Since it was dead low tide at mid-morning this morning, 8/9, I paid a visit
to the extensive mud flats that are exposed on the Anacostia River above
and below the Benning Road bridge in NE DC.

Here's a quick rundown of what I saw:

GREAT EGRET  20+
GREAT BLUE HERON 2
FORSTER'S TERN  2
KILLDEER at least 30
GREATER YELLOWLEGS  4
LESSER YELLOWLEGS  6
LEAST SANDPIPER  5
PECTORAL SANDPIPER  1
SPOTTED SANDPIPER  2

Along the Langston golf course near Kingman Lake, Indigo Buntings and Blue
Grosbeaks were still singing.  Three young orioles (probably ORCHARD) were
hanging around the wild rice areas near Heritage Island off the RFK Stadium
parking lot.  There was a lot of mud in this area, but almost no shorebirds
beyond a few Killdeer and Lesser Y'legs.

I did not check Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, so cannot say whether the
previously reported Snowy Egret was there today.

In Anacostia Park, many RING-BILLED GULLS have returned, as Jim Felley
noted in the mall area.  Several were this year's young, in about as much
brown in the plumage as we ever see around here.  I noted 2 GREAT
BLACK-BACKED and 1 HERRING GULL as well.   LAUGHING GULLS were in quite
small numbers, and there were more FORSTER'S TERN over the river and
perched on the pilings by the marinas on the north side.  D-C CORMORANTS,
about 6, were also perched there.

Good birding.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
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