[va-bird] Red-necked Grebes & Great Egrets at Roaches Run, Arlington

VA Birders,

    Pat Blyer, Betty Kilgore, and I went to the big pond at Roaches Run in 
Arlington (across the G.W. Pkwy. from National Airport) this morning at low 
tide.  Actually, while the pond wasn't flooded today, the water was nearer 
where it usually is at high tide.  We found 2 Red-necked Grebes in the pond, 
2 Great Egrets on the opposite shore, a Black-crowned Night-Heron perched 
fairly high up in a tree, and about 40 Double-crested Cormorants--with the 
adults sporting their double crests.  There were still 2 Pied-billed Grebes 
on the pond as well, but the only ducks we found were a few Mallards.  Gull 
numbers had also dropped substantially.

    From Roaches Run, we drove south to Daingerfield Island, Alexandria, 
(where the restaurant and marina are located) just south of National Airport. 
 We found a Horned Grebe with another Pied-billed Grebe there, and we also 
found an Osprey's nest on the channel marker just off the restaurant's 
outdoor deck.  The pair of Ospreys on the nest put on an X-rated performance 
for us, and afterwards, when they were both on the nest, we could see the 
streaking on the female's breast which contrasted with the all white breast 
of the male.  We also found 3 female Red-breasted Mergansers there, but no 
males.

Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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