FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Waterfowl, Osprey, Snipe in D.C.

[Michael Bowen <dhmbowen@xxxxxxxxx>]

At Georgetown Reservoir, Washington D.C., at around 10 a.m. on 
Monday, March 6, there were:

14 COMMON MERGANSER (both males and females)
3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (all drakes)
3 BUFFLEHEAD
2 RUDDY DUCK
6 LESSER SCAUP
1 AMERICAN COOT

In with the usual gull collection was a first-winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

The Tidal Basin still had a large group of SCAUP -- probably all 
Lesser, but I didn't check every bird -- that has been there for at 
least several weeks. I counted 140 birds. Scaup numbers around Hains 
Point have dropped off a lot.

In the large tree at the extreme South end of the golf course at 
Hains Point was a perched OSPREY, my first of the year for D.C. This 
is the earliest date I have seen Osprey in Washington; previous early 
date was March 7, 2004, when I saw two on the 14th St. railroad bridge.

The "wetlands" area in Anacostia Park has dried up quite a bit, and 
the water is now pretty much confined to the parts flanking the chain 
link fence.  I flushed a first-of-the-year-for-DC WILSON'S SNIPE from 
this area.  Numerous DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were flying along the 
Anacostia River and/or perched on pilings.  A single KILLDEER flew over.

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens had no waterfowl to speak of, except for a 
pair of HOODED MERGANSER in one of the cells.  I found 3 GRAY 
CATBIRDS and a HERMIT THRUSH in a bush near the start of the 
boardwalk.  Nearby were 2 FOX SPARROWS.

I visited the National Arboretum around midday, but did not stay long 
enough to find the Red-headed Woodpecker that John Beetham has 
reported a few times.  I did find 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS in with a flock 
of White-throats and Song Sparrows near the administrative 
building.  I don't usually see Chipping in D.C. until the end of 
March, according to my records.  The Hooded Mergansers that John 
reported yesterday were still in the same pond -- 5 hens and a single drake.

DARK-EYED JUNCOS must be on the move.  There was a flock of at least 
100 near the parking lot at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and another 
100-200 were feeding with a big flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds (also 
numbering about 100) in the grass between the Reflecting Pool and 
Constitution Gardens in the Mall area.

Spring is definitely coming.  And I do believe I saw incipient 
blossoms on some of the famous cherry trees.

Good Birding!

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
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