Hi everyone,
On Monday someone reported on eBird alerts that they saw and photographed what they thought was a King Rail or possibly a juv. American Bittern down at West Potomac Park / Tidal Basin.�� Hopefully that person is on this list and will share the photos.� I went down to take a look around - thinking there was virtually no chance the bird was still around due to how busy it is down there.� I also thought maybe it was just a misidentified Black-crowned Nighth Heron.�
To my surprise, I found that virtually all of west Potomac Park is securely fenced in to allow the turf to grow back.� Out in the fields lots of Canada Geese milled around along with 8-10 Killdeer in some lower wet spots.� All of a sudden, it didn't become so impossible to think something like that had dropped in while migrating along the Potomac river.
Hopefully, other birders will take the time over the next several weeks to check it out - especially after thunderstorm refill the wet areas.
Good birding!
Jason Berry
Washington, DC
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