Despite damp weather and fog, about a dozen birders showed up for the weekly
walk today at Dyke Marsh. Fox Sparrows put in a good appearance. I spotted 2
in the picnic area along the shoreline and an additional 4 were spotted along
Haul Road. There was a lot of activity in the picnic area, where Paula
Sullivan tallied our only Brown Creeper. Paula is also credited with finding
our only Gadwall. Kudos go to Ray Smith for getting there before the 8:00 AM
start and for finding our first dozen Common Mergansers and today's only eagle.
We did not find the small Canada Goose reported on Maryland Osprey. I did
have a Ring-billed Gull which exhibited all the normal Ring-billed traits in
size and plumage, but had a small red spot on the lower mandible behind the
ring. How often does that occur? I've never seen it before. It was a
delightful day despite the weather and the assembled birders seemed to enjoy
themselves. Thanks, folks, for making it fun!
Now the list of 45 species.
Pied-billed Grebe- 4
Great Blue Heron- 12
Canada Goose- 550
Gadwall- 1
Am. Black Duck- 8
Mallard- 106
Green-winged Teal- 10
Ring-necked Duck- 8 (including our injured drake)
Lesser Scaup- 122
Bufflehead- 9
Common Merganser- 28
Bald Eagle- 1
Cooper's Hawk- 1
Red-tailed Hawk- 1
American Coot- 450
Ring-billed Gull- 40
Herring Gull- 12
Great Black-backed Gull- 35
Mourning Dove- 10
Belted Kingfisher- 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 4
Downy Woodpecker- 7
Northern Flicker- 2
Blue Jay- 4
Am. Crow- 15
Fish Crow- 2
Car. Chickadee- 14
Tufted Titmouse- 6
White-breasted Nuthatch- 1
Brown Creeper- 1
Car. Wren- 18
GC Kinglet- 1
Am. Robin- 6
Gray Catbird- 1
N. Mockingbird- 2
European Starling- 70
Cedar Waxwing- 7
Fox Sparrow- 6
Song Sparrow- 15
Swamp Sparrow- 1
Wh-throated Sparrow- 40
Northern Cardinal- 25
Red-winged Blackbird- 5
Am. Goldfinch- 10
House Sparrow- 24
Larry Cartwright
acartwright@xxxxxxxxx
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