Three birders joined me today for a very uneventful version of the Sunday
morning Dyke Marsh walk. The wind probably kept the passerine numbers low,
although we were entertained by 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets and a very vocal
Winter Wren. The latter bird was in full song for almost 2 minutes. Duck
numbers were disappointingly low, with small groups of Common Mergansers and
Lesser Scaup present. One scaup "mini-raft" hosted a lone drake Bufflehead. We
had great looks at 2 adult and 1 immature Bald Eagles and were amazed at a
Red-tailed Hawk with number 6 through 9 primaries missing on one side, leaving
a big gap in the left wing. The bird had no problem staying airborne. Okay,
for our records, the complete, albiet paltry list, is below.
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 23
Lesser Scaup 28
Bufflehead 1
Common Merganser 16
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 500
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 8
crow sp 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 10
Winter Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 13
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Common Grackle 7
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 2
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
