This morning Molly and Peter Ross crossed the river to join me at Hughes Hollow. Started off with 2 flyover Yellow-crowned Night Herons. We missed the purple gallinule, though it was seen by other birders while we were down the trail/bank running west from the sign kiosk. We had nice looks at a Warbling Vireo and flushed up a Least Bittern in exchange for missing the gallinule. Good numbers of Yellow-billed Cuckoos about today--a total of 8 for the day. Several Prothonotary Warblers and both orioles added color.
We then went to Sycamore Landing and walked the C&O towpath back, crossing the fields to return to Hughes Hollow. We were greeted by a singing Yellow-throated Vireo at the parking lot, but the highlight was 2 Cerulean Warblers along the towpath. Also a Yellow-breasted Chat in the fields. The cicada density (and decibel level) on some of the field edges is truly stunning.
Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.net |