Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in DC was fantastic this morning with large numbers of birds seen both in the grasslands/marsh and also migrating overhead early against a perfect backdrop of low clouds.
The best bird by far was a SHORT-EARED OWL seen flying a couple hundred feet above the grasslands and flapping its wings like a giant nighthawk as it slowly circled its way southward and out of sight. I could clearly see the big rounded head, rounded wingtips, and short tail, which ruled out harrier.
Also observed at the south edge of the aquatic gardens marsh (from the north edge of the Kenilworth Park fields) were an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (close enough to see orange crown) and MARSH WREN (heard only, sang once). I also had 2 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS continuing in the grasslands, 6 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, 1 FOX SPARROW, at least 6 AMERICAN PIPITS (all flyovers), and at least 5 different WILSON'S SNIPE flushed up from the grass.
At the aquatic gardens, there were 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in the woods along the river trail, my FOY GREAT EGRET, and a couple of scout BARN SWALLOWS at the railroad bridge over the river.
Other migrants seen flying over in the early morning included large groups of Canada Geese, gulls, cormorants, robins, cowbirds, and a couple big flocks of unidentifiable Red-winged/Rusty-sized blackbirds. Later in the day towards noon there was a small but obvious northward movement of raptors and gulls high above the Anacostia River (Bald Eagles, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, both vultures).
Scott Loss
DC
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