continued in the direction of Alexandria.
Birders who visit Dyke Marsh soon (Kurt's bird walk tomorrow et al) should
listen for the call of a possible BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE among the CAROLINAS.
At the main bend in the trail, I heard the familiar sound (from my PA roots)
and turned to catch a glimpse of the bird. I did not see it well enough to
note the edge of the cap on the breast to determine if it was a Black-capped.
However, chickadees near the transition zone often hybridize, but Black-cappeds
have also been known to learn the call of the Carolinas and vice versa. This
is likely the case for this bird. It would be nice if someone could find it
again and take a better look.
Finally, when I was leaving I caught sight of a late GRAY CATBIRD along the
trail associating with the gobs of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. A nice ending to a
very good Dyke Marsh morning. I could have stayed all day...
Complete list follows below:
Happy Birding!
Jay Keller
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Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Canada Goose 47
Trumpeter Swan 7 Confirmed
Mallard 23
Bald Eagle 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Coot 1
Laughing Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 204
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 15
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 28
Carolina Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 6
Winter Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 12
Cedar Waxwing 17
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Eastern Towhee 3
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 11
White-throated Sparrow 47
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 31
Red-winged Blackbird 23
Rusty Blackbird 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 18
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