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Green Heron at Dyke
Marsh - photo by Ed Eder
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Sunday Morning Bird Walks
The weekly Sunday morning bird walks are held every Sunday morning all year. Meet at 8 a.m. in the south parking lot of the Belle Haven picnic area. Walks are led by experienced birders and all are welcome.
The most
recent reports are found at the top of the page; be
sure to scroll through the reports to view the earlier sightings.
Sightings
Nearly 30 people joined me today for the Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh,
starting at 8:00 and open to everyone free of charge. The morning began
with the receding mudflats hosting Bonaparte's Gulls and Caspian Terns as a
Northern Parula burst into song in the picnic area. A small flock of
Spotted Sandpipers flew down river along the shoreline, giving decent views.
Ospreys and Bald Eagles soared in the clear blue skies as we walked down
Haul Road with evidence all around us that spring is here. Yellow-rumped
Warblers were numerous with many males in song. Palm Warblers foraged for
insects at the end of Haul Road as they continued their migration. We saw
or heard half a dozen Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. We osberved 7 active Osprey
nests. Fish Crows were working on a nest in the picnic area while Tree
Swallows did the same in one of the nest boxes in the channel north of Haul
Road. As the walk concluded, an Eastern Phoebe began to vocalize in the
picnic area. It was a beautiful day with great company.
Today's totals:
Canada Goose 4
Mallard 16
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 18 ( 7 active nests)
Bald Eagle 7
Spotted Sandpiper 6
Bonaparte's Gull 8
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Caspian Tern 23
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 7 (pair nest building: NB)
Tree Swallow 35 (pair NB)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 20 (NB)
Northern Parula 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 40
Palm Warbler 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 25
Northern Cardinal 18
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 8 (NB).
-- Larry Cartwright, April 14, 2013.
Sightings
Well, we had a great crowd for this mornings' walk at Dyke Marsh,
Alexandria. Lots of first timers mixed w. the regulars. It was fairly
active in the picnic area w. YELLOW RUMP WARBLERS, a few PALM WARBLERS
and at least 2 EASTERN PHOEBES giving us some good looks in the bright
sunshine. Activity slowed down as we made our way thru the marina and
down Haul Road in a stiff breeze that kept the temperature on the
chilly side. Two GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS and more YELLOW RUMPERS were
entertaining - a myriad of CAROLINA WRENS were in full song, one
WINTER WREN made a very brief appearance but some hoped for arrivals
failed to materialize....small numbers of waterfowl were tallied and
we managed 44 species for the day... list follows.
C Goose 14
Mallard 16
L. Scaup 6
Bufflehead 1
RB Merg 4
PB Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 1
DC Corm 4
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 1
RB Gull 30
Herring Gull 4
Caspian Tern 6
Foresters Tern 1
MoDo 4 (one pair nest building)
RB WP 7
Downy WP 5
No. Flicker 2
E. Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 8 (carrying nest material)
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 30
No. RW Swallow 10
Car. Chick 5
Tuft. Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 16
winter Wren 1
GC Kinglet 3
RC Kinglet 1
Robin 24
Starling x
YR Warbler 12
Palm Warbler 2
Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 2
WT Sparrow 10
DE Junco 3
No. CArdinal 8
RW Blackbird 24
C Grackle 1
BH Cowbird 2
House Finch 1
House Sparrow 2.
-- Rich Rieger, April 7, 2013.
Sightings
Fellow birders,
Eight persons, including for most of the time regular field trip leader
Ed Eder, joined me for the regular Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh Nature
Preserve in Alexandria, VA. During the walk we visited the Belle Haven picnic area and
the nearby marina before walking to the end of Haul Road. Highlights on this very birdy
morning included five Horned Grebes in the Potomac River, several Bonaparte¹s Gulls on the Hunting
Creek mudflats, Tree, Barn and at least a couple of Northern Rough-winged Swallows, a Brown
Thrasher in the area between the picnic area and the marina, three Tundra Swans in
flight above us, singing Yellow-rumped Warblers along Haul Road, four
Winter Wrens along Haul Road, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets along Haul
Road, five Eastern Phoebes in the picnic area and along Haul Road, a
Sharp-shinned Hawk being harassed by a crow near the boardwalk at the end of Haul Road,
and three Wilson¹s Snipe in flight shortly after we started walking back along
Haul Road. The numerous nesting Osprey and Bald Eagles in this area were
prominent during the walk.
For those interested, a list of the 57 species encountered during the walk
is set forth below.
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Alex., VA, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 31, 2013 7:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.2 mile(s)
Comments: This list records the birds encountered by me and eight
participants during the regular, Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh
Nature Preserve. Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.2
57 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 35
Tundra Swan 3
Mallard 12
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 8
Lesser Scaup 35
Bufflehead 6
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 5
Double-crested Cormorant 35
Great Blue Heron 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 12
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 5 all adults
Killdeer 4
Wilson's Snipe 3
Bonaparte's Gull 8
Ring-billed Gull 125
Herring Gull (American) 15
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Caspian Tern 1 seen in flight over the Potomac River by Ed Eder
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 3
Eastern Phoebe 5
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 3
crow sp. 6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Tree Swallow 75
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 4
Winter Wren 4
Carolina Wren 12
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 25
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Eastern Towhee 3
Field Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 25
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 4
Northern Cardinal 16
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 5.
-- Gerry Hawkins, Arlington, VA, March 31, 2013.
Sightings
Eleven birders joined me on the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh. It was quite gray and chilly, but signs of spring
were still apparent with lots of song and the appearance of a few migrants.
We got off to a good start with a distant view of a peregrine on the Wilson
Bridge (thanks, Ray), 4 Bonaparte's gulls out in the channel, one sporting a
partial hood, and a large flock of tree swallows milling just over the
surface. The picnic area and bordering brushy area yielded singing phoebe
and fox sparrow, a yellow-rumped warbler, and flyover cedar waxwings. The
marina held a couple of pied-billed grebes, and we got great views of the
resident ospreys. The Dyke Marsh trails were pretty quiet, with groups of
song and white-throated sparrows providing most of the action. We did hear
2 winter wrens (one gave us a brief look) and a golden-crowned kinglet. At
the boardwalk we got great looks at a pair of greater scaup associating with
several lesser scaup. We could easily compare the relevant field marks. In
the vicinity were a pair of female red-breasted mergansers. One horned
grebe was spotted flying up the river. Despite the chill wind the sky
seemed full of ospreys, with several males flying high overhead giving their
high-pitched courting cries.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 24, 2013 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
50 species
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 12
Greater Scaup 2
Lesser Scaup 22
Bufflehead 12
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 3
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 14
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 18
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 3
Bonaparte's Gull 4
Ring-billed Gull 100
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 8
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 10
Tree Swallow 60
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 2
Carolina Wren 18
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 35
European Starling 15
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 20
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 18
Dark-eyed Junco 14
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 2
House Finch 1
House Sparrow 8.
-- Marc Ribaudo, March 24, 2013.
Sightings
Twelve enthusiastic birders joined the weekly bird walk this morning sponsored
by Friends of Dyke Marsh. We convene at 8:00 every Sunday except during
Christmas Bird Count season at the Belle Haven picnic area. All are
welcome, including neophytes. We scan the Potomac and the Marina, then
Haul Road. Weather raw (40F and overcast) but dry.
I started at dawn at the beginning of Haul Road in hopes of a sighting of
Screech Owls. I dipped on these but enjoyed a delightful dawn chorus
including singing Winter Wren.
Highlight was a raft of 15 Horned Grebes in various stages of molt. We
also had great looks at always-charismatic Red-breasted Mergansers.
Numerous Tree Swallows and a single Eastern Phoebe were welcome harbingers
of spring.
The list:
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 17, 2013 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
47 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 10
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 40
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 4
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 16
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 1
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 22 Several off Belle Haven picnic
area, all in basic plumage. Raft of 15 in various stages of molt south of
Haul Road near its terminus.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 10
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 8
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 4
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 40
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 8
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 8
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 4
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 4
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 4
crow sp. (Corvus sp. (crow sp.)) 6
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 40
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 8
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 10
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 10
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 50
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 8
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 12
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 30
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 6.
-- Peter Ross, Arlington, March 17, 2013.
SightingsThirteen birders came out this morning for the weekly bird walk at Dyke Marsh. The walk is sponsored by the friends of Dyke Marsh and is held every Sunday morning at 8:00. It's free and open to all.
We started out by scanning the river for ducks and other birds and found a pair of Gadwall, Northern Pintails and Ruddy Ducks. Before the walk, some participants in our group found a Lesser
Black-backed Gull and a Merlin at Hunting Creek. We continued to the marina and found a nice
collection of Common Mergansers, Red-breasted mergansers and Pied-billed Grebes. There was
also a perched Red-shouldered Hawk. On Haul Road, we found a Hairy Woodpecker, a calling Winter
Wren, a Belted Kingfisher, a small group of Lesser Scaup, more Ruddy Ducks, and some Bald
Eagles.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 3, 2013 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
45 species
Canada Goose 450
Gadwall 2
Mallard 30
Northern Pintail 8
Lesser Scaup 10
Bufflehead 6
Common Merganser 14
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Ruddy Duck 17
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Bald Eagle 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 2
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Merlin 1
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 12
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 8
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 15
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco 7
Northern Cardinal 16
Red-winged Blackbird 30
House Sparrow 6.
-- Larry Meade, Vienna, VA, March 3, 2013.
Sightings
Seven participants enjoyed nice weather and a view of some waterfowl
migrants. We had close views of a female and male Red Breasted Mergansers
and 80 DC Cormorants chasing a school of fish.
total 50 species...
Species count is as follows;
Horned Grebe 2
Pied -billed Grebe 2
Double rested Cormorant 82
Great Blue Heron 3
Canada Geese 180
Green Winged Teal 1
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 32
Lesser Scaup 20
Bufflehead 2
Common Merganser 6
Red Breasted Merganser 3
Ruddy duck 5
Turkey vulture 3
black Vulture 2
Bald Eagle Sapsucker 1
American Coot 1
Kildeer 1
Ring-billed Gull 210
Herring Gull 8
Greater BB Gull 5
Rock Dove 3
Mourning dove 6
Red-bellied woodpecker4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Northern Flicker 2
downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 3
Blue Jay 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 4
Winter Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Ruby-crowned kinglet 1
American Robin 30
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 50
Northern Cardinal 5
Song Sparrow 12
White-throated sparrow 10
Swamp sp 3
Dark-eyed Junco 15
House Sparrow 6
House Finch 2
Goldfinch 1.
-- Myriam Eder, February 24, 2013.
Sightings
Four birders braved the chilly weather and came out for the weekly Dyke Marsh bird walk. It's held
every Sunday at 8:00 AM is is free and open to all. We started out from the picnic area and decided
to walk to the Hunting Creek Bridge in search of warblers. We managed to find an Orange-crowned
Warbler about halfway up the trail, but that was it. Along the way we found a Sharp-shinned Hawk
and a Red-tailed Hawk. At Hunting Creek there were Buffleheads and Common Mergansers. We
then walked back to the marina and then down Haul Road. Highlights included a singing Winter
Wren, a posing female Belted Kingfisher, several Bald Eagles flying around overhead, a Pied-billed
Grebe, a Hooded Merganser and a Red-breasted Merganser.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Feb 17, 2013 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Includes the path from the picnic area to Hunting Creek .
41 species.
Canada Goose 450
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 25
Lesser Scaup 6
Bufflehead 7
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 3
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 4
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 9
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 260
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 12
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 15
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 8
Fish Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 10
American Robin 45
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 60
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Along the trail between the picnic area and the
Hunting Creek Bridge.
