This morning I was amazed to hear a Least Bittern calling at a DC 
location. While I regret that the area is not normally open to the 
public and so exact directions are inapplicable, I'm posting this anyway 
because the location was so remarkable - not 200 yards from the rumbling 
South Capital Street Bridge. This area of Anacostia Park harbors several 
small, cattail-lined ponds, from one of which the bird was calling. 
Perhaps even more remarkable than the bird calling by day (which I have 
sometimes heard them do, but only on very cloudy days, not in bright sun 
as this AM), is today's late date for a migrant. Dare we hope the 
2-weeks-past-safe-date date really betokens breeding status? Even I 
would hesitate going that far.

This same patch also supported at least a dozen (v. conservative 
estimate) Willow Flycatchers, and while in this case "safe date" lies 
over 2 weeks ahead, there can be little doubt that most form a breeding 
population, considering that some were actively engaged in nest building!

More philosophically, does this experience not remind us of the value of 
preserving even small islands of habitat in urban areas, providing birds 
can accept them as breeding grounds? One is reminded of Halle's 
"Springtime in Washington" of an earlier day.

-- 
Fred Fallon
Bowie MD