Here's what was around this morning, 4/3/04, in parts of the District of
Columbia:

At Hains Point, there were 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLs in the Washington Channel,
one with a full black cap, and numerous sightseers  all over the place -
but not as many as around the Tidal Basin, where I didn't stop to scan the
water for lack of a space to park. (The cherry trees were gorgeous, even
under heavy overcast.)

2 OSPREYS were flying around above their nest at the downstream end of the
South Capitol Bridge.  Nearby a CASPIAN TERN cruised by.  April 3 is the
earliest I've seen this species in DC.  Earliest date anywhere locally for
me is April 5 - we saw them last year along the Potomac in Alexandria when
the Montgomery Bird Club was on its annual April "Bird Pedal" biking and
birding trip.

The Anacostia Wetlands has gotten a lot wetter in the last few days!  I
flushed 8 WILSON'S SNIPE and there was a group of about 10 migrating FIELD
SPARROWS in the long grasses.

In Kenilworth Park, I was happy to come across a male EASTERN
BLUEBIRD.  That's only the second Bluebird I've seen in DC this
year.  There were 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS hunting in the park.  At nearby
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a lingering drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen
with Mallard and a couple of Black Duck.  20+ N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS
worked over the main tidal marsh in the company of 3-4 TREE SWALLOWS.  No
Barn Swallows yet.

If any of you are thinking of birding KAG in the next three weeks, keep a
sharp ear and eye out for Prothonotary Warblers.  The wet woods to the
north of the first 1/4-mile of the River Trail look to be just perfect
habitat for them. I saw one there last year on the 21st, and most years we
see or hear one along the C&O Canal in Montgomery County before the 20th of
the month.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: 

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