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Subject:

Birding along the C & O Canal Sat & Sun

From:

Frank Powers

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 00:20:27 -0400

What a contrast from Saturday's glorious weather to Sunday's chill & rain...but interesting birding in all.

Saturday's trip included Mile 7.5, then Hughes Hollow, Riley's Lock, Violette's Lock and Great Falls.  Sunday, it was Sangamore Island/Lock 6 (or thereabouts).

At Mile 7.5 (Glen Echo/Cabin John), the Red-shouldered Hawks were on the nest along Cabin John Creek.  A Yellow-throated Warbler came in high in the trees, singing.  A Louisiana Waterthrush sang down by the river. Pairs of Belted Kingfishers, Pileated Woodpeckers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers engaged in courtship display.  A pair of Barn Swallows zipped around the creek (becoming my first of the year).  2 pairs of Wood Ducks were on the same limb of a sycamore near the river.  A Northern Flicker drummed and called in a tree near the hawk's nest.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Carolina Wrens sang and moved thru the brush.  And an Eastern Phoebe quietly came through the area.

After leaving the creek, another Pileated Woodpecker busily worked on a nest in a snag tree on an island right across from MP 8, while at least 1 Double-crested Cormorant was on a nest on the island just to the south of MP 8 (there were 20 or more perched on limbs nearby, but this was the only one on a nest that I could find).  Yellow-rumped Warblers were all over the place. An Osprey flew over the canal above MP 8.

At Hughes Hollow, a pair of Horned Grebes, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, a pair of Wood Ducks and a pair of Buffleheads were in the impoundment to the south of the walkway.  A single Mute Swan dabbled along the edge by the road.  At least 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows were to the north, with 20 or more Tree Swallows zipping around.  A Common Moorhen called from nearby.  In the conifers to the west, a half-dozen or so Golden-crowned Kinglets foraged through the trees.

An Osprey flew over the canal at Riley's Lock. A pair of Bufflehead were in the river.

At Violette's Lock, several Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were in the trees around the parking lot, along with 7 or more Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Around a dozen Buffleheads were in the river, along with what appeared to be an adult Laughing Gull and perhaps two in 1st winter plumage (tho' they could have been Boneparte's Gulls - they were far across the river and hard to make out).

At Great Falls, 1 Bald Eagle was on the nest, and appeared to be feeding something inside.  A 2nd Bald Eagle eventually showed up, soaring high in the blue sky a bit to the north of the nest.

Today at Sangamore Island (near Lock 6), a Broad-winged Hawk flew over the parking lot as I arrived.   Down by the island were two pairs of Wood Ducks (in exactly the same area as the weekend before).  Later 5 male and 2 female Wood Ducks flew into the channel by the island.  A Bald Eagle was on the nest across the river and was joined by a 2nd who arrived with some food.  Both appeared to feed the nest inhabitants for several minutes afterwards (since both birds at different times flew out over the river into Maryland territory, they thankfully make their inclusion in this report legitimate).

A Black Vulture soared over the river, as did 2 Turkey Vultures.  3 Caspian Terns flew by the nest, heading south.  Dozens upon dozens of Double-crested Cormorants flew up and down the river constantly (although it may have been the same dozen exhausting themselves in some kind of trick manuver).  As I was leaving, a Horned Grebe paddled into the channel, staying near the island side and ducking under the water as I approached.  For a finale (I'm not counting the Yellow-rumped Warblers again), a female Red-breasted Merganser flew noisily into the channel, swam to a sunken log and obligingly hopped on top of it and preened. Such good looks at the complete bird I've never had!

I've left out all the Downy Woodpeckers (tho' their plumage was very fresh and bright), Red-bellieds and the other common birds that make walks along the canal at any time in any weather (almost) such a delight.  But they were there, singing away, often with sounds that would mystify me until I tracked them down.

But that's birding, and it was great!

Enjoy,

Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
Montgomery County


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