Dear All

I had my first early morning fall birding trip to Rock Creek this morning, 
and very pleasant it was too.  For a British birder used to small numbers 
of mostly retiring olive-green warblers it was great to see such a range of 
species and many of them so obliging.

I started at the Maintenance Yard until 8.15 then briefly visited the ridge 
and then back the yard again for a short final spell.  I met a handful of 
local birders who were very helpful in bird finding and identification for 
which many thanks.  

Almost all of the below was at the yard or around the horse riding center.

Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 (1 male, 2 females)
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 (1 ridge)
Bay-breasted Warbler 1 
Palm Warbler 2 (both brown)
Black & White Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Tenessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 3

Red-eyed Vireo 5 (1 ridge)
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3

plus Robins (lots moving overhead, probably 250 in total), two overflying 
parties of Brown-headed Cowbirds, 1 Nighthawk, 10 House Wrens, 3 unident 
Empids, many Catbirds (12 in one loose group) and 6+ Brown Thrashers.

An excellent early morning with a dozen species of warbler seen before 8am 
and a general buzz of lots happening, particularly in the first hour around 
the 'yard.

Cheers

Gary Allport