[va-bird] Dyke Marsh walk

I led the weekly walk under variable and windy skies this morning.  My 
cousins from Alaska were special guest participants, joining about a dozen 
others.  
By far the highlight of the morning was a million-dollar look at a least 
bittern in the exposed (by low tide) mud at the far side of the little gut.  
The 
bird flew in an sat on the mud for about 2 minutes (time for most to look 
through the scope, and all to get good looks in binocs).  Then it flew off the 
way 
it came.  It was interesting to see how much the bird superficially resembled 
an immature male Baltimore oriole (like the one we saw 20 minutes before) while 
flying.  The bird was very orangy in places.
39 species total.

Actually, I had seen from Dead Beaver Beach a distant bittern flying over the 
marsh, but no one else did.  Not good for only the trip leader to see the 
best bird.  Then one flew over our heads just before we got to the bridge, but 
it 
was only a split second view for both of us, so I was relieved when we all 
got a chance to study it at close range (15 yards?).  Other highlights were 
just 
about all of the usual fun breeders (orioles, warbling vireo, kingbirds, 
marsh wren, yellow warbler).

cormorant 10
great blue heron 20
least bittern 2
mallard 70
osprey 3

black-backed gull 1
ring-billed 6
Forster's tern 1
morning dove 5
swift 10

pileated 1
downy 2
red-bellied 4
kingbird 2
warbling vireo 2

red-eyed vireo 2
American crow 2
barn swallow 5
tree swallow 1
martin 1

Carolina wren 4
marsh wren 2
robin 20
gnatcatcher 4
catbird 1

mocker 2
starlings many
parula 1
yellow warbler 2
yellowthroat 2

cardinal 10
song sparrow 2
red-winged BB many
orchard oriole 5
Baltimore oriole 2

grackle yes
goldfinch 8
house finch 5
house sparrow yes

Ben Jesup
Alexandria


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