VA BIRDers,
The Sunday morning Field Trip at Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of
Dyke Marsh and free to all, was met with cloudy skies, a slight breeze, and
well it was chilly. Not too bad, but thinking spring when its 45F is
tough! Anyway, it was a great trip with several fine sightings.
We started off scanning the river off the picnic area. Several Bonepartes
Gulls held the water in front of us, occasionally disappearing and then
returning. None were capped (although one was getting a bit gray on the
crown) but the mantle and wings were quite crisp in detail as viewed from
less than 100 yds. The local Ospreys continued to fly about one pair has
built a quite substantial nest on the pilings in the middle of Hunting Creek
Bay. Ed Eder scoped a pair of Northern Shovelers up near the Stone Bridge.
And a lone Tundra Swan swam about sometimes late Tundra hang out at Dyke
until mid-April.
But the ducks were only half the show the swallows were out in good
numbers, all moving low across the calm river water surface. Most were Tree
Swallows but a group of 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallows flew past us. From
the marina, we spied a single male Purple Martin.
The tide was quite high, so no gulls on exposed mudflats. We scanned the
wooden pilings at Port OVecchio where Ed spied a dark mantled gull about
25% larger than the adjacent Ring-billed Gulls. Could it be
? He and Larry
Meade drove up to the Stone Bridge (its about ¼ mile away as the crow
flies) but later reported the bird had flown. Too Bad!
When we turned away from the river, a pair of Wood Ducks landed on one of
the trees in the picnic area. The female was checking out the cavity in the
tree it was in a Sycamore near the main toilets by the bike trail. Hmmm.
.. I sort of doubt they will select the site, but we had great views of the
pair. As we made for the trail, a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler hung out in
the vines near the picnic area.
The trail did not produce anything unusual, just a few of the typical birds.
The National Park Service is doing work on the trail (even today!) they
are actually removing the board walk remains from Isabelle (Sept 03). Will
wonders never cease! This means that the end portion of the trail is closed
until about 15 April. Walking down Haul Rd, we managed to find a small
group of Song Sparrows migration is nearing an end for this species.
After returning to our cars, we headed up to the Stone Bridge in the hopes
of something interesting would be about. We noted a Belted Kingfisher and
checked over the gulls but no errant Californias were about. I returned
later today near low tide. Still no California, but two adult Laughing
Gulls complete with hoods were mixed in with the gulls. I also noted
that the Purple Martin numbers had doubled and a Barn Swallow had joined the
group and the shoveler pair was still present.
Trip list is below thanks to Sandy Farkas and Bonnie Ponwith for reporting
a few early morning items.
Kurt Gaskill
DC Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 2
Canada Goose 15
Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 8
No. Shoveler 2
Common Merganser 7
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Osprey 9
Bald Eagle 2, one adult
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 2
Bonepartes Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 200
Herring Gull 52
Great Black-backed Gull 17
Rock Pigeon 30
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 3
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 2
Blue Jay 6
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 140
No. Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 1
C. Chickadee 3
T. Titmouse 2
C. Wren 4
W. Wren 2, singing
Am. Robin 4
No. Mockingbird 3
E. Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 10
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 20
House Sparrow 6
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