Song Sparrow 9
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 30
Northern Cardinal 16
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Common Grackle 45.
-- Larry Meade, Vienna, VA.
Sightings
Fourteen enthusiastic birders participated in this morning's survey of Belle
Haven picnic area and Dyke Marsh. Sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh
and held weekly (except during CBC season) this walk is open to all.
The highlight was great close up views from the picnic area of Common
Loon. Waterfowl diversity was decent but numbers low. Passerines? Well
here's the list. I added a single fly-by Kildeer at Hunting Creek (at high
tide). I did not search the hike-bike trail between Belle Haven and
Hunting Creek for winter warblers.
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Feb 10, 2013 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
41 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 200
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 10
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 4
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 10
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 2
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 200
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 10
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 10
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 1
crow sp. (Corvus sp. (crow sp.)) 8
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 12
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 4
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 16
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 20
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 4.
We added a single fly-by Killdeer at Hunting Creek (at high tide). I did
not search the hike-bike trail between Belle Haven and Hunting Creek for
winter warblers.
Peter and Molly Ross, Arlington.
Sightings
Nine birders participated in the bird walk at Dyke Marsh this morning,
sponsored weekly by the Friends of Dyke Marsh. We first headed north along
the bike path to see if we could find any of the amazing warblers that have
been present the past month and a half. We found the Tennessee prior to the
Mile 8 marker. It gave us great looks. We were not able to find the
Orange-crowned or Nashville later found by Kurt and Rich, but we did have a
merlin perched at the top of a tree on the way back to Dyke Marsh proper.
Dyke was pretty quiet. We did run into several groups of sparrows which
included swamp, song, and white-crowned. We also found winter wren,
yellow-rumped warbler, both kinglets, a very bright red-shouldered hawk, a
flyover siskin, a small group of common mergansers, and a large flock of
lesser scaup.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Feb 3, 2013 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
41 species:
Canada Goose 1100
Mallard 40
Lesser Scaup 375
Bufflehead 8
Common Merganser 8
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 8
Bald Eagle 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 5
Merlin 1
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 9
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 2
Carolina Wren 12
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 7
Tennessee Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 18
Swamp Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 1 15
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Finch 2
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 2.
-- Marc Ribaudo, Woodbridge, February 3, 2013.
Sightings
By now you all know nearly all of the highlights today at Dyke Marsh, most
of which were found at some point by the field trip participants - we missed
Dave and Candice's Com. Yellowthroats. We started from the picnic area
heading north to the Stone Bridge and found the Orange-crowned and Nashville
Warblers. Great Egret in Hunting Creek and nearly 2 dozen Killdeer. Some
waterfowl noted at the Stone Bridge including No. Shovelers, Am. Black Duck,
Mallard, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck and Am.
Coot. We went back, passed a Sharpie, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a few Cedar
Waxwings and some irate bikers, and headed down Haul Rd with highlights of
Horned Grebe, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hairy WP, a few Winter Wrens, both
kinglets and more Hooded Mergansers. On the way back to the cars we heard
that the Tennessee Warbler was being seen - so a few of us went back north
of the picnic area along the hike-bike trail and quickly found the Tennessee
which acted pretty much like a towhee buried in foliage. If you include
Dave and Candice's warbler, the total for the day was 50 species (and 5
January warblers!). An excellent morning! -- Kurt.
PS please post your additional Dyke sightings so I can add them to the
Friends of Dyke Marsh database. Thank you!
C. Goose 350
Am Black Duck 2
Mallard 50
No. Shoveler 13
Bufflehead 6
Hooded Merg 25
Com. Merg 12
Ruddy Duck 1
Horned Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Bald Eagle 4
Sharpie 1
Red-shouldered 1
Am. Coot 3
Killdeer 24
RB Gull 100
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Rock Pig 14
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 2
Down WP 1
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 2
Blue Jay 4
Am. Crow 2
Fish Crow 7
C. Chickadee 2
T. Titmouse 5
C. Wren 4
W. Wren 3
GC Kinglet 3
RC Kinglet 2
Am Robin 1
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 10
Cedar Wax 3
Tennessee 1
Orange-crowned 1
Nashville 2
Yellow-rumped 1
Com. Yellowthroat 2
Song Sp 24
Swamp Sp 6
White-thr Sp 20
Junco 30
No. Cardinal 12
Red-winged BB 12
Am. Goldfinch 1.
January 27, 2013.
Sightings
A breezy morning with abundant sunshine at Dyke Marsh was met by
myself and 4 other birders Sunday. Instead of spending our time
scanning for non present waterfowl, we headed for mile marker 8 in
search of the reported Orange Crowned, Pine and Nashville warblers.
Much to our chagrin, we found none. (Our friend, Charlotte Friend,
crossed our path later in the morning and let me know she had seen it
further north, across from the famous golf course Eagle nest).
We retraced our steps back to the picnic area, saw a PIEDBILLED
GREBE in the bay and headed down Haul Road, where the best bird was
probably a BROWN CREEPER. We had a report that the Nashville Warbler
had been seen earlier in the morning tho', so on the return trip, Dave
Ludwith and I posted up and within 5 minutes or so, we were rewarded
w. brilliant (but brief) looks at the bird. The NASHVILLE WARBLER has
been seen just north of the infamous "Dead Beaver Beach" - the open
area about 1/2 way down Haul Road that provides an open view of the
Marina. Look for the root ball of a downed tree on the Parkway side of
the trail and post up in that area. There are still some green leafy
vines about. This is where the NAWA has been seen for the past two
Sundays. It may be foraging on either side of the trail and its loud
chip note can be easily heard when it is active. Ed Eder mentioned he
had seen the Yellow Warbler on Saturday in the same area.
We managed to find 38 species on this trip. Birds seemed to be
unusually quiet all morning, even as the temp climbed toward 60 degrees!
The Dyke Marsh walk happens every Sunday, 8am, weather permitting.
Free and open to all.
List Follows.
C. Goose 500
Mallard 18
Bufflehead 1
Common Merg 2
PB Grebe 4
DC Corms 7
GB Heron 5
Bald Eagle 2
RedShoulder Hawk 2
Ring-Billed Gull 300
Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 2
RebDeli WP 3
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 1
Blue Jay 6
AM. Crow 4
Fish Crow 3
Car. Chick 8
Tufted Titmouse 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 9
Winter Wren 1
GC Kinglet 3
RC King 2
Am. Robin 1
No. Mockingbird 2
Euro Stars 15
Nashville Warb. 1
YR Warb 1
Song Sparrow 10
WhiteThroat Sparrow 20
Swamp Sparrow 3
DE Juncos 12
No. Cardinals 8
RW Blackbird 12
Common Grackles 12
Am Goldfinch 4.
-- Rich Rieger, Alexandria, January 20, 2013.
Sightings
The regular Sunday morning field trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all, started in foggy conditions at 8 am
and ended in foggy conditions. Top bird was a one second glimpse of the
Nashville Warbler along Haul Rd, about 150 yds north of Dead Beaver Beach.
Waterfowl were slim where we added Bufflehead and Hooded Mergansers plus a
Pied-billed Grebe. We noted 4 adult Bald Eagles and had a nice look at a
Sharpie fly over which then perched for about a minute. And 2 adult
Red-shouldered posed for scope views. Winter Wrens continued the good show
with 2 showing themselves and another singing. Both kinglets were noted and
some White-throated Sparrows were joined by a Yellow-rumped Warbler half way
down Haul Rd. Lots of Juncos in the picnic area plus a Brown Creeper and
then down Haul Rd was another creeper. We ended the trip with 42 species.
Later this afternoon, Phil Kenny visited the hike/bike trail to the Stone
Bridge and picked up the Orange-crowned Warbler and noted 5 flyby Northern
Shovelers. The field trip tally list is below.
C. Goose 300
Mallard 6
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 5
Pied-billed Grebe 1
DC Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 9
Bald Eagle 4
Sharpie 1
Red-shouldered 2
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 4
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 4
Blue Jay 5
Am. Crow 2
Fish Crow 2
C. Chickadee 7
T. Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 2
C. Wren 7
W. Wren 6
GC Kinglet 2
RC Kinglet 4
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 18
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song Sp 15
Swamp Sp 5
White-thr Sp 22
DE Junco 28
No. Cardinal 8
Red-winged BB 1
Am. Goldfinch 2
House Sp 12.
-- Kurt Gaskill, January 13, 2013.
Sightings
A dozen birders joined me for the weekly survey of Belle Haven picnic area
and Dyke Marsh, sponsored by Friends of Dyke Marsh, and free to all.
Waterfowl were sparse, but Haul Road was quite birdy. The highlight was a
Nashville Warbler cavorting with a Golden-Crowned Kinglet near the
beginning of Haul Road. After the formal survey was completed, Scott
Priebe and Kurt Gaskill found a Yellow Warbler, which Scott already
reported. A walk up the Hike-Bike trail uncovered the Orange-Crowned
Warbler previously reported by Kurt; 2 Pine Warblers earlier reported by
Scott, and another Nashville Warbler.
The list:
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Jan 6, 2013 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
36 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 200
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 20
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 3
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 5
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 6
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 5
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 200
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 8
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 8
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 10
crow sp. (Corvus sp. (crow sp.)) 2
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 8
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 4
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 6
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 4
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 20
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 16
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 10
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 4
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5.
-- Peter Ross, Arlington, January 6, 2013.
Sightings
Seven people joined me for the last Friends of Dyke Marsh-sponsored Sunday
morning bird walk for the 2012 calendar year. We are now in a break for the
Christmas Bird Count season and will resume the walks on Sunday, January 6.
2013.
The walk experienced periods of silence and then a great flurry of activity
as we preceded down Haul Road. We had a nice showing of kinglets, 2 Brown
Creepers, a Winter Wren, and a handful of Yellow-rumped Warblers within a 15
feet stretch north of the overlook we call Dead Beaver Beach. In contrast to
all these little guys, a female Pileated Woodpecker worked on an old snag in
search of a meal. At least one of the Red-shouldered Hawks reliably seen in
previous weeks remains in place. The boardwalk area was quiet perhaps
because of the wind, but a Northern Flicker convention going on in the
neighboring small island generated a lot of interest. On the return trip, a
vocalizing Hermit Thrush, not seen much along the Haul Road, brought a nice
end to 2012's concluding walk.
Today's List:
Canada Goose 450
American Black Duck 6
Mallard 54
Common Merganser 1
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 5
Bald Eagle 6
Red-shouldered hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Laughing Gull 5
Ring-billed Gull 270
Herring Gull 16
Great Black-backed Gull 11
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 46
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 9
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 13
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 6
Crow, sp. 4
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Carolina Wren 11
Winter Wren 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
Hermit Thrush 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco 16
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged blackbird 88
Common Grackle 1
American Goldfinch 40
House Sparrow 6.
-- Larry Cartwright, December 9, 2012.
Sightings
Eight intrepid birders braved a dense morning fog to participate
in the regular Sunday Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all.
(As a reminder, the Field Trip schedule
is interrupted for the CBC season: the next Trips
are Dec 9 and then Jan 6.)
Views from the picnic area across the river were fogged
but still yielded expected cormorants, geese, gulls and some
waterfowl. The fog slowly dissipated and we managed to have a nice
morning after all.
The group had good looks at both
Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglet. A cooperative Winter Wren
gave good views along the Haul Road trail. Two Red-shouldered Hawks
posed for us and gave good scoped views. A group of about 8
Bufflehead were life birds for a couple of today's birders.
After the trip, with the fog lifted,
Bald Eagle and 8 Greater Black-backed Gull were seen.
