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Dyke Marsh Bird Sightings, Second Half 2004
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is located near the Potomac River just south of the City of Alexandria in the suburban core of Fairfax County. It consists of about 550 acres of tidal marsh and woodlands with adjacent marina, Hunting Creek Bay and grassy picnic areas in the north. Also included in the habitat area is the strip of George Washington Parkway north to the Stone Bridge over Hunting Creek and the habitat around the mudflats of Hunting Creek. Altogether, the area covered is about 600 acres. The Friends of Dyke Marsh keep extensive records of avian sightings for this area going back over 20 years. Numbers quoted are based upon weekly high counts.
A total of 141 species was recorded at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Belle Haven Marina, Hunting Creek mudflats and Hunting Creek Bay from July through December, 2004 – the total for the year is 173. Hurricane aided storms coursed through the area in September but with much less intensity and effect as compared to 2003. Yet, the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the river has still not regenerated to 2002 levels and this resulted in a rather dismal showing of waterfowl – a total of 16 species of goose and duck were note with no interesting numbers or dates reported. Shorebirds were also in poor state with only 12 species recorded. Of course, the on-going construction of the new Wilson Bridge likely contributed to the dearth of shorebirds and may have also affected waterfowl. Only time will tell if past abundances (the Hunting Creek mudflats were the best shorebird spot in the metro area) will return.
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King Rail - photo courtesy of www.ohiobirds.org |
The highlight of the season was a calling King Rail, heard during the regular Sunday morning Field Trip September 5th. The migratory habits of the often secretive King Rail are not well-known and so this sighting argues for an early fall pattern for this species. Other fine sightings were Northern Bobwhite at the beginning of September, a single group of 12 Bonaparte’s Gulls spotted from the Stone Bridge during the DC CBC December 18th, American Pipits the last week of November, a Pine Warbler seen during the regular Field Trip December 12th and an Orange-crowned Warbler and Purple Finch were at the end of November.
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Bald Eagle at Belle
Haven Picnic Area |
For the more regular species, the last Least Bittern was noted the last week of July, our only Snowy Egret report came in mid-August, the last Green Heron reported was the 3rd week of October and the only Tundra Swan report was just before Thanksgiving. Bald Eagle numbers peaked the second week of October – this was 2-4 weeks before the typical peak and may reflect a change in the migratory movements of this species to our area this year. Also, Peregrine Falcon was noted three times from July to December, a pattern that is probably due, in part, to the DC breeding pair.
Northern Bobwhites were observed the first week of September, two Western Sandpiper were seen by many in mid-August, the last Forster’s Tern sighting was the second week of November, a late Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew past the marina in mid-October, the last Chimney Swift was recorded also in mid-October, a good showing of Red-headed Woodpeckers were noted with 2 sightings – the third week of September and the second week of November and the last Warbling Vireo was noted the second week of September.
Crows show signs of a come back after two disaster years of population decline brought about by official poisoning of winter flocks – CBC counts were acceptable but still a factor of 50 below previous years. Usually a strong winter cold front up north sends Winter Wren to us and this year numbers peaked the third week of November with seven found during the Field Trip. Unusual this year were Eastern Bluebirds which were present nearly continuously from the first week of November through the third week of December – perhaps a good sign that numbers are recovering from significant population declines in the previous three years? We recorded Gray Catbird through December and a Common Yellowthroat was found the last week of November.
Eastern Towhee was noted through December as well as Fox Sparrow. Dark-eyed Juncos were more prevalent this year than previous years with many November and December reports. And Rusty Blackbirds were noted two times during the fall season.
– Kurt Gaskill
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