Lots of parenting activity this weekend along the bank of the Potomac (that's where the real action was; not so much the canal itself).

Saturday, the juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were calling on Cabin John Island (3 were heard).  WILD TURKEY tracks were found in the mud along the south channel of Cabin John Creek.  A Warbling Vireo sang along the Island bank at the junction with the Potomac River.  4 juvenile NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS (they were the ones with the cinnemon wing bars)occupied a snag in the river next to 2 adults.

Walking north along the river bank, 3 juvenile PILEATED WOODPECKERS exploded from the shurbs, landing on a tree on the island across the channel.  Their crests were fuzzy, almost a kind of rusty red, not fully filled in.  An adult was deeper in the island's woods.  Just beyond them, a female PROTHONOTARY WARBLER foraged on the ground for an insect, then flew it to a snag in a fallen tree.  After giving its loud, dry chip-note, it disappeared around to the backside of the snag.  The male Prothonotary was calling up on the canal.  It came down and landed on top of the snag.  The female "chipped" and chased it away.

Beyond the warblers were 2 juvenile Eastern Wood Peewees .  Across the channel on the Double-crested Cormorant Rookery/island, I found 7 nests with 10 hatchlings in all.  Singing in the area were Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher and Northern Parula.

Today (Sunday, 6/27), there were at least 2 juvenile EASTERN KINGBIRDS on the island opposite MP 8.  In the tree tops, an adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE sang its heart out.  A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO called, too (seems like they've gone silent; must be nesting).

Good birding,

Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
frankpowers @ comcast . net