After trying (unsuccessfully) all weekend to find new birds for my DC list, I was successful in adding a new species after stepping out of my office for a brief walk this afternoon - a drake Northern Pintail on Rock Creek behind the Amazonia building at the National Zoo. This is a sort of uncommon species for the district. The pintail was associating with the normal wintering flock of waterfowl that hangs out here including Mallards, Wood Ducks, one pure American Black Duck, and an apparent hybrid Mallard x Black Duck (body looks like Black Duck, but bill is orange). The ducks all seem to center their winter movements at the big bend in Rock Creek at the bridge behind Amazonia.
Unfortunately, the bird isn't easy to access, requiring one to park at the zoo's lower lot ($$) or biking/walking via the bike trail (no other nearby parking along the trail).
Scott Loss
Washington DC
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