Sorry for the belated report. Jane Kostenko and I arrived at Hughes Hollow at 8am on Saturday, 5/29. There was a British man who had been there for an hour without success. Leo Weigant arrived a few minutes after we did and while we were all scanning different areas, he spotted some movement. He got the PURPLE GALLINULE in his spotting scope briefly, just long enough for both Leo and me to see it. A minute or so later, it reemerged and Leo and Jane saw it. Unfortunately, Jane and I needed to head into DC for the WW2 Memorial dedication. Just as we were leaving, Bob Ringler arrived with another fellow. Hope they had good luck with it, too!

The only bird of note at the dedication was an Eastern Kingbird that chased anything away from its territory which ranged between the Atlantic and Pacific pavilions. It put on quite a show attacking crows and grackles throughout the ceremony.

And the periodical cicadas freaked out visitors who were unaware of their harmless but bumbling nature.

Tyler Bell

California, Maryland

Wave that flag...wave it wide and high!
Grateful Dead, U.S. Blues