VA BIRDers,
Nine people turned out on an overcast day having a slight breeze for the
regular Sunday morning Dyke Marsh Field Trip, sponsored by the Friends of
Dyke Marsh and free to all. Birds were clearly getting down to the business
of either breeding or feeding young - most of the Common Grackles or
Starlings were with young birds or flying back and forth with food. Only a
few orioles sang, but we all got fine looks at both Baltimore and Orchard.
We spotted one Cedar Waxwing over the picnic area but thought more may be
about. Two different Eastern Kingbirds attacked overflying crows, and we
found another along Haul Rd quietly foraging. The picnic area held a Brown
Thrasher and the beginning of Haul Rd yielded up Gray Catbird.
The day's highlight (for one in the group) was a glimpse of a Least Bittern
flying south of the dogleg near the Little Gut. This area is usually one of
the typical breeding areas so we are optimistic that future sightings for
the rest of us will accrue! Yellow Warblers on the dogleg were a treat but
the Warbling Vireos stayed high. We did spot a pair of Northern Parulas on
Ramp Rd near the washroom, and later another pair on the dogleg before the
turn to the boardwalk. We confirmed House Finch breeding as we watched a
pair build a nest in a Sycamore on the dogleg - well, the female built the
nest, the male watched and occasionally sang! At the end of the boardwalk
we watched a Pileated fly from one island to the next and heard a Marsh Wren
singing. The day's list is below.
Kurt Gaskill
C. Goose 16
Mallard 15, 1 group of 6 nearly grown ducklings and 1 group of 4 2-week old
young
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 15
Ring-billed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 12
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied WP 2
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 2
Pileated WP 1
E. Phoebe 1
E. Kingbird 3
Warbling V 4
Red-eyed V 2
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 3
Tree Sw 2
Barn Sw 4
C. Chickadee 2
T. Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 5
H. Wren 1, in the picnic area
M. Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5, CF
Am. Robin 6
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 24
Cedar Waxwing 1
No. Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Song Sparrow 2, maybe a distraction attempt by both on the dogleg near the
boardwalk
No. Cardinal 12
Red-winged BB 15
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Orchard O 3
Baltimore O 2
House Finch 4
Am. Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 10
