A brisk walk around the Tidal Basin showed some tendencies
towards spring:  There were several Common Grackles 
flying around, and a large number of Song Sparrows of
some race other than the local one:  their striping was less
bold on the breast and did not extend much beyond the (very
dark) central spot, and their song was higher pitched and
more warbling than that of our local birds.  Migration is 
happening!  They were very numerous at the FDR
Memorial (and there was a single Ruby-crowned
Kinglet there as well).
   A pair of Hooded Mergansers was on the Tidal Basin
(a new Mall bird!  This completes my Mall merganser list!).
   Flocks of Lesser Scaup were on the Potomac below the train
bridge, and only Ring-billed, Herring and Greater Black-backed
gulls were at the Maine Ave. docks.
                                   Jim


Jim Felley
Smithsonian Institution