Here is a trip list with approximate
counts of the birds seen or heard.
Canada. Goose 200
Mallard 10
Bufflehead 8
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 1, seen near the golf course marsh before the field trip
Bald Eagle 1, adult
Ring-billed Gull 250
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Mourning Dove 25
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 6
No. Flicker 10
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Crow (SP) 20
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 6
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 12
Winter Wren 1, maybe a second one or
the first one seen farther down Haul Road
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Am. Robin 4
No. Mockingbird 3
European Starling 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 10
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 60
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Black-bird 25
House Finch 4
Cedar Waxwing 20
American Goldfinch 14
Eastern Bluebird 4 (one seen, others
heard)
House Sparrow 6.
-- Bob Beard, Arlington, VA, December 2, 2012.
Sightings
Ten people showed up for the regular Sunday Field Trip to Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all. (Please note that
the Field Trip schedule is interrupted for the CBC season: the next Trips
are Dec 2, Dec 9 and then Jan 6.) A chilly morning with, fortunately,
little wind. Typical winter birds were encountered with fine displays of
mixed feeding flocks containing the kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers with
one group containing a Brown Creeper and both groups had a Winter Wren
sounding off or actually appearing for an instant or two. The surprise of
the day was a raft of 41 Hooded Mergansers, apparently newly arrived, that
held forth in the lagoon south of the marina. Wonderful posing by two
Red-shouldered Hawks afforded all great scope looks where one participant
exclaimed "you can practically count the feathers!" A single Pine Siskin
vocalized above Ramp Road which another participant was able to dig out from
nearby vines and gum-tree-balls. After nearly everyone had left, Larry
Cartwright and I noted a small group of Juncos in the picnic area grass.
The list of 46 species tallied today are listed below.
C. Goose 75
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 24
Green-winged Teal 5
Bufflehead 4
Hooded Merganser 41
Pied-billed Grebe 4
DC Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 2, spotted near the golf course marsh before the field trip
Bald Eagle 2, adults
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
L. Gull 100
RB Gull 150
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Mourning Dove 25
Belted Kingfisher 2, both females
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 8
No. Flicker 2
Blue Jay 8
Am. Crow 4
Fish Crow 3
C. Chickadee 14
T. Titmouse 6
Brown Creeper 1
C. Wren 12
W. Wren 5, one singing
GC Kinglet 4
RC Kinglet 8
Am. Robin 4
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Song Sp 20
Swamp Sp 4
White-thr Sp 48
DE Junco 8
No. Cardinal 15
Red-winged BB 7
House Finch 2
Pine Siskin 1
Am. Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 6.
-- Kurt Gaskill, November 25, 2012.
SightingsAbout fifteen people showed up for the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh sponsored by the Friends of Dyke
Marsh and held every Sunday at 8:00 AM. It is free and open to all. We are in a bit of a slow time of the year, so we saw only 36 species. Nevertheless we had some nice highlights including Dunlin and Bald Eagles out on the river, a Red-shouldered Hawk perched low in the woods, a flock of Cedar Waxwings in the picnic area, and a good opportunity to study some up close gulls.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Nov 18, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.6 mile(s)
36 species.
Canada Goose 500
Mallard 12
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 1
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Dunlin 4
Laughing Gull 600 Large flock on the river. Some of them started moving
south later in the morning.
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 14
Fish Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 9
Tufted Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 12
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 40
Cedar Waxwing 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 14
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Finch 7
American Goldfinch 20
House Sparrow 15.
-- Larry Meade, Vienna, VA.
Sightings
Twenty birders joined us for a nice and dry Sunday morning survey of Dyke
Marsh this morning. This survey, sponsored by Friends of
Dyke Marsh, meets every Sunday morning except during Christmas Bird counts
at 8:00 at the Belle Haven picnic area. All are welcome.
Highlights were Common Yellowthroat in the cattails at the end of Haul Road
seen and heard calling from the boardwalk by most of the group and an
unusually high count of very vocal Winter Wren. The Fox Sparrow was heard
only; many thanks to Ed Eder for identifying it and finding several other
species. The list follows:
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Nov 11, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
45 species (+1 other taxa).
Canada Goose 150
Mallard 10
Ruddy Duck 2
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 2
Laughing Gull 40
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Mourning Dove 12
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 4
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 12
crow sp. 10
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 6
Carolina Wren 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 6
American Robin 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 6
Common Yellowthroat 1 (Female, calling and seen by most members of party
in cattails from boardwalk at end of Haul Rd.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 6
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 12
House Sparrow 6.
-- Peter and Molly Ross, Arlington.
Sightings
Around 20 people showed for the weekly Dyke Marsh walk today, an event
hosted by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and conducted every Sunday except during
the Christmas Bird Count season, beginning at 8:00 AM, and free to everyone.
A Purple Finch (female/young male) was spotted in the southern picnic area
and a small flock of Yellow-rumped warblers accompanied by both species of
kinglets foraged on Haul Road south of the open area we call Dead Beaver
Beach. We spotted a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the peninsula just
short of the boardwalk. We saw a nice assortment of raptors, with one
Cooper's Hawk mixing it up with 2 American Crows over the larger island
across from the boardwalk. The only disappointment to this otherwise
delightful day was the low waterfowl count.
Today's list:
Canada Goose 60
Mallard 16
Bufflehead 2
Hooded Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 3
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 2
Bald Eagle 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 70
Ring-billed Gull 200
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Mourning Dove 10
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-bellied woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
Blue Jay 15
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 11
Crow,sp. 3
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 13
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 17
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22
Palm Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 13
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 30
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 8
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 16.
-- Larry Cartwright, November 4, 2012.
Sightings
The weekly bird walk at Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, was attended by 15 people this morning. We tallied 56 species. Notables were some latish migrants, including 2 northern parulas, 4 blackpoll warblers, 4 chimney swifts, and a red-eyed vireo, and a merlin that only part of the group saw. We heard 2 flyover pine siskins and ran into several nice kinglet flocks. Very little was seen in the way of waterfowl.
Here is the complete list.
Canada Goose - 30
Mallard - 14
Double-crested Cormorant - 22
Great Blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 4
Black Vulture - 3
Turkey Vulture - 1
Bald Eagle - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
Merlin - 1
Laughing Gull - 75
Ring-billed Gull - 20
Herring Gull - 2
Great Black-backed Gull - 1
Forster's Tern - 12
Rock Pigeon - 1
Mourning Dove - 8
Chimney Swift - 4
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 12
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 6
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 12
American Crow - 2
Fish Crow - 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 5
Carolina Chickadee - 14
Tufted Titmouse - 8
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 14
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10
American Robin - 8
Gray Catbird - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 2
European Starling - 150
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 50
Song Sparrow - 5
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Northern Cardinal - 12
Red-winged Blackbird - 30
Common Grackle - 10
House Finch - 9
Pine Siskin - 2
American Goldfinch - 25
House Sparrow - 9.
-- Marc Ribaudo, October 14, 2012.
Sightings
An enthusiastic group of 18 birders joined me for the Sunday morning walk at
Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and free of charge,
beginning every Sunday at 8:00 AM except during the Christmas Bird Count
season. There was a pitiful assortment of waterfowl, but we did find both
species of yellowlegs standing on a sliver of disappearing mudflat as the
tide came in. Both Caspian and Forster's Tern were present. We saw a Bald
Eagle catch a fish and then dine on it while using one of the Osprey nests
as a dinner table. Most of the songbird activity was along the wood edge in
the south picnic area and the marina. Highlight migrants included a
Yellow-throated Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, and 4 Pine
Warblers. Chimney Swifts and a lone Purple Martin flew overhead as we
observed the warbler activity in the picnic area. Haul Road was fairly
unproductive, but I did see a male Purple Finch at the Dogleg.
Today's observations:
Canada Goose 12
Mallard 25
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 4
Greater Yellowlegs 20
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Laughing Gull 13
Ring-billed Gull 250
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 8
Forster's Tern 11
Rock Dove 2
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 7
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue Jay 13
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 1
Carolina Chickadee 18
Tufted Titmouse 15
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 14
House Wren 1
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 3
European Starling 40
Cedar Waxwing 5
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 5
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 20
Red-winged Blackbird 70
Common Grackle 22
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 9
American Goldfinch 12
House Sparrow 5.
-- Larry Cartwright, September 30, 2012.
Sightings
I was so overwhelmed by the turnout on this striking very first full
day of Autumn, 2012, that I forgot to take a head count of the
participants. I would say we numbered in the mid teens and I think
some of the participants thought that's how cold it was as I saw some
gloves being pulled on as we gazed out over the bay. We managed to
tally 44 species but had some fine birds throughout the walk to keep
us alert and entertained.
Two Adult BALD EAGLES in the bay - not that unusual - along w. GB
HERONS and GREAT EGRETS. Best bird at that stop was a PEREGRINE
FALCON that buzzed thru and agitated the gulls, did an aerial duel w.
a couple of crows and then sped away to who knows where.. Moving on to
the marina, we got great looks at a GREEN HERON that flew in and
remained motionless on the mudflat for quite some time allowing some
great looks. Two LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew in for a brief stop and we got
some good looks at one, very close to the GRHE. Down Haul Road, past
Dead Beaver Beach, we picked up a nice mixed flock that included N.
PARULA, REDSTART and MAGNOLIA Warblers. As we watched from the last
platform, we finally added BELTED KINGFISHER to the list and phriend
Phil spotted not a Spotted, but solitary SOLITARY SANDPIPER for a nice
conclusion to our morning.
Come join the fun any Sunday (except during CBC season) starting at 8
a.m. Free to all but if you have an elevator for your cars, we all
get to back to your house after the walk and ride up and down in it...
Here's the list for today...
C. GOOSE 12
MALLARD 60
DC CORMORANT 18
GB HERON 12
G. EGRET 18
GREEN HERON 1 (an unusual visitor, being seen more often)
TURKEY VULTURE 4
OSPREY 3
BALD EAGLE 2
RS HAWK 1
RT HAWK 2
PEREGRINE FALCON 1
L. YELLOWLEGS 2
SOLITARY SANDPIPER 1
LAUGHING GULL yes
RB GULL yes
CASPIAN TERN 1
MO. DOVE 3
CHIMNEY SWIFT 4
RT HUMMER 1
BELTED KINGFISHER 1
RB WOODPECKER 6
DOWNY WP 2
NO. FLICKER 3
EASTERN PHOEBE 1
BLUE JAY 12
FISH CROW 1
CROW (sp) 2
CHICKADEE 8
TUFTED TITMOUSE 2
WB NUTHATCH 2
CAROLINA WREN 1
AM ROBIN 30
CATBIRD 1
EURO STARS yes
NO. PARULA 1
MAGNOLIA WARB 2
AM REDSTART 1
COM. YELLOWTHROAT 1
NO. CARDINAL 16
RW BLACKBIRD 36
COM. GRACKLE 1
HOUSE FINCH 1
AM GOLDFINCH 8
HOUSE SPARROW a few.
-- Rich Rieger, Alexandria, September 23, 2012.
Sightings
An Excellent day at Dyke as 17 satisfied participants got to see a few
interesting birds and a lifer or two. Highlight was near the end of the day
as we (the few that were left!) were returning along the dogleg about midway
down. Located in the shrubs near where you can walk to the southern edge
and view the little bay was a Mourning Warbler, chipping frequently, often
to pishes. Looks were very poor, but between the 3 of us (Bob Beard, Larry
Cartwright and myself) the field marks were yellow-ish throat, olive green
back, yellow underneath to the vent, a grayish head and weak eyering. The
chip notes sealed the ID. The Mourning joined 11 other warbler species
today, most were in the southern section of the picnic area, next to the
weedy/tree patch and the big sycamore. We tallied at least 6 Cape Mays
today, a great showing, plus many good looks at Magnolia and Am. Redstarts.
