VA BIRDers,
(For MAG: Veeodt! Or so goes the Gray-cheeked Thrush call note.)
A fine day at Dyke Marsh for 6 visitors during the regular Sunday Field Trip
at Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and free to all.
Having great looks at a migrant flock in the picnic area was everyone's wish
and it was granted with a group near the boat ramp mostly coming down to the
20 foot level that left everyone pleased. We sat on a picnic table and
watched the them - first the Black-throated Greens. Then this Blackburnian.
The Black & White and Magnolia's stayed in the back ground. But the
Blackpolls came right down showing faint, blurry streaks on off-white
breasts. Then a Yellow Warbler came by - muted almost to a yellow-green all
over which Dunn indicates is the subspecies "amnicola". A Chestnut-sided
soon came down and showed all its lime-green back. A couple of
Yellow-rumped Warblers were present. And here and there were a few Northern
Parulas. All of this with a background of Forster's Terns diving nearby,
Bald Eagles flying about, huge groups of Laughing Gulls flying overhead, and
the usual Dyke Marsh woodpeckers (all the typical year-round ones were
seen), American Robins, etc.
Down the trail a few more warblers showed themselves, we spotted a calling
Swamp Sparrow, noted Coopers, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. We also
spotted Red-eyed Vireo and Eastern Wood Pewee (and one of the latter was
singing). A Virginia Creeper high up in a tulip poplar attracted many
American Robins to its berries and to the delight of all one Gray-cheeked
Thrush! House Wren and Common Yellowthroats along the dogleg plus
Pied-billed Grebes and Green-winged Teal added to the day's lists. We noted
a few Turkey Vultures which obligingly flew across to Virginia and kettled
up over the picnic area. And Ed Eder told of us of a few Ruddy Duck at dawn
near the boar ramp. All told, the Field Trip netted 63 species.
Afterwards, I visited the Stone Bridge to add in a few species and check out
the shorebirds. The payoffs here were many Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, a
Pectoral Sandpiper with a bum leg, and 3 White-rumped Sandpipers.
What will next week bring?
Kurt Gaskill
