Sightings at the Tidal Basin
Jim Felley (IRMSS668@SIVM.SI.EDU)
Wed, 31 Mar 99 10:46:04 EST
Just a note to affirm that springtime is heating up the action.
At the DC Veteran's Memorial there were numerous birds, including
a Hermit Thrush and a small feeding flock of Carolina Chickadees,
Tufted Titmice, with 3 Pine Warblers and 2 Brown Creepers.
At the Tidal Basin, the major action is non-avian. The alewives
(a type of small herring) are breeding along the seawall, especially
evident in shady areas. The alewives may account for the presence of
Double-crested Cormorants, moving in and out of the Tidal Basin.
Also, a Pied-billed Grebe was present, hanging around a small flock
of coots. There is also evidence that a beaver has been snacking
on the cherry trees near the bridge that connects the Tidal Basin
to the Washington Channel.
So the birds are there. Here is what is missing that I expected
to see: By the end of March, there should be Northern Rough-winged
Swallows scouting out nest spots on the seawall, and Bonaparte's
Gulls should be winging up the Potomac. I saw neither today.
Jim
Jim Felley
Smithsonian Institution
irmss668@sivm.si.edu
PS: Here is also what was missing: American Woodcocks at
*exactly* the location given by Gail, from 7:20 to 7:45 last night.
Oh well, sometimes the birds are there, sometimes they are not,
and sometimes they are justing laughing up their primaries at
us!