I led the Friends of Dyke Marsh walk this morning. Rich Reiger also turned up
and helped lead the 6 others, including a couple of new birders visiting from
Arizona. Highlights were: a male Bufflehead and 3 Common Mergansers;2 or 3
Marsh Wrens; and 7 different male Baltimore Orioles (including 2 males fighting
and 1 delivering food to his mate on nest). A Least Bittern was heard. [There
was some question whether the vocalization was of this species or Pied-billed
Grebe. Having reviewed the Stokes CDs of both species on return home, there is
no doubt in my mind that it was the Least Bittern that we heard.] Not
included in the list below is a pair of Orchard Orioles, which Larry Cartwright
reported from the northern end of the picnic area, which the group did not
visit.
The full list:
Double-Crested Cormorant, at least 10.
Least Bittern, 1
Great Blue Heron, at least 15
Great Egret, 2
Canada Goose, at least 40
Mallard, at least 20, plus 3 ducklings
Bufflehead, 1 male
Common Merganser, 1 male and 2 females
Osprey, 6-8
Spotted Sandpiper, 3-5
Ring-billed Gull, 1
Mourning Dove. 12
Chimney Swift, 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4
Downy Woodpecker, 2
Northern Flicker, 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee, 2
Eastern Kingbird, 4
Tree Swallow, at least 20
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 1
Barn Swallow, at least 12
Blue Jay, 5
crow species, 2
Carolina Chickadee, 1
Carolina Wren, 4
Marsh Wren, 2-3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 1
American Robin, 12
Gray Catbird, 1
European Starling, 12
Warbling Vireo, 2
Yellow Warbler, 3 males, 1 female
Common Yellowthroat, 2
Northern Cardinal, 12
Indigo Bunting, 1 male
Song Sparrow, 1
Red-winged Blackbird, at least 50
Brown-headed Cowbird, 2
Northern Oriole, 7 males, 1 female
House Finch, 2
American Goldfinch, 12
House Sparrow, 12
Stephen Eccles
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