We had eight birders challenge the heat today for the monthly walk at Dutch Gap
Conservation Area. The early birds who came out at 7:00 were treated to a
family group of Prothonotary warblers on the river trails that start from the
boat launch area. We also witnessed the issues with the Black Vulture flock and
the damage they can do to vehicles there - two trucks were having their
windshield wipers and other rubber components munched on by the big birds.
The main part of the walk started at 8:00 at the first observation platform.
Wood Ducks and Mallards in non-breeding plumage gave good, up-close looks.
Red-winged Blackbirds were active all over the marsh. We had good looks at
Brown Thrasher and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and fly-by looks at Belted Kingfisher
and American Kestrel. It took an hour of close observation, but we were finally
rewarded with a brief flight of one of the Least Bitterns.
It was the usual suspects on the walk from the parking area to the river
overlook. We did get four Killdeer in the mud exposed by low tide across the
river. We had four Osprey either soaring or perched, and a smattering of
songbirds.
On the trails behind the visitor center, we found an example of brood
parasitism, finding a Brown-headed Cowbird chick being fed by a Prothonotary
Warbler. Fortunately, thanks to the nest box network maintained by the VCU
Biology Department, the Prothonotary population in this area is very healthy.
There were also four Great Egrets and a Great Blue Heron in the lagoon. We had
flyovers from Bald Eagle and Osprey in this area, and a nice look at a Brown
Thrasher taking a dust bath. There was also an Eastern Meadowlark on the fence
line.
The heat drove us back to our cars around 11, but it was a good morning out,
regardless. Complete checklist below - we totaled 43 species.
Check the Richmond Audubon Facebook page for some photos from the morning’s
walk.
—
Lewis Barnett
blbarnett3@xxxxxxxxx
Acadian Flycatcher 1
American Goldfinch 3
American Kestrel 1
American Robin 1
Bald Eagle 1
Barn Swallow 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Black Vulture 52
Blue Grosbeak 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Brown Thrasher 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Being fed by Prothonotaries.
Carolina Chickadee 4
Carolina Wren 8
Common Grackle 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
Eastern Meadowlark 1
European Starling 6
Fish Crow 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Great Egret 4
Indigo Bunting 1
Killdeer 4
Least Bittern 1
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Cardinal 1
Northern Mockingbird 4
Osprey 10
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Prothonotary Warbler 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Wood Duck 9
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
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