VA BIRDers,
A wonderfully warm, nearly windless morning greeted the (thin) crowd to the
regular Sunday Dyke Marsh Field Trip - sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh
and free to all. The Trip's highlight was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along Haul
Rd, near the the dogleg. This species has occurred with some regularity in
early winter at Dyke nearly every year, sometimes lasting well into February.
We
also heard Mr. Keller's House Wren just a little south of Dead Beaver Beach.
Bald Eagles put on their usual impressive show - 2 adults and 2 1-2 yr olds
with lots of calling and rousting of gulls and such. We also noted
Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. Winter Wrens continued to
hold on
strong with at least 5 individuals tallied. On the way back to our cars, we
spied a DC Cormorant speeding across the marina lagoon. Also notable was a
Great
Egret flying from the Stone Bridge before the Field Trip began at about 0730.
Only 2 more Dyke Marsh field trips until CBC-season is upon us! Rich Rieger
and Larry Cartwright will lead the last two, then the Dyke Marsh Field Trips
go into hiatus until Jan 9th so that all can help out on local CBCs. If you do
visit Dyke, please put your observations up on VA BIRD or send them to yours
truly for the ol' database! (173 species so far at Dyke this year) Thanks
much!
Kurt Gaskill, kurtcapt87 at aol.com
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