[va-bird] OK, Now Stop. Turn Around - Go Back!

VA BIRDers,
Perhaps a bit hot, but the recent cold front brought to Dyke Marsh today's 
top birds that herald the onset of autumn migration: Lesser Yellowlegs and 
Least 
Sandpiper were on the Hunting Creek mudflats late in the afternoon as the 
tide was coming in.

In addition to today's regular Sunday Field Trip at Dyke Marsh (starts at 8 
am, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and free to all) there has been a 
flurry of activity at this Wildlife Preserve as the FODM Breeding Bird Survey 
nears its end.  So, two groups were out early hoping to make a few breeding 
confirmations.  Before the Field Trip (and a tad after sunrise), yours truly 
walked the southern portions of the Hike-Bike trail mainly from Pipeline Bay to 
the 
southern boundary of Dyke Marsh.  Another group (who started even earlier!) 
censused the picnic area and Haul Road.  And late this afternoon, I visited the 
mudflats of Hunting Creek with the tide just past mid-point for gull and 
shorebird counts.  High counts from these endeavors are listed below to give 
the 
reader a flavor of the bird life observed today at Dyke Marsh.

Today's Highlights were Least Bitterns flying over the marsh early, Great 
Egrets on the mudflats, Black-crowned Night-Heron in the marina, Wood Duck with 
3 
juvenile ducklings (ca. 3 wks old) in vegetation near the Stone Bridge, 
American Coot pair off the boardwalk, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, 
Least 
Sandpiper, Least Tern off the riverside mudflats late this afternoon, several 
Warbling Vireos in the picnic area, Marsh Wrens, Brown Thrasher, Cedar 
Waxwings, Northern Parulas, Yellow Warblers, Black & White Warbler (nr the 
Hike-Bike 
Trail south of Pipeline Bay), Common Yellowthroats, and Orchard and Baltimore 
Orioles.

Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is located just off the GW Parkway on the 
Potomac River in Fairfax County, about a half mile south of the beltway and the 
Wilson Bridge over the river.

Let me also add that visitors looking for shorebirds over the next few months 
should check the tide tables and visit the mudflats after low tide (usually 
best in the morning for good lighting).  Optimal times are often at or after 
the midpoint of a rising tide - parking can be obtained near the 2 story 
apartment buildings off GW Parkway (and just south of the beltway) near the 
mudflats. 
Be sure to park away from the "Permit Only" signs.  This area is undergoing 
construction with the new bridge alignment, but visiting on weekends usually 
encounters no problems.  Sure, it will be hot birding, but the rewards can be 
quite good, especially for the Northern Virginia area.  Last year, Western 
Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, 
and 
Wilson's Phalarope were recorded at this location.  Additionally, visitors may 
consider renting a canoe or kayak from the Belle Haven marina (Chip Johnson, 
resident sailing pro, will fix you right up) to visit portions of Dyke Marsh 
inaccessible to foot travel; this often brings the birder face-to-face with 
Least 
Bitterns and Marsh Wrens, both of which will stick around through the end of 
July.  Please post the results or your visit or send them to this compiler for 
possible inclusion into the Dyke Marsh database - thanks!

The results of today's discovery are below.

Kurt Gaskill

DC Cormorant 20
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, in the marina very early am.

Canada Goose 115
Wood Duck 5, incl mama and 3 juvies, ca. 3 wks old
Mallard 17+
Osprey 10, excellent flight displays over the marsh - parents appear to be 
enticing young to stretch their wings!  Five nests at Dyke this year.
Am. Coot 2

Killdeer 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 2

Ring-billed Gull 21
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Forster's Tern 2
Least Tern 1
Rock Dove 7

Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 2
Red-bellied WP 7
Downy WP 7
Hairy WP 1

No. Flicker 1
E. Wood Pewee 1
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
E. Kingbird 6

Warbling Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Am. Crow 1
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 6

C. Chickadee 13
T. Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7
Am. Robin 8

Gray Catbird 1
No. Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 12
Cedar Waxwing 2

No. Parula 6
Yellow Warbler 2
Black & White Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 3

No. Cardinal 33
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 26
Common Grackle 24
Brown-headed Cowbird 1

Orchard Oriole 3
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 7
Am. Goldfinch 12
House Sparrow 7


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