With the intention of going to Tysons Corner to look for Nighthawks, a friend
and I met first to look around Cameron Run for Herons, Egrets, and the like.
We parked at the miniature golf course and one of the first birds we spotted
was a Common Nighthawk flying overhead. Chimney Swifts were working in great
numbers over Cook Lake next to the golf course and we saw at least 2 more
Nighthawks at relatively low altitude. We went down to stream level at the
spillway directly across the street and found no less than 4 Black-crowned
Night Herons, an equal number of Green Herons, plus some Great Blue Herons and
Great Egrets and a couple of shorebirds. With impending bad weather we decided
not to make the trip all the way to Tysons but drove over to the Masonic
Memorial in Alexandria to check for the possibility of Nighthawks there, but
the lights were not yet on all the way to the top and the rain came heavily, so
we departed.
Cameron Run is a pretty good and convenient place for a quick bird walk for
those of us in the hectic DC area, especially when time is a consideration. It
parallels Eisenhower Avenue and empties directly into the Potomac just below
the Wilson Bridge. With beltway traffic just on the other side of the trees it
is anything but calm and serene, but flood control embankments provide good
pools for wildlife. I even had 4 deer there on Friday evening.
Good birding!
Dave Boltz
Alexandria