A Prothonotary also held forth (about a week before the late date up here).
Lots of American Robins flying about and a flock of about dozen Cedar
Waxwings. We did very good on raptors, spotting a high southbound American
Kestrel early in the morning and then a Merlin flying down the Potomac near
the marina at about 9am - it perched in a tree on the nearby island so we
could scope it. 2 1st/2nd yr Bald Eagles and one adult on the mudflats, 2
Red-tails, a Red-shoulder plus the local Cooper's Hawk. Before everyone
arrived, a Broad-winged was perched in the patch of trees to the south of
the picnic area, but ducked out due to robin and Blue Jay activity.
Curiously, no Osprey (nor flycatchers or swallows for that matter) were
observed. The field trip netted 59 species.
Later, at 6 pm, I visited the Stone Bridge; the tide was rising and past
midway. I added a newly arrived Northern Shoveler plus a few more species
for the day list of Lesser Yellowlegs, and Herring and Great Black-backed
Gull. The full list is below.
-- Kurt Gaskill.
C. Goose 10
Mallard 55 (updated at 6 pm)
No. Shoveler 1
DC Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 9
Bald Eagle 3, 2 imm and 1 adult
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Am. Kestrel 1
Merlin 1
Greater Yellowlegs 13
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 500 (updated at 6pm)
Ring-billed Gull 100 (updated at 6 pm)
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 33 (updated at 6 pm)
Forster's Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-thr Hummer 5
Belted Kingfisher 1, female
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 4
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 3
Pileated WP 1, show near Ramp Rd
Red-eyed V 3
Blue Jay 6
Am. Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
C. Chickadee 8
T. Titmouse 12
White-br Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 6
H. Wren 2
Am. Robin 50
Gray Catbird 5
E. Starling 30
Cedar Waxwing 12
No. Parula 2
Chestnut-sided 3
Magnolia 7
Cape May 6
Black-thr Green 1
Palm 2
Bay-breasted 2
Am. Redstart 4
Prothonotary 1
No. Waterthrush 1, chipping along the river
Mourning 1
Com. Yellowthroat 3
Chipping Sp 1, a common bird rarely found at Dyke Marsh
Song Sp 1
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged BB 120, about half moving north in the morning to other feeding
locations
Com. Grackle 6
House Finch 8
Am. Goldfinch 6
House Sp 2.
-- September 16, 2012.
Sightings
Twenty-eight people participated in the weekly bird walk at Dyke Marsh in
Alexandria, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh. It was a beautiful morning to
be out and we had a nice walk, although the birding did not meet expectations given
the cold front that pushed through the night before. We came across 2 small flocks
of warblers birds, and much of the walk was pretty silent. Highlights were a soaring
kestrel over the picnic area, a green heron that put on a real nice show, a peregrine
that was hunting over the marsh past the dogleg (it stooped on something down low
and did not reappear), several blackpoll warblers, including one that was singing, a
couple of prothonotary warblers spotted by the group, and a Traill's type flycatcher.
Here is the complete list of the 52 species seen. (Once again, no Canada geese).
SPECIES SEEN
From 9/9/2012 to 9/9/2012 -
Mallard 26
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 8
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Laughing Gull x
Ring-billed Gull x
Caspian Tern 6
Forster's Tern 3
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Willow Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 6
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 11
House Wren 1
American Robin 16
Gray Catbird 6
European Starling 20
Black-and-white Warbler 4
Prothonotary Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 4.
-- Marc Ribaudo, Woodbridge, September 9, 2012.
Sightings
Nearly 20 people joined me for the Sunday morning Dyke Marsh walk. The walk
starts at 8:00 AM every Sunday, except during Christmas Bird Count season,
and is open to everyone.
Today was humid and slow with a few isolated areas of warbler activity. We
found a Bay-breasted (perhaps the bird of the day), a Magnolia, and 2 Yellow
Warblers in the line of trees in the southern picnic area near the boat
launch. Additional Yellow Warblers and a Magnolia were along Haul Road and
the Boardwalk. A Warbling Vireo was present and singing near the bridge on
the Haul Road Peninsula.
A small bit of mudflats hosted Greater Yellowlegs and Caspian Terns and a
few Ospreys were hanging around. Four Bald Eagles were flying northbound
from the Haul Road Peninsula and we found 2 flying Spotted Sandpipers at
Dead Beaver Beach. We were entertained by 2 hummingbirds fighting over a
nectar source on the outer peninsula.
Our list for the Dyke Marsh record:
Canada Goose 22
Mallard 32
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 3
Osprey 3
Bald Eagle 4
Greater Yellowlegs 7
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 15
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 7
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 12
Carolina Wren 14
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 30
Yellow Warbler 6
Magnolia Warbler 2
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 18
Red-winged Blackbird 26
Common Grackle 25
American Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 4.
-- Larry Cartwright, September 2, 2012.
Sightings
A rather pleasant morning greeted 15 or so birders that gathered for
our weekly Dyke Marsh Sunday walk, always free and always open to any
and all comers... The dark clouds that hovered above us and a stiff
breeze kept temps on the mild side, but added nothing to avian
activity, which was muted to say the least. We managed to scope a
PEREGRINE FALCON on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Bob Beard spotted a
B&W WARBLER along Haul Road for our only warbler of the day. No
foraging mixed flocks were to be seen (or heard) and I was wondering
if we would hit 30 species by the time we hit the end of the
boardwalk. We did manage to break 40, w. small numbers of those we did
see. It was a tremendous day for butterflies and we saw a few skinks
as well. By the time we finished, the sun was shining and warming
temps inspired some soaring vultures, Ospreys and Eagles. We managed
to avoid the waterspout that was spotted near the Wicomico River in
Charles Co., MD... hope you did as well. Here's the list...yours
truly, Rich Rieger.
C. Goose 4 (really?)
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 10 (including one youngster - a late bloomer)
DC Corms 12
GB Heron 3
Great Egret 3
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 10
Bald Eagle 4
Peregrine Falcon 1
Yellowlegs sp 1
RB Gull 100
Great BlackBack 1
Caspian Tern 3
Forsters Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 3 (what! no MoDo's?0
Chimney Swift 6
RT Hummers 4
RedBellied WP 2
Downy WP 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 6
crow sp (non vocal) 12
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 1
No. Rough Wing 1
Car. Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Am. Robin 16
Catbird 1
Starling 8
Cedar Waxwing 6
B&W Warbler 1
Am. Redstart 1 - (second hand report)
No. Cardinal 4
RW Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 1
Am. Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 4.
-- August 26, 2012.
Sightings
With lowered temperatures, a dozen birders turned out for the regular Sunday
Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to
all. Some obvious migrants were the highlight today along with some of the
regulars made for a busy morning. We started off along the river's edge and
noted a Peregrine perched on the Wilson Bridge - maybe a local or maybe a
returning bird? Bald Eagles, Forster's and Caspian Terns on the mudflats
and a dozen Osprey flying all about. The vegetation at the southern edge of
the picnic area held at least 16 very active Orchard Orioles plus a few
Baltimores. And we spied a Northern Parula, American Redstart, and Yellow
and Prothonotary Warblers as well as Eastern Kingbirds. Purple Martins
still plied the skies over the boat ramp and nearby trees and a couple of
Barn Swallows were noted. Ramp Road produced small separate groups of Great
Crested Flycatchers and Cedar Waxwings. We saw a couple of Gray Catbirds at
the beginning of Haul Road and the clearing near Dead Beaver Beach produced
another redstart and a Trail's Flycatcher. As we turned down the dogleg a
brief song of a Common Yellowthroat added a fifth warbler to our list and
the boardwalk area produced an American Goldfinch nest with young. The trip
netted 54 species.
Before the Field Trip a visit to the Stone Bridge did not yield the
hoped-for Franklin's Gull but added Wood Duck, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs,
Semipalmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers to the day list. Another visit
at 6 pm added only Herring Gull.
Let me note that on Saturday I visited the Stone Bridge at 830, 1230 and
630pm to look for the Franklin's and netted goose egg. Consolation prize
was a Royal Tern at 830 - there is Caspian Tern in the area that
superficially resembles Royal, but Saturday's bird had the bill, the crown,
the brow, the underwing pattern and the height for Royal. This latter
species is rare at Dyke in August/September.
Today's total list is below.
C. Goose 6
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 36
DC Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 8
Osprey 12
Bald Eagle 4
Peregrine 1
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 6
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40
Least Sandpiper 3
L. Gull 200 (100 flycatching over the GW Parkway at 630pm)
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 1
Caspian Tern 10
Forster's Tern 10
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-thr Hum 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 7
Down WP 4
No. Flicker 1
E. Wood Pewee 2
Trail's Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
E. Kingbird 5
Red-eyed V 1 (a brief downward "zheer")
Blue Jay 4
Fish Cr 3
Purple Martin 12
Barn Sw 2
C. Chickadee 6
T.Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Am. Robin 6
Gray Catbird 5
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 80
Cedar Waxwing 3
No. Parula 1
Yellow 2 ( 1 at the Stone Bridge in the AM)
Am. Redstart 2
Prothonotary 1
Com. Yellowthroat 1
No. Cardinal 8
Indigo Bunting 3, pair at Dead Beaver Beach but no other signs
Red-winged BB 30
Com. Grackle 8
Orchard O 17, a wonderful spectacle for 10's of minutes!
Baltimore O 3
House Finch 1
Am. Goldfinch 7, NY
House Sp 2.
-- Kurt Gaskill, August 12, 2012.
Sightings
The strong breeze from the south kept the humid 80's bearable and 16 birders
turned out for the regular Sunday morning field trip to Dyke Marsh starting
at 8 am, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh and free to all comers. The
group was not disappointed as a very birdy day was had with many species
preparing for migration or moving through: the Cooper's Hawk being a fine
highlight as well as 3 Prothonotary Warblers, a Yellow Warbler and a
fantastic oriole show!
We started off at the riverfront in the picnic area noting the hatch year
Bald Eagle with 2 adults - probably from the nest in the steel pylon next to
the beltway! Osprey were flying this way and that - most were likely hatch
year birds becoming skilled in the art of fishing. We noted a few terns of
the Forster's and Caspian variety. The apartment complex nest (Osprey,
Purple Martin and House Sparrow) near the boat ramp was surrounded by a
cloud of martins - all ages could be viewed. Nearby we noted many Orchard
Orioles flying back and forth from the edge, into the woods and then over
our heads. A couple of Baltimore's joined in as well as a fresh young Great
Crested Flycatcher. Over the picnic area, 3 Cedar Waxwings flew out of the
woods and an Indigo Bunting held forth. Ramp Road produced a Yellow Warbler
high up and down below not one but 2 Prothonotary Warblers were found -
immature and adult female. Later, an adult male was noted near the beginning
of Haul Rd. I heard and briefly saw a waterthrush fly into the vicinity,
but not 100% on the ID, so it goes down as "spuh". The start of Haul Rd
added Hairy WP, another Great Crested, House Wren, a good look at Blue-gray,
catbirds, the Prothonotaries, and then the Cooper's! - afterwards all went
silent save for the local Eastern Wood Pewee.
The dogleg area brought out singing Common Yellowthroats, Song Sparrow, many
Eastern Kingbirds, and a Marsh Wren singing in the cattails. The regular
trip ended with 56 species - Ed and Miriam Eder noted a Lesser Yellowlegs
earlier at the Stone Bridge before the field trip. I went back at 530 pm
(before the rain) and pretty much noted the same birds as yesterday - Wood
Duck, Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least, Semipalmated and
Western peeps - which brought the day's list to 64 species. Below are the
estimated totals. See you next week!
