Hi all,
Decided to take advantage of the weather and check out the National Arboretum to see if the Red Crossbills reported a couple of days ago were about. Got there late because of horrible traffic (what WAS going on?). Unfortunately, despite looking in dozens (scores?) of spruces, firs, hemlocks and pines of innumerable species -- most laden with cones -- we came up empty. There were also very few sparrows about compared to our last visit, no Juncos for example, probably we just didn't find the flocks. Some nice birds were seen, however -- 4-5 red-breasted nuthatches at the State Trees, 6 Hooded Mergansers in a pond, a lovely adult Cooper's Hawk harassing Bluebirds near the Capitol Columns, a Hermit Thrush in the holly collection and two bright Fox Sparrows and three male Towhees near the entrance to Fern Valley. They were leaf--blowing in the Asian Gardens so that often-good area was a total loss!
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD
Birds of interest:
National Arboretum, District of Columbia, US-DC
Dec 12, 2012 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM
34 species (+1 other taxa)
Hooded Merganser 6
Great Blue Heron 2
Cooper's Hawk 1 large adult, prob. female
Northern Flicker 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 at State Trees, in Virginia Pine
Eastern Bluebird 15
Hermit Thrush 1
Cedar Waxwing 10
Eastern Towhee 3 adult males
Fox Sparrow 2
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