Best bird of a late morning trip to Hughes Hollow Sunday was an Eastern Phoebe, between the back of the impoundment on the right and the first stand of evergreens.  Credit is due to the other group of birders I ran into at that moment--they're the ones who picked out the call and spotted it (a familiar face or two, but unfortunately I don't know the names--apologies if you're reading).  Otherwise fairly slow there--the only other things of interest were a nice adult Red-shouldered Hawk and a really large constant stream of crows overhead the whole time I was there (mostly American, but a good number of Fish as well).

I then took the short drive over to see the 1st year Sandhill Crane, which was still in the area where it has been reported lately.  At around 1:30pm, when I was there, it was fairly close to the road (W. Willard Road), roaming the green field to the north of the first house north of the golf course entrance.  This bird seems fairly tame--though I stayed in my car on the roadside, a guy on the neighboring property was out working in the yard near the property line, and I saw the crane walk rather close to him.  Both seemed oblivious or indifferent to each other's presence.  Anyway, it's a fun bird to watch (also saw it get dive-bombed by a resident mocker, which it didn't seem to like very much).

Jason Waanders
jwaandersATstarpower.net
NW DC