Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 20:47:44 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Paul Subject: Willet in DC Comments: To: Janni Ottavio , "Iliff, Marshall" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit As Mike Bowen mentioned in his message, I saw a WILLET this (Monday, 7/30, 5 pm) afternoon at Hains Point. The bird was about halfway up the golf course on the river side, feeding amongst the golfers on the golf course. I first saw the bird with bins, but it took off before I had a chance to get a scope on it. I think it was a kestrel that spooked it, not the golfers. It flew east, towards Ft. McNair, and looked like it was starting to land again before I lost it in the trees. I took another drive around the golf course, but could not relocate the bird. I believe the bird was a "Western" Willet, based on the very pale tones (it was in basic plumage), and the relatively long looking bill. However, the bird was too distant, and my sighting too brief to say that with certainty. I stopped by Hains on my way into work this morning, hoping to find that something dropped in after all the rain. But the gate was closed, so I couldn't drive the loop. All I saw were large numbers of Laughing Gulls (c.100), mostly adults plus a few juvs, at the north end. I'm just glad that the Willet decided to hang out all day. Good birding, Paul Pisano Arlington, VA cheep@erols.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================