C. Goose 20
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 30
DC Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 12
Bald Eagle 3
Cooper's Hawk 1
Killdeer 4
Greater Yellowlegs 10
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated peep 45
Western peep 1
Least peep 3
Laughing Gull 900
Ring-billed Gull 650
Forster's Tern 30-ish
Caspian Tern 9
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 4
Red-bellied WP 3
Downy WP 3
Hairy WP 1
No Flicker 1
E. Wood Pewee 2
Great Crested Fly 2
E. Kingbird 15
Red-eyed V 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 36
Tree Sw 2
Northern Rough-winged Sw 2
Barn Sw 6
C Chickadee 5
T Titmouse 2
White-br Nut 1
C Wren 8
H Wren 1
M Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnat 2
Am. Robin 3
Gray Catbird 3
No Mocker 1
E. Starling 30
Cedar Wax 3
waterthrush sp 1
Prothonotary 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Song Sp 1
No Cardinal 12
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged BB 8
Com Grackle 6
Orchard O 12
Baltimore O 2
House Finch 1
Am. Goldfinch 5
House Sp 8.
-- Kurt Gaskill, August 5, 2012.
Sightings
Ten birders joined us for a relatively cool and dry Sunday morning survey of
Dyke Marsh this morning. This survey, sponsored by Friends of Dyke Marsh,
meets every Sunday morning except during Christmas Bird counts at 8:00 at
the Belle Haven picnic area. A lot of summer species failed to make an
appearance. Highlight was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo on Haul Road. The list
follows. (A brief stop at 7:30 at the Stone Bridge added Forster's Tern.
There was also a flock of peeps flying around looking for someplace to feed
a three hours after high tide.)
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Jul 29, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
45 species.
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 30
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 4
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 10
Caspian Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 16
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 20
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 60
Common Grackle 2
Orchard Oriole 8
Baltimore Oriole 2
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 4.
-- Peter and Molly Ross, Arlington.
Sightings
Thirteen birders came out for the weekly bird walk at Dyke Marsh sponsored by
the Friends of Dyke Marsh. The walk meets every Sunday at 8:00 AM and is free
ans open to all. Today was gray and many of the birds were keeping fairly
quiet. However, we did manage to tally 52 bird species for the morning.
Highlights included families of Eastern Kingbirds and Orchard Orioles, a
cooperative Northern Parula and Indigo Bunting. Caspian and Forster's Terns,
and vocalizing Marsh Wrens. There were also many swallows in the area including
a flock of 40 Purple Martins hanging out on a tree near the platform at the end
of the boardwalk. There were a few butterflies around including Silver-spotted
Skippers and Black Swallowtails. We noticed that the trail along Haul Road had
significant flooding in a couple of spots.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Jul 22, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
52 species
Canada Goose 22
Mallard 30 1 baby duck
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 10
Osprey 7
Bald Eagle 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Ring-billed Gull 15
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 3
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 14
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
Eastern Kingbird 10
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Purple Martin 40
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 16
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 9
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Common Yellowthroat 4
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 18
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Orchard Oriole 8
Baltimore Oriole 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 25.
-- Larry Meade, Vienna, VA.
SightingsEleven people attended the weekly bird walk sponsored by Friends of Dyke Marsh.
It was a pretty birdy morning. One highlight was a least bittern that flew in
front of us just past the dogleg and landed in the marsh; a few minutes later
it popped up again for a few lucky viewers. We came across several flocks of
purple martins, a good number of orchard orioles, a very cooperative pair of
great-crested flycatchers that gave us great views (which was a rarity today),
and good numbers of eastern kingbirds. Lots of osprey were about, including
many young birds perched up on posts and snags waiting to be fed. We tallied 51
species, including a couple I saw prior to the walk. Here is the complete list:
Canada Goose – 150 (covering the picnic area)
American Black Duck - 1
Mallard - 25
Least Bittern - 1
Great Blue Heron -12
Great Egret - 19
Green Heron - 2
Osprey - 24
Bald Eagle - 3
Killdeer -2
Ring-billed Gull - 4
Caspian Tern - 8
Forster's Tern - 4
Rock Pigeon - 2
Mourning Dove - 8
Chimney Swift - 18
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 8
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 4
Fish Crow - 8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3
Purple Martin - 28
Tree Swallow - 6
Barn Swallow - 15
Carolina Chickadee - 10
Tufted Titmouse - 8
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Carolina Wren - 10
House Wren - 1
Marsh Wren - 2
American Robin - 14
Gray Catbird - 3
Northern Mockingbird - 2
European Starling - 75
Common Yellowthroat - 3
Yellow Warbler - 1
Northern Cardinal - 14
Indigo Bunting - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 25
Common Grackle - 16
Orchard Oriole - 8
House Finch - 10
American Goldfinch - 4
House Sparrow – 8.
-- Marc Ribaudo, Woodbridge, July 15, 2012.
Sightings
Five hearty souls came out for the regular Sunday Field Trip to Dyke Marsh,
open to all comers. Starting at 8am the temperature was about 80F rising to
the low 90's when we ended at 1130. Highlight was a young Canvasback - it
appears to be in juvenile plumage and changing - most unusual. Also noted
was a single American Black Duck - not one white feather or partial on it.
Curiously, no sign of the Tundra Swan. A fine showing of Great Egrets
signaling their arrival to our area from northern breeding locations. Two
adult Bald Eagles were accompanied by a hatch year bird. And the Ospreys
were quite active and it appears most of the birds-of-the-years have
fledged, albeit to nearby locations. The larids were mainly Ring-billed
Gulls but a few Caspian Terns were about, one with a trailing juvie crying
out with its shrill high pitched call behind the adult. We did reasonably
well with the passerines with nearly all the regulars noted down Haul Road -
hummers, pewees, a young Eastern Phoebe on the dogleg, several Eastern
Kingbirds including one still on nest near the boat ramp Osprey nest (that
sports one last juvies, Purple Martins and House Sparrows underneath), a
single Warbling Vireo noted undera Yellow Warbler on the dogleg, the full
complement of local swallows, Marsh Wrens singing out in the marsh, a few
Common Yellowthroats, several Indigo Buntings, juvie Brown-headed Cowbirds
bouncing in the picnic area grass, family groups of Orchard and Baltimore
Orioles and young House Finch. The field trip netted 53 species - Russ and
Sally Taylor noted Least Sandpipers and a Killdeer from the Stone Bridge
before the field trip and later today at 6 pm I found 2 Greater Yellowlegs
and 6 Laughing Gulls from this same locations which makes the day's tally 57
species, with tallies noted below.
C. Goose 210
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 64
Canvasback 1
DC Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 18
Great Egret 12
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 14+
Bald Eagle 3
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Least Sandpiper 10
L. Gull 6
RB Gull 70
Caspian Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 20, most came out when it got hot near the end of the trip
RT Hummer 2
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 2
E. Wood Pewee 2
E. Phoebe 1
E. Kingbird 7
Warbling V 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 6
Tree Sw 4
No. Rough-winged Sw 4
Barn Sw 12
C. Chickadee 4
T. Titmouse 4
White-br Nuthatch 2
C. Wren 6
M. Wren 2
BG Gnatcatcher 1
Am. Robin 15
Gray Catbird 2
No. Mockingbird 1
E. Starling 50
No. Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Com. Yellowthroat 3
Song Sp 3
No. Cardinal 12
Indigo Bunting 4
RW Blackbird 20
Com. Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orchard O 10
Balto O 3
House Finch 6
Am. Goldfinch 3
House Sp 4.
-- Kurt Gaskill, July 8, 2012.
Sightings
It was family day at Dyke marsh this morning. Bird families that is! Nine
people came out for the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh sponosred by the Friends of
Dyke Marsh and free to all. The walk meets every Sunday at 8:00 AM. Our first
family was a group of Orchard Orioles. They were high in a tree in the picnic
area with a male singing and a female feeding a fledgling. Soon after this, a
group of Great-crested Flycatchers showed up in the same area and put on a nice
show for us. At the marina we watched "the condominium" with three Ospreys
living in the top of the nest and Purple Martins and House Sparrows in the
bottom. Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers and a Baltimore Oriole serenaded us as
we made our way in the heat to the end of the boardwalk on Haul Road. Here we
watched a family of Eastern Kingbirds fying around and feeding young birds. 47
species total were tallied.
Good Birding!
Larry Meade.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Jul 1, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.2 mile(s)
47 species
Canada Goose 200
Mallard 14
Great Blue Heron 8
Great Egret 5
Osprey 9
Ring-billed Gull 25
Caspian Tern 2
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
Eastern Kingbird 7
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 18
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 16
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Orchard Oriole 6
Baltimore Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 15
House Sparrow 8.
Sightings
Nine people came out for the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh sponsored by the Friends
of Dyke Marsh and free to all. The walks meets every Sunday at 8:00 AM. The
highlight of this trip had to be an Osprey eating a Snakehead Fish in the
marina. We first saw the Osprey laboriously flying around with a weird looking
fish in its talons. When it landed on a tree we got a better look and guessed
that the fish was a Snakehead. A bit of quick research on a smartphone
confirmed it. You can see some photos of the Osprey along with several of my
other recent bird photos from other locations here:
http://uberlarry.smugmug.com/Birds/Recent-Bird-Photos/1398269_z37gDP#!i=19244
65388&k=JQ3R8XT
Other sights and sounds at Dyke Marsh this morning included both Oriole
species, an Ovenbird heard in the woods, a couple of Caspian Terns on a sandbar
in the river, a Spotted Sandpiper seen flying away near the platform at the end
of the boardwalk, Yellow Warblers, and several species of butterflies and
dragonflies. 49 bird species were tallied in all.
-- Larry Meade,
Vienna, VA.
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Jun 24, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:05 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
49 species
Canada Goose 50
Mallard 35
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 18
Great Egret 12
Osprey 8
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 16
Herring Gull 10
Caspian Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 20
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 12
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 12
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 13.
Sightings
Three birders joined us for the weekly walking survey of Dyke Marsh (Haul
Road) and the Belle Haven picnic area, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke
Marsh, starting 47 minutes after high tide. This walk is held every Sunday
of the year, except during Christmas Bird Counts; it meets at 8:00 at the
Belle Haven picnic area, and all are welcome. The weather was gorgeous,
the birding a herald of the summer doldrums. Highlights were a Wood Duck
hen with four ducklings in tow in the Potomac and the Purple Martins
hanging around the Osprey nest at the marina. Here is the list:
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Jun 17, 2012 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
41 species
Canada Goose 80
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 30
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 6
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Purple Martin 6
Tree Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 4
Marsh Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
American Robin 20
European Starling 30
Northern Parula 2
Yellow Warbler 5
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 26
Orchard Oriole 8
Baltimore Oriole 2
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 10.
A stop at the Stone Bridge, exactly at high tide, added only 3 Great Egrets
and our resident Tundra Swan.
-- Peter and Molly Ross, Arlington, VA.
Sightings
Eight birders attended the weekly walk at Dyke Marsh,
sponsored by the Friends
of Dyke Marsh. It was a beautiful morning, and we finished
before the heat set
in. For the most part birding was rather slow-paced. Some
species were calling
attention to themselves but many are busy with nestlings rather
than doing a
lot of singing. We did find some really good birds, however. Off
the picnic
area was a juvenile canvasback. Who knows where it came
from. A black-bellied
plover was on the sandbar off Hunting Towers. While we were
one the boardwalk a
least bittern flew overhead, crossed the channel and landed in
the southern
marsh. A nice sighting, pointed out by Larry Cartwright, was an
easily viewed,
eye-level yellow warbler nest with at least 3 young. We
watched as the male
visited with a beakful of insects, singing without missing a beat.
