Hi MD/DC Birders:
In addition to hoping for winter finches there, I'd just like to add
a comment that the National Arboretum, presumable due to the unusual
trees, other plantings, and general habitat has been the home to a
number of notable DC records, including ...
DC's first accepted Anhinga (Aug 1960)
DC's first Bohemian Waxwing (Mar 1972)
The second DC report of Pine Grosbeak (Dec 1972)
A Barnacle Goose (however, accepted as "questionable origin") (Sep 1994)
A Monk Parakeet (Mar 2003)
A species of either a Broad-tailed/Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird (Dec 2003)
It's a great DC location to keep checking after the migration
wind-down at Rock Creek Park ... !!!
Good birding!
Phil
At 11:55 11/18/2012, Gail B. Mackiernan wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>A lot of we DC listers are convinced that sooner or later, some good
>winter finches are going to show up at the National Arboretum in NE
>DC. There have been a few siskins and purple finches reported, but
>no real "biggies." However we keep looking, as the habitat looks so
>great with all those cone-bearing trees and berry-filled shrubs.
>Today Barry and I speant about two hours searching all the conifer
>and berry areas we could find. It was a pleasant morning to be out,
>and although we didn't strike it rich, we saw a lot of nice birds.
>The most activity seemd to be in the Asian Garden and along Valley
>Road just beyond the pond. A strange-looking, large (but unlabeled)
>tree with a lot of hanging clusters of bright red berries hosted a
>mixed, noisy flock of Bluebirds, Robins, Waxwings, Goldfinches, a
>Hermit Thrush and a single Red-breasted Nuthatch. The nearby scrubby
>meadow and streamside had 6 species of sparrow, including Fox, Field
>and some late Chippings. A fly-over warbler in the same area, only
>seen through the windshield, was very yellow underneath and looked
>like a Palm, but was not relocated. A bright male Kestrel sat on one
>of the Capitol columns. Very nice morning...
===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:<PDavis...>
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================
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