Dyke Marsh, 31 Jan 99
KurtCapt87@aol.com
Tue, 2 Feb 1999 22:37:01 EST
Dyke Marsh Walk, 0800 31 Jan 99, 28-32 F, mostly clear, 5-10 mph winds
A typical winter day along the Potomac greeted participants - and yes, we
wished it were 10 degrees warmer! Yet the walk started off nicely as a small
group of 4 Tundra Swans flew up to the edge of the picnic area less than 50
yds from the group, turned, and flew off to the south. We then found an
immature Bald Eagle perched on a stump in Hunting Creek Bay. Nearby, both
Horned Grebe and Common Mergansers actively dove for food. At the end of the
day, both Ruddy Ducks and a Hooded Merganser were spotted in the bay from the
stone bridge. The group then walked down Haul Road finding many of the common
Dyke Marsh woodland species along the way. At Dead Beaver Beach, we spotted 4
Bufflehead working the river between the beach and the marina. As the group
walked past the dogleg, an immature Red-tail Hawk was seen hunting the margin
of the great marsh. The sighting of a perched raptor on one of the northern
islands resulted in a debate as to its identity, but the gray back, darker
gray cap contrasting with the gray of the back and nape, pale breast, and lack
of obvious white supercillium resulted in a Cooper's Hawk conclusion. Lastly,
near the southern point of Haul Rd a single flat-headed Scaup was spied -
Greater Scaup. All told, the walk netted 36 species.
Kurt Gaskill
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