We also heard one marsh wren. We tallied 51 species in all.
Here is the list:
Canada goose 250
tundra swan 1 (continuing on)
wood duck 1
mallard 30
canvasback 1
least bittern 1
great blue heron 17
great egret 5
osprey 14
bald eagle 1
black-bellied plover 1
killdeer 1
ring-billed gull 9
mourning dove 3
chimney swift 5
belted kingfisher 1
red-bellied woodpecker 3
downy woodpecker 4
eastern wood-pewee 1
eastern phoebe 1
great crested flycatcher 1
eastern kingbird 6
warbling vireo 3
red-eyed vireo 1
blue jay 3
fish crow 6
northern rough-winged swallow 2
purple martin 12 (building nests under the osprey nest in the
marina)
tree swallow 2
barn swallow 7
Carolina chickadee 8
tufted titmouse 6
white-breasted nuthatch 5
Carolina wren 10
marsh wren 1
blue-gray gnatcatcher 1
American robin 10
northern mockingbird 1
European starling 10
yellow warbler 6
common yellowthroat 2
song sparrow 2
northern cardinal 8
indigo bunting 1
red-winged blackbird 20
common grackle 14
brown-headed cowbird 2
orchard oriole 3
house finch 4
American goldfinch 8
house sparrow 8.
-- Marc Ribaudo, Woodbridge, June 10, 2012.
Sightings
Was my day to lead... and a beautiful day it was. Cool temps in the
morning did not rise all that fast and 16 or so birders turned out for
the regular walk starting at 8a.m. and ending at whenever. We mixed
and mingled w. Larry Cartwright's Breeding Bird Censusing Crew
throughout the morning and got a look at a few good birds.
A singing EASTERN WOOD PEWEE greeted the early arrivers in the south
parking lot. We were later told of one carrying food, possibly to an
incubating female. We saw and heard one GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER as it
moved around the picnic area. Scope views of the "power tower" BALD
EAGLE nest revealed one adult (tending to one chick I saw later from a
closer vantage point). OSPREYS are everywhere and the nest at the
marina boat launch now has PURPLE MARTINS nesting right under the
Osprey nest (as well as HOUSE SPARROWS) one flight down. WARBLING
VIREOS near the marina rest room and further down Haul Road on the
peninsula. Our group was able to confirm REDBELLIED WOODPECKERS
bringing food to young in a cavity just off the marina road. One LEAST
BITTERN put in a brief appearance as we stood on the last platform and
as we headed back in, we watched a male and female YELLOW WARBLER
forage together just off the boardwalk about halfway between the
platforms. Screech Owls have either fledged young or the nest failed
as we have not seen or heard them for maybe two weeks now....After the
walk, I went up to the Stone Bridge and added GREAT EGRET, CASPIAN
TERN, RB GULL to the list and located our pet TUNDRA SWAN on the inlet
near the golf course... Complete list follows...
C Goose 100
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard Duckies 10
DC Corms only 1
Least Bittern 1
GB Heron 3
Great Egret 6
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey (counting babies) 18
Bald Eagle (oneAd+oneimm) 2
RB Gull 18
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift only 1
RT Hummingbird 1
RedBellied WP 7
Downy WP 7
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
GreatCr Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
Warbling Vireo 5
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 8
Car. Chickadees 10
Tufted Titmouse 10
WhiteBreasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 6
Marsh Wren 1
BG Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 28
Euro Stars more than enuf
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 3
Song Sparrow 2 (one singing in Marina,
one in vicinity of first platform)
No Cards 18
Indigo Buntings 3
RW Blackbird 40
Common Gracks 12
Orchard Oriole 4
Baltimore Orioles 3
Am Goldenfinches 6
House Sparrow 6.
-- Rich Rieger, Alexandria, June 3, 2012.
Sightings
I ventured down to Dyke Marsh to work on the breeding bird survey at sunrise
only to find a few hours later that we were leaderless for the Sunday
morning walk. So Bob Beard and I took on the role as leaders. Unfortunately
I didn't have a checklist with me, so today's list is a creation from
memory. And most of the highlights were breeding related since that is why I
was there.
Highlights included a pair of Purple Martins checking out a nest box at the
end of the marina (no nesting material) and recently-hatched Osprey
nestlings at the marina nest beside the boat launch. Before the walk I found
a Northern Parula singing in the north picnic area where a nest had been
discovered last week. Both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles are in full
breeding mode and a pair of Cedar Waxwings appeared to be checking out
potential nest locations near the bridge on the Haul Road peninsula. Two
male Yellow Warblers appeared to be engaged in a territorial dispute and a
recently fledged chickadee was being fed by its parents. In non-breeding
news, the Ring-necked Duck seems to have been replaced by a Lesser Scaup.
Canada Goose 87 (including 2 breeding pairs with 3
goslings and 1 pair with a single gosling -precocial young- PY)
Mallard 63 (including a hen with 6 1
week-old ducklings and a hen with 7 ducklings a few days old- PY)
Lesser Scaup 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 14 (including 2 recently
hatched nestlings in marina nest- Nest with Young- NY)
Red-tailed Hawk 1 (before official walk)
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Ring-billed Gull 1 (few gulls- high tide)
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 6
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 7
Warbling Vireo 8
Blue Jay 5
Fish Crow 6
Crow sp 2
Purple Martin 2 (investigating nest box at end
of marina)
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 7 (including fledged young being fed
by parents- FY)
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 7
Marsh Wren 1
American Robin 15 (nest building-NB, on nest- ON)
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 30
Cedar Waxwing 2 (possibly investigating nest
sites)
Northern Parula 3 (ON)
Yellow Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 (north picnic area before walk)
American Redstart 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 20
Indigo Bunting 5 (all on Haul Road)
Red-winged Blackbird 30 (including birds carrying food- CF
and fecal sacs- FS)
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orchard Oriole 7 (ON)
Baltimore Oriole 5 (ON)
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 4 (including a pair nesting in the
base of the marina Osprey nest!).
-- Larry Cartwright, May 20, 2012.
Sightings
A fine Mothers Day at Dyke Marsh, Alexandria. Sixteen or so birders
wound thru the environs of Dyke Marsh this morning, starting around
8am and finishing up just before noon. The weather was shirt sleeve
perfect w. a slight breeze that kept us in comfortable temps
throughout the walk. Hit 50 species today but missed a few "gimmies" -
hard to imagine a spring day w/o a Red-eyed Vireo!
We were greeted in the parking lot by two singing EASTERN WOOD PEE-A-
WEES that provided fine scope views as they were posted up on bare
branches. BALDy type EAGLES and mucho OSPREYS dotted the bayscape,
punctuated by CANADA GEESE, one lone RINGNECKEed DUCK and our
everpresent, omnipotent TUNDRA SWAN. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS flitted about
and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS played hide and seek in the treetops.
Increasing leafiness kept us from getting a good look at the Eastern
Screech Owl abode but ORIOLES of both types kept us entertained on our
stroll down Haul Road. Ferrets on Leashes appeared - a first for many
on the hike - and two types of SKINKS - Five Striped and one
unidentified - were sunning themselves on the wooden bridge by the
Little Gut.
Here's the list... Rich Rieger
C. Goose 20
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard (some w. babes) 12
RingNeck Duck 1
DC Corm (just) 1 !
GB Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 12
Bald Eagle 2Ad, 2imm
RedTail Hawk 1
yellowlegs (sp) 1
Spotted Sandpiper 5
RB Gull 30
MoDo 2
YB Cuckoo 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red belly Wp 4
Downy WP 2
Eastern WoodPeewee 4
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 6
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 10
No. Rough Wing Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 4
Car. Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 4
BlueGrayish Gnatcatcher 4
Robins 12
Gray Catbird 1
Blue Catbird 1
No. Mockingbird 1 (Larry C... saw one right where
bike path crosses
Marina Rd)
Euro Stars x
Cedar Waxwings 5
No. Parulas 4
Yellow Warbler 4
Yellow Rumps 2
Blackpolls 7
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
No. card 6
Indigo Bunting 2
RW Blackbird 30
C. Grackle 14
Orchard Oriole 12
Baltimore Oriole 6
House Finch 2
Am. Goldfinch 8
House sparrow 6.
-- May 13, 2012.
Sightings
Approximately 14 birders, many of them neophytes, joined us this foggy
morning for the weekly survey of Dyke Marsh. This walk, sponsored by
Friends of Dyke Marsh, is held every Sunday of the year, except during
Christmas Bird Counts; it meets at 8:00 at the Belle Haven picnic area, and
all are welcome.
Other than Blackpoll Warblers, passage migrants were scare. The highlight
of the morning was the chance to observe three oriole nests in a single
tree along Haul Road, two in early construction, to the delight of Larry
Cartwright, tireless breeding bird surveyor of Dyke Marsh.
Canada Goose 6
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 2
Ring-necked Duck 1
Lesser Scaup 1
Double-crested Cormorant 18
Great Blue Heron 2
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 10
Ring-billed Gull 6
Mourning Dove 4
Eastern Screech-Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 8
Warbling Vireo 8
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 4
crow sp. 8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 12
Tree Swallow 8
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 8
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 30
Common Yellowthroat 10
Northern Parula 6
Yellow Warbler 10
Blackpoll Warbler 8
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 4
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Common Grackle 60
Orchard Oriole 14
Baltimore Oriole 4
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 6.
An early stroll up the bike path and a brief stop at the Stone Bridge (90
minutes before high tide) added 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 8 Caspian Terns,
4 Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-tailed Hawk, and our resident Tundra Swan.
-- Peter and Molly Ross,
Arlington, May 6, 2012.
Sightings
Wonderful blue skies, slight breeze from the north and initially cool
temperatures met the participants to the regular Sunday Field Trip to Dyke
Marsh, sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh (see website at www.fodm.org,
esp. to learn about proposals by NPS to address Dyke Marsh's extraordinary
decay) and open to all. The birds were not extremely cooperative, but the
group got a few good looks in. Highlight was the large numbers of Spotted
Sandpipers - we started off looking at a group of 5 flying in front of us
and saw others whenever we were at the water's edge - I tallied eleven
conservatively but one could easily had argued for 20. Also wonderful was
the swallow spectacle - about 100 off the picnic area and most were Barn
with a few Tree and Northern Rough-winged thrown in for good measure. At the
end of Haul Road we kept seeing swallows flying past us going south to north
- probably the huge groups locked into the bays to our south and now that
the front has passed and weather conditions were better these birds
continued their northward movement. Mixed in were a few Bank and at least
one Cliff. The waterfowl situation off the picnic area was seasonally good
- a male Ring-necked Duck was close to shore, a pair of Blue-winged Teals
were mixed in with some Mallards off the mudflats. (Earlier I noted a pair
of Wood Ducks on Pipeline Bay.) When we reached the end of Haul Rd, Larry
Cartwright spots a flying Red-breasted Merganser in his scope and the bird
proceeding to fly past us - nice! Of course the now year-long lingering
Tundra Swan continued to hold forth off Hunting Creek. And a flock of Cedar
Waxwings in the marina delighted all.
