Hi all --

Started out as another pretty slow day at Rock Creek Park DC (need change of
weather!) -- with only a few migrants tallied, almost all in the maintenance
yard. On the way home we stopped on spec near the Police Stables and saw a
really good bird -- female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER with some interesting
Lawrence's Warbler characteristics (see below) -- which we viewed for about
20 minutes -- very cooperative.

Birds seen:

Warblers: Canada (2), Redstart (1), Common Yellowthroat (3), GOLDEN-WINGED
(1, female) -- this bird resembled rather closely the illustration in
Curson's "Warblers of the Americas" of Lawrence's back-crossed with
Golden-winged (Plate 1, 2g) with exception that the bird had a single clear
yellow wing patch; however it had the distinct greenish cast to the back
color and a faint but definite yellow wash on the upper breast (as in
illustration). Interesting bird!

Others:  Red-eyed Vireo (8), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2), House Wren (10),
Great Crested Flycatcher (2), "Traill's" FC (1), Baltimore Oriole (4), Wood
Thrush (seen and heard, about 8), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3).

Should note that this is the third Golden-wing in Rock Creek this autumn,
have second-hand reliable report of one seen yesterday (also a female) in
the Maintenance Yard. Which goes to confirm 1) Golden-wings tend to be early
migrants and few sightings of this species in RCP in recent years may in
part reflect lack of observers in August (although we know they are
definitely declining) and 2) even on slow days, something exciting can be
seen in this great area!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD