Hello Birders!
Marc Ribaudo, Rich Rieger, Dave Boltz and myself did the Alexandria
Subsector of the Dyke Marsh Sector - our route goes from the Dyke Marsh
picnic area to Dangerfield Island near National Airport along the Potomac
River. This year we set a record on species observed - 71 (Ave = 61, N=14).
Completely overcast, 39-43F, drizzle started about 315pm, showers at 345 pm.
We had a few highlights which we hope will contribute to the count.
Common Goldeneye - female, first noted flying north at the Dyke Marsh picnic
area at 0745; another found in the Potomac R near National Airport as viewed
from northern Dangerfield Island (and since this species is so unusual for
the count it is thought to be the same bird UNLESS additional reports
surface).
Common Loon, off DCA near the landing pier at about 1 pm
Great Egrets, 2, at Hunting Creek at 345 pm (where were they in the
morning?)
CW Merlin, golf course near along GW Parkway nr Dyke Marsh on Saturday,
could not find today
Peregrine Falcon, Wilson Bridge in the morning
Least Sandpipers, 2, Hunting Creek riverside mudflats as the tide was rising
at 330pm; first for this route in the 15 counts I have been doing it
Laughing Gull, 2, one at 1pm at Dangerfield Island area near the DCA landing
pier, the other at Hunting Creek mudflats at 330pm.
Red-headed WP, 2, Golf Course near GW Parkway and viewed from the Stone
Bridge, a first for this route
Common Yellowthroat, 2, Jones Pt Park area south of the bridge near the
apartments and the other at Dangerfield Is in marsh near soccer fields
Pine Warbler, GW Parkway hike-bike trail about half way between the Dyke
Marsh picnic area and the Stone Bridge
White-crowned Sp, imm, soccer field area of Dangerfield Is.
Rusty Blackbird, about 20, soccer field marsh of Dangerfield Is.
We had a good waterfowl showing with 6 Horned Grebes, most hear Dangerfield
Is, and 12 species of ducks incl Canvasback at Dyke Marsh picnic area.
Sharpie at Dangerfield, 2 YB Sapsuckers, 2 Brown Creepers, well over a half
dozen Winter Wrens, many kinglets of both types, Hermit Thrush at
Dangerfield, 3 Cedar Waxwings at the cemetery complex of Alexandria plus 2
hundred Am. Robins, 2 E. Towhees, and Brown-headed Cowbirds on GW Parkway
north of Dyke Marsh. Eastern Screech Owl was at Dyke before dawn. Overall,
an excellent day of birding in No. Virginia!
Kurt Gaskill