Warblers and orioles were not so cooperative along Haul Rd yet along the
dogleg everyone got on first a Baltimore and than an Orchard in the same
tree (curiously, holding nests of both last year!). A Blue Jay carrying
food flew past the orioles, implying a second nest nearby (the first is in
the picnic area). Warbling Vireos were singing along the edge and then the
pair came over to the same Sycamore holding the orioles and we quickly found
the little sprites. In spring these songsters are not nearly as dull as
they get by June or July - both had a wash of yellow on the lower breast and
abdomen. The marsh produced the first Marsh Wren of the season, singing
buried in the cattails. A nearby Yellow Warbler showed itself well and a
Common Yellowthroat returned to a favored spot near the trail. Red-winged
Blackbirds were wasting not time as 2 were spotted nest building in the
marsh. We ended the trip with 64 species - my early morning visit down the
Hike-bike Trail produced Prothonotary Warblers at the traditional spots
where the trail crossed the Big Gut on a wooden bridge and near Pipeline Bay
plus a the Wood Duck pair at the same bay; after the field trip a visit to
the Stone Bridge added Greater Yellowlegs and Great Black-backed Gulls. The
list is below.
C. Goose 18 plus 5 goslings
Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 2, pair
Mallard 16 plus 2 ducklings (2-3 wks old)
Blue-winged Teal 2, pair
Ring-necked Duck 1, male
RB Merganser 1, female
DC Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 4
Osprey 8+
Bald Eagle 2, nest on metal beltway pylon still a going affair
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 9
Lesser Yellowlegs 14
Spotted Sandpiper 11
L. Gull 70, groups passing back and forth all day
Bonaparte's Gull 2, on the mudflats early am
Ring-billed Gull 35
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Caspian Tern 80
Mourning Dove 5
C. Swift 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied WP 4
Downy WP 3
Hairy WP 1
No. Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
E. Kingbird 3
Warbling V 5 (and, curiously, no other vireos!)
Blue Jay 17, about a dozen migrating north and CF
Fish Crow 5, silent in the picnic area where the nest is located
Tree Sw 25
No. Rough-winged Sw 10
Bank Sw 2
Cliff Sw 1
Barn Sw 100
C. Chickadee 3
T. Titmouse 7
White-br Nuthatch 1
C. Wren 5
M. Wren 1
RC Kinglet 1
BG Gnatcatcher 3
Am. Robin 20, nest building, CF, etc.
Gray Catbird 2
E. Starling 8
No. Parula 2 (sorry , old tax order)
Yellow Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-thr Green Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 2
No. Waterthrush 1
Com. Yellowthroat 5
E. Towhee 3
Song Sp 4
White-thr Sp 12
No. Cardinal 12
Red-winged BB 20 NB
Com. Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orchard O 5
Baltimore O 4
House Finch 5
Am. Goldfinch 4
House Sp 3+.
-- Kurt Gaskill, April 29, 2012.
Sightings
I led the Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh today. Because of the parkway
closure, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was a bit chilly, dark
and windy at times, but the rain held off until the end. A female mallard had 6
fluffy yellow chicks. Orchard Orioles were plentiful, with 2 or 3 first summer
males, singing. 3 Common Loons were seen flying north up the river.
Happy Earth Day!
Phil Kenny --
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA,
Apr 22, 2012 7:45 AM - 10:15 AM.
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Weekly walk sponsored by Friends of Dyke Marsh.
45 species -
Canada Goose 20
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard 25
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Common Loon 3
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 2
Osprey 6
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 30 2 flocks flying high overhead, heard and seen
Ring-billed Gull 20
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 25
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 7
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 12
Cedar Waxwing 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Parula 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard Oriole 6
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 4.
Sightings
I think the Dyke Marsh walkers peaked out around 18 birders this
morning as some came and some went throughout the morning. SCREECH
OWLS continue along Haul Road and this morning everyone got to see the
Gray Morph thru a scope. Very cooperative as it stayed perched in the
cavity entrance. Must be EASTERN TOWHEE week as we tallied 2 or 3 in
the picnic area and another 6 or 7 as we strolled down Haul Road.
LAUGHING GULLS were out in force with many groups of 20 - 30 flying
over -mostly headed south. One BALD EAGLE was viewed thru the scope at
the nest on the power pole just inside the beltway. Posture indicated
that it was feeding a chick or chicks in the nest, so we will continue
to monitor that site. Two NORTHERN PARULAS singing in the picnic area
were the only warblers today. The group saw two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
and another slipped by, seen by only one person.
Be on the lookout Tuesday, as the space shuttle DISCOVERY, will be
flown in to Dulles on the back of a 747. Due to leave Kennedy Space
Center around 7a.m., the shuttle will be visible over DC around 10am
on a "victory lap" before touching down. Tentative flight plan is up
the Potomac over National airport and the mall at 1500' then on to
Dulles. More info available on the Smithsonian website.
List of 41 species for today follows...
C GOOSE - 16
WOOD DUCK - 4
MALLARD 12
RB MERGANSER 5
PB GREBE 2
DC CORMS 48
GB HERON 2
BLACK VULTURE 1
OSPREY 8
BALD EAGLE 1
COOPERS HAWK 1
SP. SANDPIPER 3
LAUGHING GULL 200
RB GULL 20
CASPIAN TERN 8
ROCK PIGEON 8
MO DO 12
E. SCREECH OWL 1
RB WOODPECKER 12
DOWNY WP 2
BLUE JAY 5
AM CROW 1
FISH CROW 4
TREE SWALLOW 15
BARN SWALLOW 1
CAR CHICKS 2
TUFTED TITMOUSE 2
CAROLINA WREN 4
BG GNATCATCHER 6
AM ROBIN 26
EURO STARS 5
NO. PARULA 2
E. TOWHEE 10
WTH. SPARROW 8
NO CARDINAL 10
RW BLACKBIRD 30
RUSTY BLACKBIRD 2
COMM GRACKLE 1
BH COWBIRD 2
AM GOLDFINCH 8
HOUSE SPARROW 4.
-- Rich Rieger, Alexandria, April 15, 2012.
Sightings
A delightful spring day at Dyke Marsh with about a dozen arriving for the
regular Sunday field trip; a bit chilly at first but warming nicely at the
end. Highlights were the long continuing Tundra Swan, a Common Loon landing
in Hunting Creek Bay as we watched Bonaparte's Gulls, Peregrine Falcon
perched on a Wilson Bridge abutment, good size movements of DC Cormorants,
Laughing Gulls and Caspian Terns, the 3 typical swallows, and Eastern
Bluebird flying over the picnic area (a bit late to be a migrant?), Palm
Warbler singing high in a tree along Haul Rd, and several singing Swamp
Sparrows. And the Bald Eagle nest on the power pylon near the beltway is
still progressing. The list of 54 species is below. The next two weeks (if
the weather cooperates!) will open the big start of the spring migrant push.
Come on down and enjoy!
C. Goose 6
Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 8
Bufflehead 3
RB Merganser 6
Common Loon 1
DC Cormorant 90
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 1, already molting
Osprey 10, at least 5 nests in view
Bald Eagle 1+ nest
Peregrine Falcon 1, is it nesting under the Wilson Bridge?
Am. Coot 1, just one?
L. Gull 110, several groups flying overhead, calling...
Bonaparte's Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 200
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Caspian Tern 52 - late pm count, amazing how this species just pours through
Mourning Dove 3
E. Screech Owl 1
Chimney Swift 1
Belted Kingfisher 1, early am bird found by Larry Cartwright et al
Red-bellied WP 3
Downy WP 2
No. Flicker 1
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 6, nice big nest in a Zelkovia tree
Tree Sw 15 or more
No. Rough-winged Sw 4
Barn Sw 2
C. Chickadee 6
T. Titmouse 12
White-br Nuthatch 1
C. Wren 10
RC Kinglet 2 (4 early by L.C.)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, starting a bit slow this year - I am sure this will
change in just a day or two
E. Bluebird 1
Am. Robin 12
E. Starling 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 1
Field Sp 1
Song Sp 5
Swamp Sp 5
White-thr Sp 7
No. Cardinal 10
Red-winged BB 50
Com. Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 3
Am. Goldfinch 9
House Sp 4.
--- Kurt Gaskill, April 8, 2012.
Sightings
Must be spring! 22 walkers (more or less) were hosted by the Friends
of Dyke Marsh on today's walk. We saw some good birds and some very
good birds.
Top bird of the day was a LITTLE BLUE HERON that was perched in a
tree, found as we approached the last platform on the peninsula. Great
scope looks and then it flew down the channel and foraged for a bit
before flying off (across?) the river.
Second bird would probably be the EASTERN SCREECH OWL that Larry
Cartwright had located while doing a run for the Breeding Bird Survey.
Near where the family was found last year at the beginning of Haul
Road, a gray morph was perched in the opening of a cavity where it
stayed for a good 10 minutes, allowing nice looks for all of a life
bird for about 10 of the attendees.
We tallied 54 species for the walk and four more after the crowd broke
up. Kurt Gaskill and I grabbed a sandwich at the Italian Deli in
Bellhaven Shopping Center and went back to the picnic area of Dyke to
eat. Kurt picked up a pair of LONG TAILED DUCKS out in the river that
eventually flew over VA waters. We watched a PEREGRINE FALCON on the
Woodrow Wilson bridge, wondering if there might be a nesting pair.
BALD EAGLES were seen on the power line pole just inside the beltway
by the RT 1 south ramp, confirming a still active nest on the pole.
Then we found 2 RED BREASTED MERGS swimming near the picnic area that
we did not see at the beginning of the walk.
List follows:
C Goose - 20
Tundra Swan 1 (one year and counting)
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 20
Longtailed Duck 2
RedBr. Merg 2
Ruddy Duck 4
Common Loon 1
PB Grebe 2
DC Corm 30
GB Heron 1
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 12
Bald Eagle 2
Red Sh. Hawk 1
Red Tail Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 (not in VA)
Laughing Gull 30
Bonapartes Gull 30
RB Gull 80
Herring Gull 6
Lesser BLBACK 1
Gr BLBACK Gull 2
Caspian Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 6
MoDo 4
East SC OWL 1
Chimney Swift 4
Belt. Kingfisher 1
RedBelly WP 5
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 2
Blue Jay 6
Am. Crow 1
Fish Crow 4
Tree Swallow 25
No RoughWing 1
Barn Swallow 4
Car. Chick. 6
Tufted Titmouse 6
WB Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 4
RC Kinglet 2
BlueGray Gnats 2
Am. Robin 16
Brown Thrasher 1
Towhee 1
Chippppping Sp 1
Field Sp 2
Song Sp 3
Swamp Sp 1
WhiteThroat Sp 12
Junco 8
No Cardinal 12
RW Blackbird 40
Cowbird 1
Am Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 6.
-- Rich Rieger, Alexandria, April 1, 2012
Sightings
Six birders joined me this morning for the Dyke Marsh survey. This walk is
held every Sunday of the year, except during Christmas Bird Counts; it
meets at 8:00 at the Belle Haven picnic area, and all are welcome. Weather
was seasonal--overcast and cool. Highlights were two flocks of
Red-breasted Mergansers flying north low over the Potomac; a singing Winter
Wren in the picnic area; FOS (for most of us) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; and at
least one Horned Grebe well into breeding plumage. The list (the swan was
actually at the Stone Bridge, and 13 of the 14 Horned Grebe were observed
only by Kurt Gaskill).
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 25, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: High tide
40 species
Canada Goose 15
Tundra Swan 1
Mallard 16
Red-breasted Merganser 60
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 14
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 1
American Coot 2
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 0
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 20
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 8
Winter Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 40
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 20
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
American Goldfinch 8.
Peter Ross,
Arlington.
Sightings
We led the Sunday morning walk at Dyke Marsh today, free to all every Sunday
at 0800 sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh. Was cool most of the
morning with some fog and light drizzle early.
