Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 11:32:51 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: John Hubbell Subject: Fletcher's Boathouse, DC, 4/15 I could only squeeze in an hour and a half of birding before work, but it turned out to be a pleasant and interesting time nonetheless at Fletcher's Boathouse in DC. I thought it was about time a Northern Parula showed up, and I wasn't disappointed. One came down low over the Crescent Trail for a good look and continued to sing fairly continuously afterwards. Along the river trail north of the concession area, I saw my first Spotted Sandpiper of the season. As I followed it upstream along the bank, I was surprised to run into a Tundra Swan swimming with the geese. It later flew back down river. Also along the river were 2 Caspian Terns, 2 Osprey, and numerous Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants. Other land birds included several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Yellow-rumped Warblers as well as a singing Yellow-throated Warbler I never managed to spot. A pair of Eastern Phoebes were perched under the same footbridge where they nested last year, and later I saw one carrying nesting material. I also saw my first Barn Swallows of the year at Fletcher's, and they were flying up under the same footbridge. They nested here last year as well. 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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================