A couple of nice surprises in the park Sunday morning: a singing male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and another female BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (wish she'd bring along a male, too!).

Friday morning was a rainout, but I came home that afternoon to two Mallards on the wet grass, good for another species on my park list (now at 75, for those keeping score at home).  This busy weekend I decided to stay urban and just do the park both mornings.  Today was quite good, and with the reduced Sunday road noise, the many Swainson's Thrushes actually were singing--first time this spring I've heard thrushes sing in the park.

The past two days also have given me my first Yellow-billed Cuckoos in the park, with a nice look today.

Other warblers still passing through: Chestnut-sided (female), Magnolia (3 on Sunday), Black-throated Green (male; I've seen very few of this species this spring), Blackpoll (4 on Sunday), and Redstart.

On the lighter side--2 dueling male flickers doing a seemingly endless chase around a tree trunk, and a robin chasing off the singing rose-breasted grosbeak and then singing in his place (guess the robin was still bitter that he didn't get the singing lessons . . .).

Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.ent