Horned Grebes put on a nice show including one in full breeding plumage less
than 2 feet off the shoreline in the picnic area. Northern Rough-winged and
Barn Swallows, Caspian Terns were also found. Wood Ducks were seen checking
out a possible nest hole which was a treat to all.
Glenn Koppel and Mary Alice Koeneke
gjkoppel AT cox.net
Centreville, VA
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 7:39 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Belle Haven--Picnic Area, Mar 18, 2012
Belle Haven--Picnic Area, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 18, 2012 7:38 AM - 9:20 AM
Canada Goose 10
Tundra Swan 1
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 6
Common Merganser 2
Horned Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 3
Bald Eagle 1
American Coot 1
Ring-billed Gull 5
Caspian Tern 2
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow 4
crow sp. 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 9
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 7
Cedar Waxwing 3
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Sparrow 6.
Dyke Marsh - CMN02, Fairfax, US-VA
Mar 18, 2012 9:20 AM - 11:10 AM.
SightingsTwelve people remembered to set their clocks ahead and attended the weekly bird
walk sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh. We listed 52 species. Waterfowl
off the picnic area were scarce, but we did see a horned grebe, the
now-resident tundra swan, a greater scaup and a ruddy duck (common merganser
and lesser scaup seen afterwards). Three bald eagles were sitting off Jones
Point. A nice find in the picnic area was a brown creeper that appeared on a
tree very close to the group, affording great views. In the marina we watched
an osprey pair on the nesting platform, with a third trying to break up the
party. Two pied billed grebes were tucked away along the shore and a coot was
walking on the shore. A singing winter wren greeted us at the start of the
trail. The rest of the trail was pretty quiet. We ran into several groups of
song sparrows, a few white-throats, and a single swamp sparrow. We heard rusty
blackbirds in the woods close to the parkway. There were 4 tree swallows over
the marsh, and 2 wood duck flushed out of the marsh. A single bluebird flew
overhead. After walking back to the parking several of the group were able to
find 2 fox sparrows in the brushy area at the edge of the picnic area.
Here is the list:
Canada goose 12
tundra swan 1
wood duck 2
mallard 10
greater scaup 1
lesser scaup 1
common merganser 2
ruddy duck 1
pied-billed grebe 3
horned grebe 1
double-crested cormorant 3
great blue heron 3
black vulture 1
turkey vulture 3
osprey 5
bald eagle 5
red-tailed hawk 1
American coot 1
ring-billed gull 50
herring gull 2
great black-backed gull 2
mourning dove 1
belted kingfisher 1
red-bellied woodpecker 10
downy woodpecker 10
northern flicker 4
blue jay 4
American crow 2
fish crow 10
tree swallow 4
carolina chickadee 14
tufted titmouse 8
white-breasted nuthatch 3
brown creeper 1
carolina wren 12
winter wren 2
eastern bluebird 1
American robin 8
European starling 12
eastern towhee 1
fox sparrow 2
song sparrow 22
swamp sparrow 2
white-throated sparrow 8
dark-eyed junco 12
northern cardinal 10
red-winged blackbird 25
rusty blackbird 2
common grackle 3
house finch 2
American goldfinch 2
house sparrow 4.
-- Marc Ribaudo, March 11, 2012.
SightingsEight people joined me today for a rather pleasant edition of the Sunday
morning Dyke Marsh Bird Walk. Waterfowl diversity is low, and has been most
of the winter, but we did get some nice contrasting views of Common and
Red-breasted Mergansers in the inlet south of the Haul Road peninsula. A
probable male Sharp-shinned Hawk perched low in a small tree along the
peninsula and gave nice looks for the group. A few sparrows, including a
Fox Sparrow, are beginning to push through.( I had three Fox Sparrows below
my feeders at my Annandale home today. The first was seen last Thursday.) A
cooperative Hairy Woodpecker foraged at eye level just south of the opening
that we call Dead Beaver Beach. All in all, a nice day for both beginning
and experienced birders.
The complete list.
Canada Goose 1050
Tundra Swan 2
American Black Duck 14
Mallard 175
Bufflehead 1
Common Merganser 6
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1 (Stone Bridge at Hunting Creek)
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 400
Herring Gull 14
Great Black-backed Gull 17
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 16
Tufted Titmouse 16
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
Carolina Wren 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 3
European Starling 10
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 25
White-throated Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 23
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 2.
-- Larry Cartwright, February 26, 2012.
Sightings
The weekly Friends of Dyke Marsh walk was pretty quiet but the 8 of us
enjoyed the nice morning. Waterfowl diversity was very low. Not even one
buffelhead... One early Tree Swallow flew past near the boat launch area, as
did a Merlin.
Here is the list as I recall it:
Canada goose - 300 NB no sign of the Greater White-fronted Goose or hybrid
reported earlier;
tundra swan - 2
mallard - 12
black duck 1
lesser scaup 3
ring-necked duck 1
pied-billed grebe - 4
great blue heron - 6
bald eagle - 1
merlin (flyby near the boat ramps)
ring-billed gull - 60
herring gull - 1
great black-backed gull - 15
mourning dove - 4
red-bellied woodpecker - 9
downy woodpecker - 4
hairy woodpecker - 2
northern flicker - 3
blue jay - 6
American crow - 4
fish crow - 20
carolina chickadee - 8
tufted titmouse -6
white-breasted nuthatch - 1
carolina wren - 10
winter wren - 2
American robin - 15
european starling - 12
song sparrow - 25
white-throated sparrow - 25
northern cardinal - 14
red-winged blackbird - 20
American goldfinch - 4
ruby-crowned kinglet 1
tree swallow (flyby at the boat ramps)
house sparrow - 3
common grackle -15.
-- Bob Beard, February 19, 2012.
Sightings
Well, the cold and wind deterred nearly all birders for showing up for the
Friends of Dyke Marsh Field Trip today - and who can blame them? I used the
opportunity to checked the river from the picnic area, the marina, the Stone
Bridge and Pipeline Bay (all relatively close to my car) for a total of
about an hour. Highlights of the 29 species were 7 Great Egrets huddled
next to Hunting Creek west of the Stone Bridge; the water in this area is
fed by the Alexandria sewage treatment plant which I am sure helps bring
some food "to the table" for the egrets. Also noted was a nice sized flock
of 30 Rusty Blackbirds in the grass along the parkway. Nothing else very
notable, although 7 Bald Eagles (5 adults) on the extensive, windblown,
low-tide riverside mudflats were easily seen; not surprising as there are 3
nests within 2 miles of the picnic area.
-- Kurt Gaskill, February 12, 2012.
Sightings
The weekly Friends of Dyke Marsh walk was pretty quiet this morning. The two
participants and I tallied only 37 species. Waterfowl diversity was very low.
Woodpeckers put on a nice show. One interesting sighting prior to the walk was
a bald eagle carrying nesting material flying south along the GW Parkway just
north of the Riverside picnic area.
Here is the list:
Canada goose 400
tundra swan 2
mallard 12
bufflehead 1
common merganser 6
pied-billed grebe 2
great blue heron 6
great egret 2
bald eagle 1
red-shouldered hawk 1
ring-billed gull 60
herring gull 30
great black-backed gull 20
mourning dove 4
belted kingfisher 1
red-bellied woodpecker 9
downy woodpecker 2
hairy woodpecker 2
northern flicker 3
blue jay 6
American crow 4
fish crow 1
carolina chickadee 8
tufted titmouse 10
white-breasted nuthatch 3
carolina wren 10
winter wren 2
American robin 15
european starling 12
song sparrow 10
swamp sparrow 7
white-throated sparrow 25
dark-eyed junco 6
northern cardinal 14
red-winged blackbird 20
American goldfinch 1
house sparrow 1.
-- Marc Ribaudo, February 5, 2012.
Sightings
Six birders joined me for the weekly Sunday morning bird walk, sponsored by
the Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to everyone. The highlight was two Horned
Grebes off the boardwalk platform, but the overall diversity and numbers of
aquatic birds remains low. We found a single coot hanging out with Mallards
at the marina, for example. Chickadees, titmice, and Carolina Wrens were
active and quite vocal, but kinglets and Winter Wrens were nowhere to be
found. Anyway, it was delightful company and a beautiful day.
Today's List:
Canada Goose 270
Tundra Swan 2
American Black Duck 7
Mallard 160
Bufflehead 3
Common Merganser 4
Bald Eagle 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 8
American Coot 1
Ring-billed Gull 350
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 32
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 9
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Blue jay 10
Fish Crow 14
Crow, sp 1
Carolina Chickadee 24
Tufted Titmouse 22
Carolina Wren 9
American Robin 13
European Starling 20
Song Sparrow 24
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 35
Northern Cardinal 16
Red-winged Blackbird 3
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 2.
-- Larry Cartwright, January 29, 2012.
Sightings
A chilly day, about 32F with a 5-10 mph breeze down the Potomac River, met
the 3 intrepid souls for today's Field Trip to Dyke Marsh, sponsored by the
Friends of Dyke Marsh and open to all each Sunday at 8 am. Highlight were
the delightful numbers of sparrows carpeting Haul Rd in fine numbers. The
icy crust on the forest and marsh floor pushed these small animals to the
trail edges to forage. Mixed in with the more common sparrows were several
Fox Sparrows and 3 American Tree Sparrows - Excellent! We also managed a
few waterfowl sightings: the long running Tundra Swan and its recently
acquired hatch year pal, a couple of Lesser Scaup south of the dogleg along
with a Ruddy Duck, a few Common Mergansers and a pair of Hooded Mergansers.
Other interesting sightings were a flyby Great Egret which joined 4 other
Great Egrets on the inland side of the Stone Bridge; amazing! over 10 years
ago a Great Egret in December was a wonder, now we have groups of them in
January. No warblers this time but a single Ruby-crowned was spotted at the
location that held the Tennessee & No. Parula two weeks ago. The list of 45
species is below.
C. Goose 800, careful looking produced no additional hidden gems
Tundra Swan 2
Am. Black Duck 1
Mallard 46
Lesser Scaup 2
Bufflehead 5
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Merganser 4
Ruddy Duck 1
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 5
Bald Eagle 2, adults
Red-shouldered Hawk, a first winter hunting the marsh
RB Gull 300
Herring Gull 140
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Mourning Dove 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied WP 3
Downy WP 3
No. Flicker 1
Blue Jay 3
Am. Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
C. Chickadee 4
T. Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
C. Wren 6
W. Wren 1
RC Kinglet 1
Am. Robin 4
No. Mocker 1
E. Starling 50
E. Towhee 2
Am. Tree Sp 3
Fox Sp 4
Song Sp 33
Swamp Sp 25
White-thr Sp 70
DE Junco 8
No. Cardinal 16
Red-winged BB 4
Am. Goldfinch 1
House Sp 4.
-- Kurt Gaskill, January 22, 2012.
Sightings
Three hardy souls joined me for a sunny but chilly morning. Hightlights included
SCAUP (1), BUFFLEHEAD (10), HOODED MERGANSER (2), SHARPIE (1), and WINTER WREN (at
least 2).
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
Dyke Marsh, Fairfax, US-VA
Jan 15, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
38 species
Canada Goose 150
Tundra Swan 2 Long-term injured birds
American Black Duck 15
Mallard 300
Lesser Scaup 1 /f
Bufflehead 10
Hooded Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Bald Eagle 1 /i
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 /i
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 /i
Ring-billed Gull 100
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 12
Mourning Dove 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 3
Winter Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 10
European Starling 1 75
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 10
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 /m
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 2.
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