Paul DuMont and I led an ANS trip to the C&O Canal in Montgomery County 
this morning.  We started at Pennyfield Lock at about 7:30 a.m., and moved 
on to Violette's Lock and Riley's Lock later in the morning.

Highlights:

BONAPARTE'S GULL (still in 1st winter plumage, at Violette's)

first of the year (for me, away from Texas)
RED-EYED VIREO and BALTIMORE ORIOLE

WARBLING VIREO (in the scope - a first in 35+ years of birding!). 
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and WHITE-EYED VIREO (heard only)

4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS on the same log in the Potomac.

2 very vocal GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS.

A tense struggle for possession of a nest box about 100 yards upstream from 
Riley's Lock, right along the towpath, between a pair of PROTHONOTARY 
WARBLERS and a pair of TREE SWALLOWS.  The latter appeared to be winning, 
as we watched closely.  The birds were oblivious to our presence.

Warblers were surprisingly difficult to find, apart from numerous 
Yellow-rumped.  We did record YELLOW, PARULA, AMERICAN REDSTART, and 
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.  One of the participants heard a YELLOW-THROATED, 
and another saw a PALM.  I briefly heard a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

Mike Bowen
Audubon Naturalist Society and Maryland Ornithological Society
Bethesda, MD


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