FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Baltimore Oriole--Collingwood Park

[Dendroica@xxxxxxx]

Despite the rain and fog, I spent most of the New Year's day birding along 
the Potomac from Great Falls to Riverside Park in Northern Virginia looking 
for January rarities.  

The highlight of the day was finding a first-year Baltimore Oriole at 
Collingwood Park along the GW Parkway, just north of Fort Hunt, in the 
shrubbery near the pier.  

A second highlight was finding a wintering Brown Thrasher at Great Falls 
Park, in the thickets south of the visitors center between the two falls 
lookout platforms. This bird was first observed by participants on the Senaca 
CBC on Dec 15.

Thanks to Kurt Gaskill's postings, we looked for and found seven 
Black-crowned Night Herons behind the power plant along the Potomac, just 
south of Alexandria, and also the Common Egret at Hunting Creek.  We also 
found a Laughing Gull at Hunting Creek.

We were unable to find the gnatcatcher at Belle Haven which Kurt reported, 
but did find both Golden and Ruby Crowned Kinglets in the thickets near the 
marina.

All in all, a most satisfactory way to start the New Year.  My first sighting 
of the year as I looked out the window this morning was a Mourning 
Dove--hopefully an omen for peace in 2003.  Happy New Year.

Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA.


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