As some people have posted, Rock Creek Park in DC was the place to be early
this morning.  A late riser, I missed all the birds at Picnic Area 18 at
dawn.  However I did get there by 8 a.m., in time to get BLUE-WINGED,
BLACK-AND-WHITE,  and NASHVILLE Warblers in the Maintenance Area.  I then
went over to the partly shaded pond area just north of the Nature Center,
sat down, and did a little spishing.  At first I only had inquisitive
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but then in the space of five minutes I had PALM,
PARULA, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, WORM-EATING, and (best of all) a singing
CERULEAN at eye level. Exquisite.  I also heard HOODED and OVENBIRD and saw
a WHITE-EYED VIREO.

Later in the morning I walked through the National Zoo, picking up singing
YELLOW, PRAIRIE, and a very early BLACKPOLL.  I've never had a Blackpoll in
DC in April before.  Earliest DC dates I have in my records are 5/2/96 in
Battery Kemble Park and 5/2/01 in Rock Creek Park.

Just to round out a good warbler morning (15 species is good before the end
of April) I had a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in the most unlikely location --
singing loudly in an oak tree overhanging busy traffic on the south side of
DuPont Circle -- as I was walking to an appointment downtown.

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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