Six birders joined me for today's version of the Dyke Marsh walk. We did not
see any of the pelagic birds reported by Jay Keller yesterday, but we did have
some interesting findings.
It was comical to watch a Black-crowned Night-Heron float down the river on a
small piece of wood and then hop to a boat as it reached the marina. The bird
stayed around about 30 minutes before flying over the marsh. We also observed
a small flock of Purple Martins perched at the marina and 2 Bank Swallows
flying close to the shoreline.
All the warbler activity was confined to the area between Dead Beaver Beach and
the dogleg. Yellow, Magnolia, Pine, and Black-and-white Warblers, and a Common
Yellowthroat were observed. Catbirds were everywhere!
An immature Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey entertained the group. Indeed,
Ospreys were all over the place today.
The oddest miss. No Redwing-blackbirds! Not one!
Okay, the list of today's birds for our records.
Canada Goose- 23
Mallard- 29
Double-crested Cormorant- 4
Great Blue Heron- 3
Great Egret- 8
Green Heron- 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron- 1
Osprey- 12
Bald Eagle- 3
Spotted Sandpiper- 1
Laughing Gull- 25
Ring-billed Gull- 60
Herring Gull- 1
Great Black-backed Gull- 3
Caspian Tern- 8
Forster's Tern- 1
Rock Dove- 2
Mourning Dove- 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird- 5
Belted Kingfisher- 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 2
Downy Woodpecker- 1
Northern Flicker- 2
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Eastern Kingbird- 1
Blue Jay- 10
American Crow- 2
Purple Martin- 28
Bank Swallow- 2
Barn Swallow- 4
Carolina Chickadee- 10
Tufted Titmouse- 5
White-breasted Nuthatch- 1
Carolina Wren- 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 2
American Robin- 18
Gray Catbird- 12
Northern Mockingbird- 2
European Starling- 20
Yellow Warbler- 1
Magnolia Warbler- 2
Pine Warbler- 2
Black-and-white Warbler- 1
Common Yellowthroat- 1
Northern Cardinal- 5
Common Grackle- 25
Baltimore Oriole- 2
American Goldfinch- 4
House Sparrow- 6
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
