Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:51:47 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John Hubbell Subject: DC Pintails and Purple Finches, 10/30 A pair of Northern Pintails were in the waters north of the Washington Sailing Marina. They were near the shore just below the path that runs along the GW Parkway -- the closest I've been to pintails other than at the zoo. Other birds seen include Ruddy Ducks, Black Ducks, Wood Ducks, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, and Forster's Terns. An adult Bald Eagle also swooped in over the scene. I then swung by Rock Creek Park on the way home. Two Purple Finches (male and female) settled briefly into a bare tree along the back of the maintenance yard. The male looked quite handsome perched facing the late afternoon sun. Also seen in the maintenance yard and/or around the nature center: Hermit Thrushes, a Blue-headed Vireo, 2 Fox Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a Winter Wren. John Hubbell Chevy Chase, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================