Here's what was around this morning, 4/3/04, in parts of the District of
Columbia:
At Hains Point, there were 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLs in the Washington Channel,
one with a full black cap, and numerous sightseers all over the place -
but not as many as around the Tidal Basin, where I didn't stop to scan the
water for lack of a space to park. (The cherry trees were gorgeous, even
under heavy overcast.)
2 OSPREYS were flying around above their nest at the downstream end of the
South Capitol Bridge. Nearby a CASPIAN TERN cruised by. April 3 is the
earliest I've seen this species in DC. Earliest date anywhere locally for
me is April 5 - we saw them last year along the Potomac in Alexandria when
the Montgomery Bird Club was on its annual April "Bird Pedal" biking and
birding trip.
The Anacostia Wetlands has gotten a lot wetter in the last few days! I
flushed 8 WILSON'S SNIPE and there was a group of about 10 migrating FIELD
SPARROWS in the long grasses.
In Kenilworth Park, I was happy to come across a male EASTERN
BLUEBIRD. That's only the second Bluebird I've seen in DC this
year. There were 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS hunting in the park. At nearby
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a lingering drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen
with Mallard and a couple of Black Duck. 20+ N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS
worked over the main tidal marsh in the company of 3-4 TREE SWALLOWS. No
Barn Swallows yet.
If any of you are thinking of birding KAG in the next three weeks, keep a
sharp ear and eye out for Prothonotary Warblers. The wet woods to the
north of the first 1/4-mile of the River Trail look to be just perfect
habitat for them. I saw one there last year on the 21st, and most years we
see or hear one along the C&O Canal in Montgomery County before the 20th of
the month.
Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD
D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowen@xxxxxxxxx
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