About 3 today, I went for a walk in Sligo Creek Park, starting just downstream from the golf course, where the herons have been seen. None at the parking pulloff, but when I crossed the footbridge to the trail, I found great pictures of them on the Park's sign board, and the message that they returned on March 11 in big bold print! They really are celebrities at this location; I noticed several folks stopping to look at the sign.
I walked a little way upstream, and spotted one of the herons apparently snoozing on a limb near the water in a tangle of branches where a tree had gone down, right at a spot where there is a little "beach" that lets people walk down to the water. When I came back a little later, there were six people there watching it, from not far away, and it hadn't budged, except to turn around; still had eyes half closed, and neck tucked in.
The rest of the walk had another nice bird--a little further on, there is a larger "beach" where there are often lots of mallards being fed, and usually a pair of wood ducks too. (It's by a footbridge at the end of the big field opposite the golf course.) Today, there was just one duck--a wood duck drake, who flew up into a tree as I approached. I was enjoying a pretty good look when he took off, and flew to a limb closer to me! Very nice! He walked along the limb eyeing me, and making a very soft sort of peeping sound. I think he was hoping for food, but I was the one that got the treat.
Lots of the usual suspects in the woods otherwise: juncos, a pair of nuthatches (w-b), downey, etc.
I walked under the highway overpass, checking for returning barn swallows as I did, but none today tho plenty of last years nests. Nothing much in view in the open area beyond the overpass tho I heard a chorus of house finches well hidden in the trees. Too windy out in the open maybe. A very nice walk despite the gray sky.
Patricia Wood
Silver Spring
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