VA BIRDers,
Today's regular Sunday morning Field Trip to Dyke Marsh (sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh and free to all) treated the dozen participants to an
outstanding waterfowl show! Although the rising river levels resulted in a
freezing layer formed on the river near the picnic area and marina,
tremendous numbers of waterfowl continued in the river ice openings off the
marina and near the mouth of Hunting Creek by the Stone Bridge. Today's
highlights were Common Goldeneye, Redhead and Peregrine Falcon (first
winter).
We started off scanning the river and the small open water areas off the
picnic area, quickly noting the huge waterfowl buildup near the Stone Bridge
as well as a good selection of waterfowl near us. Our first glimpse of the
real show was from the end of the marina where we quickly scoped 16 species
of waterfowl in relatively large numbers, including great looks at Redheads,
Canvasbacks, Greater Scaup, and Red-breasted Mergansers. Here we first noted
the large buildup of Hooded Mergansers. A nearby tree held an adult
Red-shouldered Hawk which was hunting the marsh on the island.
We moved to Haul Road where we soon came across a Gray Catbird which briefly
allowed us to see her/him. Our walk down the trail brought us to a Fox
Sparrow hanging out with the usual denizens of the area, Song and
White-throated Sparrows. When we reached the end of the peninsula, we
spotted the waterfowl group off the outer islands of Dyke. Here the birds
were much closer and all got great scope looks of Redheads, Canvasbacks,
Red-breasted Mergansers and the large numbers of Hooded Mergansers. As we
watched the birds a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew about a nearby island, trying to
claim a Northern Flicker (which I thought may be a bit out of her league!).
It was then that the Peregrine Falcon surprised us, flying between the two
islands and perching on a tall tree directly across from us. Clearly a first
winter bird with its "Egyptian Eye" ovals, I thought it was the same bird
Paula Sullivan photographed a few months ago. After we all got to scope the
bird, it flew off, looking for some merganser to eat I suppose.
After returning to our cars, a few of us walked up the hike/bike trail to
look for vagrant warblers. Although our warbler efforts came up wanting, we
did find another Fox Sparrow, and observed our only Winter Wrens in the
brushy area north of Hunting Creek (near where we view the shorebirds in
summer/fall). From the Stone Bridge we located a female Common Goldeneye
diving with some Hooded Merganers. Both Red-tailed and Cooper's Hawks
(adults) were noted from this location. Across the mouth of Hunting Cr on
the river side sat an adult Black-crowned Night-Heron.
The following is a tally of the birds we saw in today's discovery.
Kurt Gaskill
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Great Blue Heron 42
Great Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Canada Goose 2100
Gadwall 25
Am. Wigeon 7
Am. Black Duck 160
Mallard 685
No. Pintail 36
Green-winged Teal 85
Canvasback 45
Redhead 18
Ring-necked Duck 45
Greater Scaup 6
Lesser Scaup 130
Bufflehead 50
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 150
Common Merganser 4
Red-breasted Merganser 30
Ruddy Duck 55
Bald Eagle 4 (1 imm)
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shoulderd Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Am. Coot 675
Killdeer 5
Ring-billed Gull 850
Herring Gull 45
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Rock Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-bellied WP 5
Downy WP 11
No. Flicker 4
Blue Jay 4
Am. Crow 20
Fish Crow 12
crow sp. 60
C. Chickadee 33
T. Titmouse 4
C. Wren 19
W. Wren 2
GC Kinglet 6
RC Kinglet 2
Am. Robin 125
Gray Catbird 1
No. Mockingbird 4
E. Starling 140
Fox Sp. 2
Song Sp. 55
Swamp Sp. 8
White-throated Sp. 65
No. Cardinal 40
Red-winged Blackbird 240
House Finch 9
Am. Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 30
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