A lunchtime walk around the Tidal Basin and the
Mall produced the following:
   On the Potomac, some small flocks of Lesser
Scaup.
   On the Tidal Basin:  Not a scrap of ice, and only
a few dead shad - hardly the feast the gulls were
waiting for.  However, there were several dozen
Ring-billed, perhaps 10 Greater Black-backed, 
a smaller number of Herring, and a single first-year
Lesser Black-backed Gull
   On the Mall, large flocks of American Robins are
enjoying the worms to be found in the thawed lawns.
   In the Ripley Garden, a 15-minute wait did NOT 
produce the Rufous Hummingbird.  In fact, while I
last saw it on February 7, the last date noted on 
the sheet provided was the 8th.  It may be gone.
If anyone sees it this weekend, give us all a 
head's up.
                                Jim

Jim Felley
Smithsonian Institution