Birds in DC January 5
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Wed, 6 Jan 99 09:26:01 EST
Hi all --
We did a DC run yesterday. Stopping at the LBJ Grove, we found at least two
Pine Warblers (one the very bright male) and one Orangecrowned Warbler still
hanging on. They seemed to be getting some food from the pines but I wonder
how long they can continue in this rather limited habitat. We ran into Linda
Freidland and Lydia Schindler as we were leaving, and they found the birds as
well.
We checked Roach's Run and there are good numbers of waterfowl, highlighted
by about 25 Hooded Mergansers very close, also Pintail, Am. Wigeon and Ruddy
Ducks, and a cold-looking Killdeer.Hunting Creek (OK, it's not DC but we were
cheating) didn't have too much, but offshore in the Potomac a nice flock of
about 50 Common Mergansers, most all were females.
We had one Merlin (this time a female) at Hain's Point, flying over the play
area and then right across the river towards the airport (do they hunt there?).
One Bald Eagle over Washington Channel. A cold stop at the mall but no luck
on *any* accipiter, they must have been keeping warm somewhere.
We finally went into the NMNH to warm up, and "ticked" some rarities for the
day in the Hall of Birds: Resplendent Quetzal, Blue Bird of Paradise, and
a flock of Passenger Pigeons ;-)
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
gail@umdd.umd.edu