VA BIRDers,
The regular Sunday Field Trip at Dyke Marsh was well-attended on a pleasant
morning with low temperature, humidity and wind! Highlights seen by nearly all
of the participants were 2 Least Bitterns: one was putting on a fine flight
display over the small bay south of the dogleg that leads to the little gut and
the other at the end of the dogleg - landing in the small marsh at trails end.
The former bird (adult female) acted as if it were on a mission and we suspect
an immature was lurking near the spadderdock as Mike Iwanik had glimpsed a
Least Bittern in that area several minutes before. The second bird was an
adult male.
Another great highlight of the day were 3 Lesser Scaup (2 were male) off the
picnic area (low tide was near 0800). Lots of Mallards of various ages in this
area too, but always worthwhile to search through for an odd summer duck!
The trip also yielded up the usual fine display of orioles that one can find at
Dyke from the end of June through July. Both Orchards and Baltimores were
apparent, adults and juvies. Wonderfully colorful creatures!
Other fine sightins included a pair of Red-tailed Hawks (one was adult),
Forster's Tern on Hunting Creek mudflats hearalding the southward migration,
several Yellow-billed Cuckoos including scope looks, Warbling Vireos, a flyover
Purple Martin, several Marsh Wren, many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (young all
about!), and Louisiana Waterthrush on the trail - courtesy of Phil Kenney &
another southward bound bird.
Before the Field Trip I did some point counts along the hike-bike trail and the
interesting species tallied were Pileated WP, Acadian Flycatchers, Brown
Thrasher, No. Parulas, Prothonotary Warbler, Com. Yellowthroat, and Eastern
Towhee. Late this afternoon (after the Prisoner of Azhkaban) a visit to the
Hunting Creek mudflats yielded 5 Killdeer, a few Great Black-backed Gulls and a
Caspian Tern. Below is the combined list for the day's sightings.
Kurt Gaskill
DC Cormorant 4
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 7
Great Egret 2
Canada Goose 50
Mallard 38
Lesser Scaup 3
Osprey 8
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Killdeer 5
Ring-billed Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Caspian Tern 1
Forsters Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 7
Mourning Dove 14
YB Cuckoo 4
C. Swift 7
RT Hummer 1
Red-bellied WP 9
Downey WP 10
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 1
Pileated WP 1
E. Wood Pewee 1
Acadian Flycather 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
E. Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 1
Tree Sw 8
Barn Sw 7
C. Chickadee 6
T. Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 13
M. Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16
Am. Robin 9
Gray Catbird 3
No. Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 13
No. Parula 2
Yellow 2
Prothonotary 1
LA Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
E. Towhee 1
Song Sp. 1
No. Cardinal 18
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged BB 43
Common Grackle 31
Br-headed Cowbird 2
Orchard O 7
Baltimore O 4
House Finch 4
Am. Goldfinch 9
House Sp. 13
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